Screen Junkies » rape

Lena Dunham Apologizes To Canada Over Murder-Rape Joke

Wookie Johnson — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:37:24 +0000

Not content to simply dress as Psy for Halloween, Lena Dunham has courted controversy by recommending a costume via Twitter. It all began when Mindy Kaling tweeted Dunham suggesting that she, Kaling, and B.J. Novak dress as the West Memphis Three. Dunham responded that Kaling and Novak should dress as Canadian rapists and murderers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, adding: ‘I’ll be her sister they murdered. Scariest! Luv U,’ referring to 15-year-old Tammy Homokla.

Her Canadian followers (including those that knew victims of the couple) voiced their offense and Dunham quickly apologized with the following tweets.

‘I obviously don’t find rape or murder funny, rather the concept of a trio of hapless people in poor taste Halloween costumes,’

Sounds like a fun party. We’re obscure early 90′s Canadian murderer/rapists and their teen victim. You’ve probably never heard of them.

‘Generally not a proponent of apologizing for one’s work but that tweet wasn’t my work — it was as throwaway as most 140 character thoughts.’

So…. that’s an apology?

‘Obviously didn’t understand what a painful part of the Canadian identity the Bernardo/Homolka case was. Saw a TV movie w/ Laura Prepon,’

Don’t drag Laura into this.

‘Part of the reason I was so concerned is that I’ve always dreamed of retiring to Canada.’

Pinko!

If anything, this serves as a reminder that we all need to be more careful with the thoughts we share in this day and age. And if Lena Dunham is still trying to decide upon a Halloween costume, here’s a suggestion: PANTS. (Daily Mail)

Let’s All Shut Up About Tosh’s Rape Joke

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:31:30 +0000

On Friday night of last week, Daniel Tosh performed at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. If you have an Internet connection, you’ve probably read about it by now. While performing material about rape jokes and how they are always funny, an audience member took umbrage. She decided to take a stand by declaring, “Actually rape jokes are never funny!”

After being called out, Tosh paused for a moment before responding, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…” This shocked the audience member who then decided to leave the show. And then tell a friend what happened. That friend then posted the events on their tumblr page.

And then a shitstorm began.

Lines were drawn. One side declaring that Daniel Tosh is a douchebag hack who should be held accountable. While the other side declared that people were just being too sensitive and should avoid comedy that isn’t to their tastes. Neither side is really adding anything to the discussion except distracting noise. So… shut up.

To recap: a woman went to a comedy club. She called out that the comedian wasn’t being funny. To the comic. In a comedy club. As nasty and ugly as it is, we’re at a point where a comic is expected to eviscerate anyone that disrupts them. Even if it’s a disruption designed to encourage the comic. Male or female, their reputation is staked on it. If you interrupt the show, you’re doing so at your own risk. No matter how you are handled by the comic, you’re going to have the attention shifted to you. That’s what happens when you yell in a public space. Chances are that you will then have your ass handed to you. It’s because the audience demands to see the blood on the knife. Those who come out on either the winning or the losing side of this exchange have no right to open it up to a larger public.

And yes, I do realize the irony of saying she was asking for it. I’m not trying to defend rape jokes or rape or rapists or basic cable television hosts who wear unflattering sweaters. As a man, I’m conflicted to even have an opinion toward this issue. I can never know the horror of rape or imagine my recourse should it touch my life personally. However, I am a defender of time and place. I’m of the mind that jokes shouldn’t leave the context in which they are told. The ‘you had to be there’ adage is true. Daniel Tosh is a gleeful fartknocker who gets his kicks by pushing the envelope. Dark humor is his sandbox. If you don’t like it, then you don’t like it and that’s where you are at the end of the day.

The woman in this situation had every right to be offended. It’s common practice for comedians to work the room and make fun of the spectators. I’ve had it happen to me. Unprovoked. In the moment, yes, I was offended because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my hair but I recognized what was happening at that time — a comic struggling to keep the attention focused on them decided to lash out. Their punchlines weren’t connecting and they felt backed against the wall. I let it slide because the comments were made in the spirit of humor (my hair is awesome though), and though she had the right to be offended, she didn’t have the right to be scared.

Had he yelled this out in traffic or a frat house, then yes that would be scary. But here the fear was unwarranted. First of all, she was sitting at the Laugh Factory. They really frown against rape occurring on their premises unless they are the ones doing it to your wallet. I highly doubt they would let a young woman be raped while in their audience, especially if she hadn’t yet fulfilled her two drink minimum. Nor do I think Tosh’s response sparked inspiration among the other audience members. No one was thinking, “Hey. Yeah! Gang-raping that girl would be good for a goof. Let me round up four friends!!”

Next, the girl left the club and her friend blogged about the incident, ending her post with the message: ”Please reblog and spread the word.” And then Tosh apologized via Twitter for some reason. That reason of course being that Comedy Central’s shareholders don’t want to be painted as advocates of rape. Certainly not during an ugly, public feud with a satellite cable provider. Much like this discussion doesn’t deserve to be a discussion, this situation didn’t deserve an apology. The bigger issue is not the joke itself but the reaction to it. If we are going to sit and judge what comedy is allowed, and what comedy needs an apology, we need to shut down stand-up comedy and sitcoms forever.

Tosh’s humor is designed to offend, but to suddenly take exception because it’s something that challenges your beliefs is ridiculous. What about the Mexicans in the room? Or the Hurricane Katrina victims? Would you laugh if his jokes were pointed at them? Chances are, yes, in an ‘oh, no he didn’t!’, sort of way. That’s how he’s buttered his bread all of these years.

All that aside, my real point is: just shut up. I’m not talking to Tosh or the butt of his joke. I’m talking to the rest of us. We have no right to get worked up about this. It doesn’t deserve our attention. It didn’t nor should it ever concern us. By talking about it, we’re perpetuating it. The offended woman doesn’t need me criticizing her, nor does she need you defending her. Neither does Daniel Tosh. If you have a bone to pick with Daniel Tosh’s comedy, you should have spoken out about it before his recent performance. Why wasn’t anyone offended to the point of protest sooner? If the issue of offensive comedy was that important to you, you would have.

Refocus your energy into something that benefits you by policing your own life instead of creating an issue where there shouldn’t be one. I’m talking to myself just as much as I’m talking to you.

From Self-Absorbed To Sexual Predator: 12 Steps In The Devolution Of Dennis Reynolds From ‘Always Sunny’

Archibald Bayou III — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:56:40 +0000

While watching episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia over the years, a subtle but consistent pattern has emerged. The character of Dennis Reynolds, in addition to being vain and arrogant, has been slowly morphing into a full blown sexual predator. Whether it involves teabagging friends or demanding full penetration in action films, Dennis has been dropping constant hints over the last seven seasons that he is seriously sexually deranged. This week’s season finale may shed new light on just how creepy Dennis is (Update: Now that it’s aired, I was referring to the secret compartment in his car containing what can only be described as a rape kit… “I like to bind – I like to be bound!”), but in the meantime, lets examine some of the greatest moments in his disgusting, perverted, teabagging glory.

Underage Drinking: A National Concern

When the gang starts letting high school kids drink at the bar, it opens up a potential disaster for everyone, but especially Dennis. A high school senior blackmails him into taking her to the prom, and she threatens to tell the cops about Paddy’s newly liberal I.D. policy if Dennis doesn’t comply. Although the girl in question claims to be 18, Dennis is still nervous and shows resistances to dating her, acknowledging how wrong it seems. This little bit of conscience he displays doesn’t last throughout the series, however.

Mac Bangs Dennis’ Mom

Dennis is alarmed to discover that Mac has slept with his mom. He is even more horrified to discover that his attempts at revenge sex with Mac’s Mom and later Charlie’s mom are roundly rejected. His willingness to sleep with either of these women just for revenge is pretty disgusting, and is one of the early red flags at how detached Dennis is from intimacy.

The Aluminum Monster Vs. Fatty McGoo

Upon learning that a former high school classmate has hit it big with a women’s clothing store, Dennis tries to sell her his fashion designs, which mostly consist of his crude drawings of large breasted women (these drawings appear repeatedly). The most fascinating moment of the episode comes when Dennis, while having his designs turned down, reveals that the words “no”, “don’t” and “stop” never work on him, because he’s “a winner.” The second most fascinating moment comes when Dennis puts on lipstick and a dress and attempts to model the clothes himself. It’s bizarre, disquieting and awesome rolled into one.

Ashton Kutcher’s Sorry For Being So Dumb

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:23:02 +0000

After it was discovered that Penn State football coach Joe Paterno knew his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky had been molesting children for years, Penn State’s board of trustees planned to allow him to retire at the season’s end. Then someone used a doll to show the trustees where Sandusky touched the kids, and the decision was made to dismiss Paterno immediately.

Ashton Kutcher took offense to this decision and posted on Twitter:

How do you fire Jo Pa? #insult #noclass as a hawkeye fan I find it in poor taste

Then he evidently had the case explained to him and quickly pulled the tweet before apologizing profusely.

As an advocate in the fight against child sexual exploitation, I could not be more remorseful for all involved in the Penn St. case.

As of immediately I will stop tweeting until I find a way to properly manage this feed. I feel awful about this error. Won’t happen again.

Great! Now if we can only get him to apologize for his career…. (BuzzFeed)

Roman Polanski: ‘Sorry I Drugged And Raped You When You Were 13′

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:33:33 +0000

Roman Polanski has finally apologized to his rape victim. Way to take the high road, Roman!

The apology came while the director was receiving his lifetime achievement award from the Zurich Film Festival. He tried to pick up the award two years ago, but was arrested by the totally unchill Swiss authorities because they were still harshing on him for raping a minor like a million years ago. G.O.I., Swiss authorities! Get over it!!

The director picked up the award last night and brought along a peace offering as well in the form of a documentary titled, Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir, which was screened after the ceremony. Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, the film centers on a conversation between Polanski and his producer friend, Andrew Braunsberg. He uses this conversation as a forum to apologize to his victim, referring to her as “a double victim: my victim and a victim of the press.” This naturally doesn’t include the whole drugging and raping her thing. That was his bad.

An apology via documentary seems kind of lame though. Most people don’t even watch documentaries. At the very least, he could have sent her an apology card. And not a cheap one either! Get one of those fancy ones that plays music. “Sorry” by Madonna seems appropriate. (THR)