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Showing posts with label Bialik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bialik. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Mayim Bialik: I"m Just SO Sorry. Full Stop.
No excuses. No explanations. No new attempts at blame anyone for misunderstanding her point.
Mayim Bialik has finally just apologized.
The Big Bang Theory has been raked over the Internet coals for several days now, ever since she penned an op-ed for The New York Times in which she addressed the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal…
… and partly blamed the victims of rape for the situations they get in.
“As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms,” Bialik actually wrote, expounding:
“Those of us in Hollywood who don’t represent an impossible standard of beauty have the ‘luxury’ of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money.”
Bialik went on to encourage women to dress modestly, acknowledging that a woman “should” be able to dress however she wants, but that simply isn’t the world in which we reside.
“Nothing – absolutely nothing – excuses men for assaulting or abusing women,” the actress said, making a statement about which no one should disagree.
Yet she then qualified it as follows:
“But we can’t be naïve about the culture we live in.”
True.
But perhaps you should try to change it and to raise awareness… but lecture women about their attitude or wardrobe and not blaming victims of assault in any way, shape or form.
After getting rightfully ripped online for her editorial, Bialik went after her “vicious” critics, saying people just didn’t get her point of view.
She then tried to clarify her comments, saying, for one thing, that she was only addressing the insular world of Hollywood and not speaking on rape in general.
Now, at last, Bialik has simply said she is sorry.
“I want to address my op-ed in the NY Times, and the reaction to it,” a note Tweeted from the actress opens.
It continues:
“Let me say clearly and explicitly that I am very sorry. What you wear and how you behave does not provide any protection from assault, nor does the way you dress or act in any way make you responsible for being assaulted; you are never responsible for being assaulted.”
As more and more women speak out on their awful experiences, Bialik also praised these brave and admirable actresses, singers and general Internet users.
“I applaud the bravery of the women who have come forward,” she added.
“I support these women as we seek out and demand accountability from the only ones responsible for assault and rape: the people who perpetrate these heinous crimes.
“I am motivated and driven to work hard to empower women.”
In conclusion?
“I am truly sorry for causing so much pain, and I hope you can all forgive me.”
It’s very possible that Bialik had noble intentions when she wrote her controversial op-ed.
She may have legitimately been trying to help women stay out of harm’s way.
But, wow, did she misfire.
We’re just glad she has finally come to this conclusion and said the only thing one can say when it comes to sexual assault:
It is ALWAYS the fault of the perpetrator and the perpetrator only.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Mayim Bialik Tries (Fails?) to Clarify Controversial Rape Remarks
Mayim Bialik, star of The Big Bang Theory, finds herself in big trouble this week.
That’s what happens after you pen an op-ed for The New York Times in which you essentially blame the victims of sexual assault for getting assaulted.
Over the weekend, Bialik really did write a guest article for the aforementioned publication in response to the heinous allegations surrounding Harvey Weinstein.
With dozens of women having come out and accused the film producer of sexual misconduct, Bialik took the pompous stance that women need to think about how they look and act if they wish to avoid… rape.
“As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms,” Bialik wrote early in her piece, earning immediate scorn.
Just… WHAT?!?
Who says any of these abused women got plastic surgery? Or were obsessed with dieting?
And, even if they did or they were, how does one then claim – in any tiny way, shape or form – that these interests mean a woman deserves to get assaulted or harassed?!?
“If you are beautiful and sexy, terrific,” the actress continued, adding:
“But having others celebrate your physical beauty is not the way to lead a meaningful life.
“And if – like me – you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love.
“The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a casting couch to find them.”
There’s no way to interpret this stance in any way aside from Bialik saying women are somewhat to blame for getting raped.
Just act uglier and you’ll be ignored, she’s saying.
After getting dragged over the Internet coals for her opinion, Bialik lashed out at the “vicious” critics and said she would address the topic further in a Facebook Live chat on Monday.
In this chat, Bialik made an important distinction.
“There is no way to avoid being a victim of assault by what you wear or the way you behave,” she said, explaining that her comments were only in reference to the “culture of Hollywood” that she’s experienced over the years.
“I was not speaking about assault and rape in general,” she added.
She went on to blame Hollywood instead of the actresses who were assaulted themselves, saying the industry encourages women to “present” themselves in a certain way.
“I feel protected in my industry more when I keep parts of myself private,” she said.
“It gives a feeling of comfort and a layer of protection, but it does not make you immune to assault.”
Bialik also apologized and said she was “deeply, deeply hurt” if any person that is actually has been a victim of assault thought she was blaming them in any way.
Many did.
Stars such as Patricia Arquette and Gabrielle Union Tweeted in protest of Bialik, sharing their deeply personal stories of rape and assault in order to prove clothing played no role in what happened to them.
So at least the actress has tried here to clarify her comments.
And, look, perhaps there is some kind of column to write about Hollywood’s standards of beauty and how they place stressful burdens on young female stars.
But that issue wasn’t at play in the case of Harvey Weinstein being a grotesque monster.
And it’s certainly not what Mayim Bialik wrote about in her op-ed.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Mayim Bialik Lashes Out at "Vicious" Critics, Totally Doesn"t Get It
Mayim Bialik is not apologizing for her controversial stance regarding rape and feminism.
Over the weekend, Bialik wrote an op-ed in response to accusations of sexual assault against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
The Big Bang Theory actress was not a victim of Weinstein’s. It doesn’t sound as though she knows anyone who has claimed to be.
So why did she choose to speak out about this topic?
Because Bialik thought she had helpful advice to offer fellow members of her gender.
“As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms,” Bialik wrote, instantly stepping into scalding hot water.
Right off the bat here, she’s saying that Weinstein only preyed on attractive women.
Moreover, she’s blaming the attractive women for… well… being attractive.
She’s completely missing the point that sexual harassment is all about some insecure jerk such as Weinstein exerting his power, not simply wanting to tap some fine piece of you-know-what.
“Those of us in Hollywood who don’t represent an impossible standard of beauty have the ‘luxury’ of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money,” Bialik continued.
Over the past week or so, approximately 43 women have come forward and accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
Some, such as Rose McGowan, have accused him or rape.
The fact that anyone would dare to lecture these women, or any victims of assault, is horribly offensive.
But that never occurred to Bialik, apparently.
“If you are beautiful and sexy, terrific. But having others celebrate your physical beauty is not the way to lead a meaningful life,” she wrote.
“And if – like me – you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love.
“The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a casting couch to find them.”
In response to this terribly pompous and totally misguided editorial, critics lambasted Bialik for blaming the victims of rape in any way, shape or form.
Gabrielle Union, for example, Tweeted that “Sexual or physical violence, harassment, demeaning language is NOT the price one should pay for seeking or maintaining employment. Period.”
She then shared her personal story:
Care to respond, Mayim Bialik?
Actually, the actress has responded.
Not to Union, specifically, but to her critics.
“I’m being told my N.Y. Times piece resonated with so many and I am beyond grateful for all of the feedback,” she wrote on Twitter, adding:
“I also see a bunch of people have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine and twisted them to imply that God forbid I would blame a woman for her assault based on her clothing or behavior.
“Anyone who knows me and my feminism knows that’s absurd and not at all what this piece was about.
“It’s so sad how vicious people are being when I basically live to make things better for women.”
The actress announced that she would hold a Facebook Live discussion with the newspaper on Monday to clear the air.
But we have a question, considering that Bialik wrote the following in her piece:
I am entirely aware that these types of choices might feel oppressive to many young feminists.
Women should be able to wear whatever they want. They should be able to flirt however they want with whomever they want. Why are we the ones who have to police our behavior?
In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want.
But our world isn’t perfect.
Nothing—absolutely nothing—excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be naïve about the culture we live in.
How, exactly, are we taking anything out of context to interpret this as placing blame on sexual assault victims for how they dress and act?
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Mayim Bialik Angers Most of Free World with Op-Ed on Rape and Feminism
Mayim Bialik has stirred up some MAJOR controversy via an op-ed she wrote this weekend for The New York Times.
The inspiration behind it? Numerous allegations of rape and sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein.
Bialik’s apparent stance on this topic? It’s largely the fault of victims in these situations because they care too much about how they look.
Wait… WHAT?!?
In a piece titled “Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s World,” The Big Bang Theory star wrote that she has “experienced the upside of not being a “perfect ten” and then went on to explain why.
“As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms,” Bialik said, adding:
“Those of us in Hollywood who don’t represent an impossible standard of beauty have the ‘luxury’ of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money.”
Over the past several days, a multitude of actresses have come forward and said Weinstein either made an inappropriate pass at them…
Or, in the worst cases, the movie producer actually raped them.
“Women should be able to wear whatever they want,” Bialik continued.
“They should be able to flirt however they want with whomever they want. Why are we the ones who have to police our behavior?
In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want. But our world isn’t perfect.
Nothing – absolutely nothing – excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be naïve about the culture we live in.”
This is the main part of her post about which so many people have taken issue.
She’s basically saying this is the way in which the world works – men are simply going to prey on attractive females – and it’s up to the women to accept it and adjust accordingly.
“I plan to continue to work hard to encourage young women to cultivate the parts of themselves that may not garner them money and fame,” the actress wrote.
“If you are beautiful and sexy, terrific. But having others celebrate your physical beauty is not the way to lead a meaningful life.
“And if – like me – you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love.
“The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a casting couch to find them.”
This is all really horrible and ridiculous.
If Bialik’s only point is that superficial beauty shouldn’t be the most important thing in life… well, she’d be right and there would be little to quibble with.
Instead, however, she’s somehow making a connection between women wanting to look good and MEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTING THEM.
Qualify her point however she wants to try, this is 100% victim blaming.
And we obviously aren’t alone in thinking as much.
“@missmayim229 I have to say I was dressed non provocatively as a 12 year old when men on the street masturbated at me,” actress Patricia Arquette tweeted on Saturday in response.
“It’s not clothing.”
“It is also not outrageous for anyone to expected to be treated in a professional manner by anyone in a professional relationship,” Arquette added.
Said another well-informed and well-spoken Twitter user, quoting Bialik and then using her words against her:
“I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly.”
This is disgusting. @missmayim is placing blame on victims and forgetting that rape and assault are about power, not about desire.
Amen.
Bialik has not yet responded to the backlash.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Mayim Bialik: FURIOUS Over Kaley Cuoco"s High Salary??
Kaley Cuoco makes how much money for The Big Bang Theory?
It’s a boatload. The actress pulls in a cool $ 1 million per episode – the same amount as co-stars Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki.
The impressive salary is not unheard of for the stars of a number one rated sitcom – in fact, all the Friends main actors made as much, and that was in the 90s.
But evidently, Mayim Bialik thinks it’s excessive, particularly compared to her own salary, reports Radar Online.
The former Blossom star reportedly earns a paltry $ 100,000 per episode for playing Amy Fowler on the show and is envious of her co-star’s beefy paycheck.
“Kaley is furious at Mayim for trash-talking her earnings,” a source told the site. “She thinks it’s just a case of sour grapes and jealousy.”
Last month, Bialik told Daily News that she thinks all of the actors are overpaid, including herself.
“I don’t make as much money as people think I do,” she said.
“I don’t think about the money a lot. I am an employed actor and we are all overpaid. I am grateful to be employed,” she added.
We suspect the story may be overstating Bialik’s actual fury, but it is surprising to hear she earns so little compared to the others while she’s become an integral (and hilarious) part of the show.
What do you say, Big Bang execs? How about a little raise for Mayim? We think she’s earned it.
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