Everything that Upset the Internet this Week

by Meghan McKenna

Congratulations—you made it to the weekend! Chances are, you will be engaging in social conversation over the next 48 hours. Or maybe you won’t, and that’s totally okay too!

Either way, it’s good to stay informed. The Internet is always buzzing with scandal and controversy, and it’s important to keep up to date if you want to sound pop culture savvy. Plus, engaging in the drama can be super fun.

Reporter says Shania Twain looks like a tramp

THE STORY: Here’s the story: Shania Twain rolled into a football stadium on a dog sled…with snow softly falling…and was helped up by a mountie. The 52-year-old  Canadian country icon looked gooooood as she danced on stage at the Grey Cup half time show. After the legendary performance, a male reporter with The Montreal Gazette tweeted that  “Shania looked like a tramp.”

THE REACTION:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Twain, the highest-paid female country singer of all time, stood on stage preaching female empowerment, with lyrics like “I ain’t gonna act politically correct / I only wanna have a good time” and “I wanna be free yeah, to feel the way I feel / Man! I feel like a woman!” Was Zurkowsky listening? Apparently not…

The reporter has since tweeted out three apologies, writing variations of: “I’m sorry for the numerous people I offended. I really meant no harm and must learn to keep my mouth shut. I hope people can forgive me.” However, at no point in any of the three tweets does he admit to slut-shaming, nor does he ever apologize to Twain. He says he’s sorry for offending people, but does he understand why what he said was wrong? Hey Zurkowsky: you won’t impress me much.

HOW WE FEEL: ? ? ?

Victoria Secret airs Ming Xi’s fall

THE STORY: The Victoria Secret Fashion Show aired internationally Tuesday night, and editors opted to keep in Chinese model Ming Xi’s runway stumble–and even added footage of Ming crying backstage after the fall.

THE REACTION:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: This is a fashion show, not an episode of The Bachelor. The Victoria Secret show is filmed two times, back-to-back, for the purpose of being able to edit out any mistakes. Ming was clearly distraught over the incident, so why didn’t they take it out? After all, the infamous head-on collision between Elsa Hosk’s  wing and Ariana Grande’s head didn’t make the final cut of the 2014 show. When it comes to exploiting viral embarrassing moments, do performers’ feelings take priority over models?

HOW WE FEEL: Ming, you’re still an ?

Angela Lansbury suggests women must take blame for harassment

THE STORY: During a Radio Times interview, the 92-year-old Murder, She Wrote actress was asked to comment on the sexual harassment and assault allegations making waves in Hollywood. Here’s her response:

“There are two sides to this coin. We have to own up to the fact that women, since time immemorial, have gone out of their way to make themselves attractive. And unfortunately it has backfired on us — and this is where we are today. We must sometimes take blame, women. I really do think that. Although it’s awful to say we can’t make ourselves look as attractive as possible without being knocked down and raped.”

THE REACTION:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: To be fair, she did add: “Should women be prepared for this? No, they shouldn’t have to be! There’s no excuse for that. And I think it will stop now — it will have to. I think a lot of men must be very worried at this point.”

Angela Lansbury’s comment reveals a harmful (and misogynistic) attitude towards sexual assault–and it’s because of opinions like these that victims don’t come forward to share their experiences. But let’s not forget, this is generational change: we should feel compassion for the women who for decades lived by these rules, and who blamed themselves for their trauma.

HOW WE FEEL: ? ? ? ? ? ?

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