Everything that Upset the Internet this Week

by Meghan McKenna

TGIF. As always, there were lots of hot topics creating buzz on the web this week. So if you feel like “getting into it” with a friend, family member, or total stranger over the next couple of days, here is everything you need to know. Isn’t controversy fun?

Victoria’s Secret culturally appropriates (again)

THE STORY: On Monday, the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was filmed in Shanghai. One of the themes of the annual lingerie showcase was called “Nomadic Adventures,” and it featured the models walking the runway wearing feathered wings, Indigenous-inspired headdresses and beaded body jewelry.

THE REACTIONS:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Being inspired by a culture can be ok. But what Victoria’s Secret done here is taken something from a culture and stripped it of its cultural meaning for the sake of profit. That’s appropriation. What’s worse, is that Victoria’s Secret came under fire for a very similar reason a few years back. In 2012, Karlie Kloss walked the runway in an Indigenous-inspired headdress and a cheetah print bra and panties. Victoria’s Secret ended up apologizing, and pulled the look from broadcast and from marketing materials. We have little sympathy for those who don’t learn from their mistakes. 

HOW WE FEEL: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Justin Trudeau is a wax figure

THE STORY: On Tuesday, Montreal’s Grevin wax museum unveiled a statue of Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and Man Crush of Everywhere Else.

THE REACTIONS: 

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Hey, at least they got the socks right!

HOW WE FEEL: ? ??

Gabby Douglas shames victims

THE STORY: Last Friday, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman shared an emotion note on Instagram calling out the problematic culture of victim shaming. “Just because a woman does a sexy photoshoot or wears a sexy outfit does not give a man the right to shame her or not believe her when she comes forward about sexual abuse,” Aly wrote in her post. “What is wrong with some of you? AND when a woman dresses sexy it does not give a man the right to sexually abuse her EVER. Women are allowed to feel sexy and comfortable in their own skin, in fact I encourage you all to wear what you feel good in.”

Gabby Douglas, Raisman’s Olympic teammate, responded to the post on Twitter: “However it is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy. Dressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.” The tweet has since been deleted.

 

THE REACTIONS:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: The story got a lot more complicated later in the week when Gabby released a new statement, in which she alleged that Larry Nassar, former doctor of the US gymnastic team, abused her. She joins Aly Raisman and 140 other women and girl who have now accused Nassar of sexual misconduct under the pretence of medicine. With this hindsight, Gabby’s initial tweet reads as a victim internalizing her sexual assault; a woman blaming herself for her trauma. What Gabby said about modest dressing was wrong, and she’s since apologized–at length. And we should forgive her. What we’ve learned from this is to think twice, and consider a woman’s experience before “cancelling” her.

HOW WE FEEL: ? ? ?

Jimmy Fallon sang a Prince song

THE STORY: On Thursday, Jimmy Fallon–American late-night host and BFF of Justin Timberlake–performed Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

THE REACTIONS:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: In the wise words of Jimmy Fallon circa EIGHT MONTHS AGO: “You can’t just cover a Prince song.”

HOW WE FEEL: ?   ☮   ?   

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