Yes, the proverbial mic is dropped indeed!
After Jon Stewart announced his impending retirement, the Twitterverse reacted by naming current Daily Show correspondent Jessica Williams as a potential successor.
While Jessica was thankful and flattered, she tweeted that she felt “extremely under-qualified for the job” because she was only 25-years-old:
Fact 1: I’m not hosting. Thank you but I am extremely under-qualified for the job!
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 16, 2015
At this age (25) if something happens politically that I don’t agree with, I need to go to my room & like not come out for, like, 7 days.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 16, 2015
That being said I am super not right for it, but there are quite a few people who are! Can’t wait to stick around & see what happens.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 16, 2015
That’s when Ester Bloom of The Billfold wrote a piece in response that accused Jessica of suffering from…
“Imposter Syndrome, a well-documented phenomenon in which men look at their abilities [versus] the requirements of a job posting and round up, whereas women do the same and round down, calling themselves ‘unqualified.'”
We personally know that Jessica is as fearless as she is funny. She’s not a victim of her own decision.
Ester then called Jessica’s claim of being “under-qualified” “bullsh*t” and that all she needed was a “pep talk.”
Once again, Ester decided to belittle Jessica’s personal career decision as some sort of weakness rather than call what it was: her own career choice.
Well, Jessica had none of this, rightfully so.
Here’s the Twitter back and forth between Jessica and Ester:
@shorterstory @TheBillfold This is incredibly insulting.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory @TheBillfold Are you unaware, how insulting that can be for a fully functioning person to hear that her choices are invalid?
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory Okay, in the ETA, can you please address the words, “victim”, and “clear symptoms of imposter syndrome”. Please?
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
Just going to say this & then keep listening & learning: I was wrong. I’m sorry. I was flip & presumptuous, & I offended someone I respect.
— ester bloom (@shorterstory) February 18, 2015
I am a black woman and I am a feminist and I am so many things. I am truly honored that people love my work. But I am not yours.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
Do you think Ester’s apology was enough?
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