People are NOT happy with Mayim Bialik‘s take on the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
On Friday, The New York Times published an essay by The Big Bang Theory actress where she addressed the indie movie mogul’s sexual misconduct. In the op-ed, titled Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s World, Bialik revealed that she was never subjected to harassment, but was not surprised to learn of the “scope of [Harvey’s] alleged predation.”
Related: Woody Allen’s Opinions About Harvey Are Fucking Bad
As you surely know, Weinstein has been ousted from The Weinstein Company following numerous allegations of sexual harassment and rape. A-list accusers include Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, etc.
While Mayim attempted to pen a feminist piece denouncing Harvey, she seemingly shamed the victims by implying that only attractive women get sexually harassed. At one point during the essay, Mayim wrote:
“I have also experienced the upside of not being a ‘perfect ten’. 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. 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.”
Oof. To make matters worse, Bialik went on to describe the “self-protecting choices” she had made and dared to suggest that her peers should follow suit. She continued:
“I still make choices every day as a 41-year-old actress that I think of as self-protecting and wise. I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy… In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want. But our world isn’t perfect. Nothing ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ absolutely nothing ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be na├â┬»ve about the culture we live in.”
Unsurprisingly, Mayim has received negative feedback for her piece. Patricia Arquette, whose sister Rosanna has accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, even took to Twitter to hit back at the troubling take:
.@missmayim I have to say I was dressed non provocatively at 12 walking home from school when men masturbated at me. It’s not the clothes.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 14, 2017
It is also not outrageous for anyone to expected to be treated in a professional matter by anyone in a professional relationship.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 14, 2017
Others made sure to weigh in on the controversial essay:
So @missmayim “advice” is: I was never pretty & never tried to be & ladies, take note if you don’t want to be harassed? This isn’t feminism pic.twitter.com/0Rrx6jrE5K
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) October 15, 2017
This is a terrible and dangerous opinion. “You wouldn├óΓé¼Γäót get assaulted if you weren├óΓé¼Γäót so pretty.” https://t.co/yhl0UYBSIj
— a damn kobold (@skinnyghost) October 14, 2017
Mayim Bialik’s piece is part of the problem w/ the myth of journalistic objectivity, which suggests even dangerous opinions deserve platform
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) October 15, 2017
Respectfully, this doesn’t work. I cover my entire body+hair+ get harassed. Have friends in niqab who get harassed. https://t.co/5F6Wwd7eaN
— G. Willow Wilson (@GWillowWilson) October 15, 2017
If women are accountable for EVERYTHING, including rape, then @missmayim must be accountable for saying so in print. @duarteamanda
— Martha Plimpton (@MarthaPlimpton) October 14, 2017
Snap! Snap! Nonetheless, the Blossom alum isn’t apologizing for her words, as she responded to the criticism with:
Being told my @NYTimes piece resonated w/ so many. Also see some have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine. See below: pic.twitter.com/0NmxtAF1vP
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) October 15, 2017
Hopefully, Mayim’s Monday live stream doesn’t make this whole drama worse. Eek.
[Image via WENN.]
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