The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Going after the Palin family, which seems to be a continuing target for Griffin, from Sarah on down to Willow. (If past is prologue, I suppose it is only a matter of time until Griffin goes after the youngest Palin daughter, Piper. But I reckon time will tell if that is to be the case or not).
Now, I should state, right upfront, that until a couple of years ago, I was a regular viewer of Griffin’s show on Bravo, and went to see her perform live. I think that was what finally pushed me over the edge to stop watching her for a number of reasons, including her using Levi Johnston to demonize Bristol Palin.
You remember Levi – the father of Bristol’s son, Tripp. Johnston is not exactly “Father of the Year” material, but that hasn’t stopped Griffin from milking his relationship to a Palin for all it was worth, and then some. She even appeared with Johnston at the Teen Choice Awards back in 2009. Yeah, go figure. That was not the last time, though. She even had him on one of her “My Life On The D List” episodes when she went ice fishing with him. Oh, and Griffin claimed that Johnston broke her “stinkin’ heart” when Levi and Bristol announced their (short-lived) engagement.
Right.
Anyway, recently, Kathy Griffin went after all of the Palins, especially Palin’s teenage daughter, Willow, in a “comedy” special aired by Bravo. In her show, Griffin referred to Willow, who is all of 17 years old, as a “dirty whore,” and a “future porn star.”
Wow.
This is not the first time Griffin has made Willow a target though, not by a long shot. Back in early 2011, Griffin announced her intention to attack Willow:
Kathy Griffin announced her New Year’s resolution to continue a verbal assault on the Palin family. Only in 2011, the comedian said she intends to target Sarah Palin’s 16-year-old daughter, Willow.
“I’ve already gone for Sarah, Todd and Bristol obviously,” Griffin told The Hollywood Reporter. “But I think it’s Willow’s year to go down. In 2011, I want to offend a new Palin.” [...]
Just in case you are keeping score, one of the things Griffin said about Bristol Palin was that she was “fat.” That didn’t go over too well with the audience to whom she made the remark:
On a special that aired Dec. 5, Kathy Griffin was jeered by the audience after attacking Bristol Palin for being “fat” while hosting the VH1 Divas “Salute to the Troops.” Griffin called the 20-year-old “the white Precious,” referring to Gabourey Sidibe’s role as an obese and abused teen mother in the 2009 Lee Daniels drama.[...]
Holy smokes. That is quite a statement to make. No wonder Griffin was jeered by the crowd.
As for the pronouncement by Griffin in 2011 that she intended to go after Willow, the following response sums it up well:
Hollywood publicist Angie Meyer says Griffin’s targeting of Willow, a minor, is even worse.
“To attack a young girl solely because of her last name seems rather contradictory of the types of justice she champions for others,” Meyer said. “A 50-year-old woman who chooses to attack a 16-year-old girl publicly at a time when cyber-bullying and teenage suicide are at their highest reported rates, not only sets irreconcilable example for others, it’s tasteless, immoral, and frankly – classless.” [...]
I would have to agree that it is tasteless and more, for all the reasons Meyer mentioned.
That Ms. Griffin so gleefully delights in attacking a young teenager is disturbing on a number of levels, particularly the virulence with which she goes after Willow. And then there are the incredibly derogatory names she attributes to this young woman. “Porn Star”? “Dirty whore”?? Good grief.
It is also disturbing that Bravo TV continues to give Griffin a platform to attack this (any) young woman, and that her audiences continue to laugh at such sexist, and sexually charged, attacks.
It is bad enough that Governor Palin has been subjected to sexist and misogynistic attacks from other women (who could ever forget Sandra Bernhard’s incredibly misogynistic, and racist, comment about what should befall Gov. Palin if she dared come to New York?). But when teenage girls are attacked by performers with national platforms, as well as television access, that is just beyond the pale.
Women need to stop characterizing other women, teenagers included, in such hateful ways, no matter the alleged justification for doing so, from political differences on. And those who do engage in such demonizing behavior should be held to account, not given another show to highlight their misogyny.
This is bullying, plain and simple. Griffin has attacked the Palin girls relentlessly, and always with a ready excuse as to why she should be able to do so. Ironically, her attack on Willow is based on what Griffin perceives as intolerance on Willow’s part. But bullying is bullying regardless, and there is little doubt that is what Griffin is doing to Willow.
At least that is what I think. How about you?
This is how women in media succeed. They pander to male writers, directors, costumers, cameramen, casting couch owners, etc. That is how they stay employed and they do not represent authentic female voice. How many viewers does Griffin actually have? I would guess few.
I can think of no group more bitterly divided along so many political, social, racial and economic fault lines as American women; So far, there doesn’t appear to be any political or social organization that speaks up with a loud unified voice for all women wherever they find sexism; An NAACP for women that is feared by those who degrade and discriminate.
Bes, sadly, I fear you are right. It is astonishing to see how much women still put other women down to make the men in power happy. Good point.
Ryan, it is telling how easily women are divided against one another. One can watch it happen by politicians and the media with some regularity. There are so may systemic issues at work here, though, it would take a concentrated effort by all women to start turning it around.
Then again, the powers-that-be aren’t going to give up easily, as we have seen. They want us to be divided. It keeps a lot of people safely ensconced for us to be divided. Until women start caring more abt other women, regardless of political affiliation or ideology, I fear this pattern will continue to be repeated…
I don’t like this kind of language used against women to begin with. But minors should always be off-limits. Always.
Kathy Griffin seems to have no guts. Associating and going after teenager does not appear mature.
Ryan, you make a fine point with comparing to the NAACP. without creating such an organization we will not make progress. how could it be realized to have a vast majority of women not be relying on male approval for whatever they do. that would be a great start.
it was not easy for the NAACP in the beginning. the 40 founders were not all friends with each other. one of them a publisher threatened to leave if the group would not include Ida Wells. so they had their in-fights too, but kept opinions of whites out.
Edee, I completely agree. Ironically, Griffin decided to go after Willow for a term she used as a 16 yr old. In no way do I condone the term, not at all. But she was 16, for pete’s sake. I have heard other teenagers use the same language, some who have my partner and me as godparents.
It’s the hypocrisy of it all. Willow uses an offensive slang term, so Griffin fires back at her double barrel with offensive sexist terms. And that’s supposed to be BETTER?? Go figure…
Great comments, everyone!
Yes, Rev. Amy, it is sad how easily women turn on each other in order to gain acceptance by men in power. You’d think by now they’s realize they will never be full fledged members of the club because they simply don’t have a penis!
However, let’s keep in mind how often both men and women point out how men are conditioned to seek power by just about any means necessary and because they are praised for it, such behavior is reinforced as the definition of what it means to be a “man.”
Alternatively, women are conditioned by both men and women to not be too ambitious because it is perceived as “unseemly” on a woman. Thereby, effectively ham stringing any woman’s ability to ever break the proverbial glass ceiling (actually it’s a clear, steel ceiling erected by men).
I hope everyone will take a look at the new limited series “Political Animals” with Segourny Weaver as the lead. This show so far is addressing a lot of the labeling that is still placed on women, particularly accomplished women who dares believe they can handle power better than the men have!
Of course, if men were capable of looking at themselves and each other in an objective way, they would recognize that they have not done a very good job handling power and maybe what’s been missing all along has been the “woman factor” in order to help balance everything out. Unfortunately, men would rather go down in flames, it seems, than admit that maybe they should stop seeing women as primarily sex objects and house cleaners and start viewing women as the extaordinary human beings they have shown themselves to be. The evidence of this truth is everywhere, but most men continue to choose to ignore it, rather than embrace it. Take a look around at the world right now and I can’t believe it’s not obvious that women have been sorely missed in positions of power.
Until men can come to terms with accepting women as equals, women must stop betraying each other and start supporting each other. The world is waiting.
The best humor is self-deprecating or targets up. When someone uses their celebrity to targets those below them and children, I agree Amy, it is bullying.
I just wanted to comment on Kathy Griffin. I think she has no self-esteen and/or is self-loathing. Anyone with self-respect would not talk like her. She is doing it for attention. She does not care if it is good or bad attention and using the Palin name is sure to put her in the news. The sad truth is people may laugh at her hate routine but they would not want to be friends with her or take her around friends or family. She is to be pitied. The Palins are good, decent, hardworking and it drives some people crazy with jealousy.
Actually, the Palins could use a little sensitivity training themselves but that’s no excuse for attacking a minor. I was a faithful viewer of Palin’s Bravo series but, like Tom Cruise and Mel Giblson, she has shown herself to be such a bigot that I simply can’t tolerate her any longer.
What makes Sarah Palin a bigot?
Julie: Sarah Palin is not a bigot in my book, she is an honest woman who has served her fellow citizens. Liberals project their own bigotry on to her. It is really disgusting.
Bes, I agree with you. Sarah Palin is not a bigot and it is telling that no evidence was presented. Some people just spout the DNC talking points. No thinking required.