A Cinecle View – Situational shaming
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While we patiently wait to see if Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. publishes my mother’s manifesto on supermarket audio triggers/declaration of war against “Possum Kingdom” by the Toadies, we have some time to delve into another little controversy that I’ve been holding my opinion on until a perfect example of hypocrisy could …
Well, that didn’t take long.
(The usual disclaimers apply: Didn’t vote for the current President of The United States, don’t particularly care for him and I am not for censorship of music, visual media or art of any kind.)
Last Thursday, pro hockey player Ryan Getzlaf of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, got fined $10,000 by his league for muttering “fucking cocksucker” on the bench because: “The type of language chosen and utilized in this instance will not be tolerated in the National Hockey League.”
Fair enough; the league is a private organization that can set any rules of conduct that they deem fit for their players/representatives of their brand. Shut the fuck up and pay the fine, Ryan.
In addition, press and social media backlash at the inconsistency of the penalty, not including a suspension, and Getzlaf’s non-apology apology …
There was obviously some words said, not necessarily directed at anyone in particular. It was just kind of a comment. I’ve got to be a little bit more responsible for the words I choose.
Definitely as a father, as somebody that takes a lot of pride in this game and the respect for it, it’s tough to see somebody refer to it as (a gay slur). I didn’t mean it in that manner in any way. For that to take that route was very disappointing for me. I do accept responsibility and I accept the fine. We talked to the league and I understand that it’s my responsibility to not use vulgar language. Period. Whether it’s a swear word or whatever it is. We’ve got to be a little bit more respectful of the game, and that’s up to me. I accept that responsibility and we’ll move forward.
… was fast and furious …
- “If the NHL truly wants to rid the game of sexist, homophobic and demeaning language, they need to be consistent with their punishments, not vary them according subjective judgments on how hurtful the language may be or who the player is.” – Hemal Jhaveri, For The Win/USA Today.
Just so we’re clear, using language that implies that the act of performing oral sex on a man is demeaning and therefore “sexist” if directed at a woman and “homophobic” if aimed at a man, is why the language was hurtful and bad, right?
That’s a rhetorical question; of course it is!
So why did Stephen Colbert not only get a free pass from many people (especially media personalities), but most actually DEFENDED his words at 11:43 in the video below …
Everything was fine up until he said, in admittedly the funniest way possible, that the only thing that President Trump’s mouth is good for is orally pleasuring Russian President Vladimir Putin, or, in Getzlaf terms, “Trump’s a cocksucker.”
Look, I LOVE Stephen Colbert. He is one of the funniest people ever to grace a late night television stage, and the turn of phrase, “cock holster” is absolutely, undeniably inspired for the visual it suggests. But let’s be honest, the joke in and of itself is homophobic and sexist by the definition applied to Getzlaf’s outburst, and if Getzlaf’s apology was insufficient, Colbert’s words after his debacle for sure should have been more sincere mea culpa, less of the smug, half-assed cool-guy-alry that he delivered at 1:39 in the video below:
There’s nothing wrong with getting all up in Old Orange Face’s grill.
But those who preach respect and acceptance should not be held to a different standard just because it makes for a better late night monologue.
The double standard wasn’t funny when I used to watch NFL football with my grandfather and a black player on the opposing team would make a questionable hit on a black player on the team that he was rooting for and he would scream, “COME ON, REF! Didn’t you see what their (N-WORD) did to my African American gentleman?” at the television, and it’s not funny now.
Actually, Colbert’s joke was very funny, but that doesn’t make it any less hypocritical.
Right, Hemal Jhaveri?
As far as the media personalities like Jhaveri, Seth Meyers, the cast of The View and others defending Colbert, congratulating him or just looking the other way are concerned: It was hypocritical when Tony Stark tried to kill Bucky Barnes for murdering his parents while Bucky was under Hydra Mind control after Stark gave Clint Barton a free pass for killing dozens of SHIELD agents and private security contractors while he was under Loki’s Infinity Stone powered mind control, and it’s hypocritical when you call Getzlaf’s comments made in the heat of anger “homophobic and sexist” yet seem impressed when Colbert reads words with the exact same meaning from a teleprompter with a smile on his face.
If homophobic language is wrong, it’s always wrong; not just when it suits a specific political agenda.
(DAMNIT! Sorry, SPOILER ALERT for THE AVENGERS AND CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR!)
Tony Marion is a writer and filmmaker who splits time between Lancaster, PA and Baltimore, MD. He lives for the work of Descendents (the band), Chuck Palahniuk and Rian Johnson. Check out the digital embodiment of procrastination he calls his website here.