kEvery day it becomes harder and harder to defend my love for old fashion journalism, more like hateration and bully propaganda in my book. Last Friday during an interview on Sacramento[CA]CBS 13's Good Day show entertainment news reporter, Mark S. Allen low blowed Janet Jackson, one of the stars of Tyler Perry's #1 boxoffice movie this week, "Why Did I Get Married?" when he asked her about her infamous Boobgate wardrobe malfunction at Superbowl XXXVIII. "Anything happened to you at the SuperBowl?" Allen asked.
As a publicist, I am pretty sure that Janet's publicist gave CBS 13 a list of off-limit questions to ask, and that question had to be one of them. So why? Secondly, what was the relevance of that question? How did it relate to promoting this movie? And third, why hadn't this reporter asked Justin Timberlake the same question when was there in September?
Double standards? Or another attempt for the politics of mass media to debase African-American women? Here's a movie that shows black professional, married women with strong spiritual foundations, but all of that is embrued when Allen brings up a three-year-old incident. Sure Boobgate was the final straw that broke the FCC's back on indecency, but has the rules changed. Let's take a look at CBS daytime and prime time shows. Have the soap operas gotten steamer? Are vampires, demons, and serial killers headlining this year's fall lineup?
Mr. Allen, I hope your reporting earns you your just rewards.
Question: Chip Macgregor brought up an excellent question at The Writer's View Discussion two weeks ago. Have we did anything in the past that we would be ashamed of now as Christian writers?
How would you feel if a reporter trumps your interview about your latest Christian novel to remind me of your broken past? Would you use it to glorify God? If so, how? Any advice for Ms. Jackson?
The Pruning Principle
2 years ago
3 comments:
Although I don't blame anyone for resenting the irrelevant comment on a three year old incident, especially when the interviewee is representing a totally unrelated body (no pun intended) of work, I don't think it's particular to African American women.
Unfortunately, some women set themselves up for ridicule, allowing their achievements to be overlooked because of one or more poor decisions or lapses of good judgment. Those certainly aren't identified by ethnicity.
While there are some who capitalize on a mistake by using a racial profile--and perhaps this man did--most of the time it's more of a female gender prejudice or just wanting to keep a person identified by their poor choices instead of their current performances. JMO
I agree, Nicole. This issue isn't just a black woman's issue, but it's hard for me to believe that he would have not low blowed her had she not been African-American. There's this element of disrespect that I can't describe, but I can clearly see when someone does that to me, that I felt he had did to her.
I did not see the interview, but heard a lot about it. I did however see the apology footage (not sure how sincere that mess was!) This man for whatever reason chose a route that was not honorable or purposeful but I would dare say that at some point she should have been prepared for and even anticipated that,she is a major star that had a major public embarassment. I know she didn't think that dies down already (Vanessa Williams is still very well known for the Ms. America fiasco)! Racially charged or not this would have been a perfect opportunity to be a testimony for the Lord. Everyone makes mistakes, there is none perfect but maturity in Him comes when you can turn your mistake into a testimony, and help someone else to not make the same mistake you made. That's when GOD is glorifyed!
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