I’ll just say it: the conspiracies around Justice League made me laugh yesterday. It was a much needed distraction from the horror show that is the unfolding Harvey Weinstein drama. It’s all connected though, because now that Weinstein has been outed as an abuser, Harvey’s “boys” felt the need to issue statements. Ben Affleck – who has Justice League coming out soon – was one of those dudes. As CB covered, the Batfleck’s statement did not go over well, probably because he has a history of assaulting women too. Thus, people began to wonder: is someone, like, out to get Justice League? Is someone pushing negative stories about the cast just to create bad press for Justice League? Of course that’s a funny thought, because for the love of God, NO ONE IS TRYING TO HURT JUSTICE LEAGUE. Justice League is already a mess. It was always going to be a gigantic mess. Warner Bros doesn’t know what to do with these valuable franchises anymore. If someone wanted to hurt Justice League, all they would have to do is wait for it to be released. Literally, that’s it. It’s going to be a train wreck.
So, that’s what I thought. I still think that, honestly. But I’ll admit it: I’m suspicious of how this Jason Momoa story cropped up yesterday. In 2011, Jason Momoa said a really stupid, offensive thing at Comic-Con. He was taking part of the Game of Thrones panel discussion – I think it was the first Comic-Con appearance for the GoT cast – and he was asked about playing Khal Drogo and why he likes doing sci-fi/fantasy films. His answer?
But as far as sci-fi and fantasy, I love that there’s so many things you can do, like rip someone’s tongue out of their throat and get away with it … and rape beautiful women. Next question.”
There’s video too:
tw: rape
a horrific clip of jason momoa saying he loved working on #gameofthrones bc he "got to rape beautiful women." men are trash. pic.twitter.com/K2RBmsWEt6
— elizabeth (@peeanofreek) October 12, 2017
It was awful. It was an awful thing to say. It was widely discussed and slammed back then, when it happened, in 2011. Apologists were like “well, he was talking about the character of Khal Drogo” but really, it just sucked that he said it. But why was it brought up again this week? Is there a conspiracy to thwart Justice League? No. It was brought up this week because we’ve been talking about assault, harassment and rape culture. At least that’s what I believe. Anyway, Momoa issued an apology about the 2011 statement:
I genuinely want to believe he’s an okay guy who just made one stupid, disgusting joke and he legitimately feels sorry. I don’t know though. Pray for Justice League, I guess.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
I mean my favourite thing about 2017 is how 2017 keeps slapping me in the face saying, hey, is there anything you enjoy that makes you happy? NOT ANYMORE THERE ISN’T.
god, yes. I don’t even have words anymore.
What’s even more awful? this year has been stellar, personally. We are getting out from under a mountain of debt, my husband’s business is booming, kids are great, I ditched the toxic people from my life, everything is stable.
And I can’t enjoy it, knowing so so many are suffering daily. I can just be grateful and do what I can to help 🙁
Yep. Legit said the same thing in therapy. I go between upset and angry at this entire year
No, not JM???!!!! I didn’t hear of this back in 2011. Harrumph. Good apology, though.
my friends and I have been referencing what Jason said for years and there have been so many apologists. I don’t think this is a justice league conspiracy tbh
A lot of comic con fans have also been speaking about this for years and considering how other male celebs are being called out, people probably thought this was a good time for this story to get the attention and outcry it always deserved.
Of course Ben is going to be called out after his statement, hes stood by his crusty brother Casey for years.
I’m not a JM fan, never really watched anything he was in. But just generally referring to your statement, @Handwoven: I am exhausted by all the shit that has come up in 2017. It’s influencing my relationship. I love my bf so much, he is a fantastic person, but I simply can’t seem to fully explain why I’m so saddened by the state of the world. It’s getting hard for us because I can’t stop being a Debbie Downer; I can’t just enjoy things anymore, and I’m so sad about it because he’s so loving. There’s just so much going on, so many stories every single day, and I keep taking in so much depressing information – yet I can’t stop. I don’t have money to spend on therapy right now. I should probably just stop reading the news, but somehow I can’t close my eyes either. The only thing I like about 2017, besides my sweet companion, is that things are finally coming out in the open and we know exactly whom to address as the enemy, with proof and everything. I assume this is part of the deal if we want real change – report the scum that made the world less beautiful for so many people.
Sorry for being such a downer. Sharing this with you actually made me proud of everything women have achieved so far, and looking back on these achievements made me feel a little stronger again.
I feel the exact same way. It’s so mentally and emotionally draining to keep up with the news, but I can’t ignore it. I don’t want to be uninformed and I feel like I do victims a disservice if I don’t at the very least acknowledge their trauma and suffering (whether it be by natural disaster, Weinstein, genocide, police, etc), even if it contributes to my own. I’ve been thinking a lot about ethical consumption lately (of which there is none under capitalism) and I feel that keeping my eyes open to the state of the world and the way it makes people suffer is one of the only ways for me to have any sense of justice.
Sg, yes, exactly this. I want to acknowledge everything that’s going down. And I want every effort to tear down this bad system to be seen, heard, and received. Thank you for replying and sharing your thoughts with me. It’s helping me a lot to know that someone’s feeling the same way.
It’s coming out, and we are talking about it – these are excellent reasons for HOPE. The folks apologizing, the folks coming forward, the I never knew-ers, are all speaking up and speaking out. Darling @Lensbury, there needs must always be hope. Please, please find the strength to live your daily life with hope. Your bf hopes you will lean into him for strength and hope. Do it. Hope for the future, cause there are foks who are little children at the moment. We must have hope. And we must all continue to speak out and step up. Hang in there, Sweetheart. There’s hope….
Plantpal, your kindness and your inspiring reply means so much to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I had a good and calming talk with a friend of mine who happens to be a young mother. I agree, there shall always be hope, and it is so good to see that, once addressed, some things shall never be hidden anymore. I do have hope. Also, thank you for your supportive words concerning my boyfriend. Never before have I trusted a partner more than I trust him, and sometimes my cynical core will still tell me to doubt, but it is very encouraging and reassuring to be reminded that one can and should definitely rely on the strenght and presence of a partner. Thank you tons for reminding me that this is a possibility – I forget that sometimes. If I do, I will definitely remind myself that it is okay to trust more. Lots of love to you, Plantpal.
I agree, the world is such a Pandora’s Box, every nook and cranny of anything ugly, insensitive, unacceptable and just plain horror inducing- floating up for the world to experience. I have every good thing otherwise- figured out what White Savior is and how that toxicity affected my family’s life and we’ve never been more clear or more strong. I just pray and even FANTASIZE we need to break open all old wounds for them to finally FINALLY heal? Is there a reason for this juxtaposition of “woke” and remaining hell?
@shlockOftheNEw:
Pandora-times indeed! Thanks so much for your words. After I vented here last night, I was able to sleep as deeply as I haven’t in a long time. I woke up to your comment, and I understood that I had needed to take that moment of despair followed by calm to realize that this may be a new phase and there are different, new steps to be taken. Maybe not everything is as light-hearted as before… then again, I’ve always been a relatively melancholic and darkly earnest person, so maybe I already got some good tools to manoeuver my way through this mess. I also firmly believe in breaking open old wounds. Small scale experience: I have done that with/for my family, and it was worth all the pain and time. I think it’s a super healthy process, and I thank you for reminding me of that.
About the juxtaposition: I don’t know, but I now believe change is actually already happening. It seems like it’s only getting worse, but let’s see this as a chance. We wanted change, and, as one of the first steps, we got some much-needed transparency. That some things are so in-your-face ugly now is BECAUSE circumstances are actually shifting. More and more people see, and more and more people speak up because we won’t take it anymore. We may have thought that change would come about in a more peaceful way, but hey, we challenged a toxic system, and we actually got somewhere. Now that so much horrible stuff is out in the open, we know even better what mechanisms to get rid of. Even more stuff will keep coming to light, we just have to be strong and support each other. We came up with names to address unhealthy systems, and we know whom to hold accountable. Now is the time to be direct. We all have a chance to help rearrange society now, and we need to keep going until we all get healthy. We all play a part. The bigger this mess gets, the more successful change can be (and the mess is huge, admittedly). Let’s not give up now.
Dear CBers, I have found confidence through the honesty in which really heavy topics are discussed here on CB. Also, over the years, I have found solace and inspiration in so many comments, so I think this is the time to warmly say Thank You. I have regained strength through your insight – time and time again, but especially now. I won’t be as sad and exhausted today as I was yesterday. I will get up again, and I will be deliberate, sensitive and stern in my effort to promote my part of the change.
Hi again, I wrote my previous post before reading your response, which I totally appreciate. Good on ya, @Lensblurry. All love~
@Plantpal Thank you, you dear soul! You really warmed my heart with your words! I appreciate it so much. Thank you. Much love, Plantpal!!
Yup, 2017 is an asshole and I kinda want to become a hermit at this point. Nothing is good and everything hurts.
I understand you, Chewbacca. Let’s find some extra love, let’s support each other, and let’s get through this. Sending you a hug (if you want & accept it).
What everyone is feeling is what individuals who’ve been abused have felt after and since they were abused.
This is daily life for us, what we have to overcome, resolve, heal, get therapy for it, on and on. And then we’re told the world isn’t bad, that was just an experience we had and we need to not let it colour how we see the world.
Combat veterans commit suicide because of this. Once you’ve been in it, seen it, felt it, it’s hard to forget. The problem is -this is the reality of human beings. We hurt each other, our planet, animals, etc.
When you’re overloaded, stop reading, get exercise, laugh, spend time doing something to lift your spirits and get respite. Actually in palliative and hospice care they do call it respite care for caregivers.
Respite care. Seek it. Pace yourself in reading this stuff. It’s the only way to survive life with a degree of happiness.
Yes… yes. Thanks for the reminder to stay healthy and take care of oneself, Carrie1. I know that, when I’m going too fast, I do forget that.
Wasn’t there an uproar about this back then? And didn’t he apologize then, too? I seem to recall hearing about this before.
Yes, it is a lesson in the internet never forgets. For him and anyone else who’s on the edge of doing something so callus.
I think we have to be outraged by the abhorrent behaviour of these men. I also think we shouldn’t actively destroy every person who has said something stupid
What Momoa said was outrageous and stomach churning, rape (even of a character) is nothing to joke about. He did apologize back then, and seemed sincere about it.
I don’t think he’s on the level of Affleck, Weinstein etc. That’s all I meant.
He made a terrible remark six years ago. It wasn’t part of a pattern of saying awful things and then apologizing when called out. I assume it was a one off mistake.
Making a tasteless joke about rape is different from raping. Both bad, but let’s save our righteous anger for where it’s due.
I’ve made stupid jokes before. I’ve misspoken and apologized for it and been forgiven. Making mistakes is how you learn, so let’s not be so quick to attack every mistake but remain vigilant for repetitive behaviors and systematic abuse.
Whenever a man makes light of rape, turn the ‘joke’ on him.
A dudebro once: “But you know, I like rape.” Stupid grin.
Me (pretending to look confused): “You like to get raped?”
Then see them crumble before you, because it’s no longer funny when they have to imagine themselves being the victims. A guy saying this to a woman does this to feel a sense of power, and you destroy that by turning the tables on them.
(not saying this was what Momoa did, because he was doing it in public to be ‘funny’, but I just wanted to note this down for any one of you who might be the victim of a guy trying to make you uncomfortable in this way).
Yup, he apologized in 2011, as well.
I’ve seen a comment saying he made a documentary exposing the poor laws protecting aboriginal women from sexual assault, but I have no idea what that would be, i look around kind of half heartedly and couldnt find anything.
Regardless, he is apologizing now, a second time, with no comment about how he previously apologized, no request for cookies.
I’m ok with it. No one can be perfect, learning and moving forward are the important parts.
Every bit of this.
We, humanity, are doing ourselves a disservice in jumping on every problematic thing that anyone has ever said in the history of their lives and raking them over the coals for it- without seeing if there is a pattern of behavior or perhaps natural mental and emotional growth instead. This distracts from /muddles up the true horrors we deal with on a daily basis. Yes, in time perhaps re-visit things like this but now is not the time. All of these things are part of the same system (misogyny) but they are not all the same weight.
Yes I remember it very well because it was super-disappointing. I don’t know if it was covered here specifically (I don’t see it linked so probably not) but it has been resurrected many times on JM threads. I also recall him making an apology at the time but I should probably Google to verify….
Anyway, what he said was disgusting. He seems to have learned and seems sincere in his apology but I just don’t have a lot of room for forgiveness these days, despite the fact that I always had a crush on him prior to that comment.
I’m totally admitting I’m biased because I love this man. It was a stupid thing to say. It was a horrible joke. But I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because his apology seems sincere. He seemed to be caught up in his character. He has made strong statements of support for women and talked about being raised by a single mom. He also made Road to Paloma in defense of Native women being raped and his character killing the man who did it. He is nowhere near a Ben Affleck.
I totally get it because I’ve always really liked him too and that comment was so disappointing PRECISELY because of what you say here: prior to that slip-up he’d always been very supportive of women.
Can anybody find a link to an apology issued in 2011?
I’ve been searching like crazy and I can’t find anything…
Maybe I made it up because I just WANTED it to be true. Sigh.
I’ve always crushed for Jason. His comment was disgusting; I remember the whole rape convos surrounding GOT so I imagine the word was in the forefront and ripe for mistakes. I can only hope. And I can only hope he’ll stop painting his nails. Ugh.
@kitten
I looked but the recent apology is all over the press so it may be hard to find. Again I’m admitting my total bias but I will not allow 2017 to take Jason Momoa from me too. I remember Emilia Clarke talking about him wearing a fuzzy pink sock in their love scenes to make her laugh and feel more comfortable. I think he was talking as his Khal Drogo character and his actions have always been supportive of women.
You know, I can’t find his original apology.
Even limiting the search to 2011/2012.
I found one blog saying they were waiting for an apology, but thats it.
http://feminist-geeks.livejournal.com/2678.html
If he needs to apologize again- let’s all take it in. The spine of Hollywood is just revealed and this pain is revealed- it’s really a big deal, that old “casting couch” joke is no more..
Same. His apology seems sincere, though.
I bet everyone in Hollywood is scrambling to cover their dirty deeds. It’s not safe for them anymore. I’m just waiting for when they start to out the dirty ones from the music industry. That should be the next step.
I honestly don’t think, long run, this will change things much. BUT I am enjoying the idea of so many creepers and rapists in HW hopefully crapping their pants at the moment, waiting for the anvil to drop, no matter how “powerful” they are.
The thing is, many of them don’t think they did anything wrong………
Whaaaa…..watching that made me feel so uncomfortable, but yet he got roaring laughter???
Hey, can I say- as disappointed as I am that it’s come to this- how pleasantly surprised and even impressed I am about how many men are getting this stuff now? In no way is the work done (almost hourly I find myself muttering under my breath Donald Sutherland’s line in Backdraft “Burn them. Burn it all…”) but my god is this a step in the right direction. The vigilance is paying off. I think our distaff lines would be damn proud.
Witch hunting. So much witch hunting.
Or people being rightfully called out for their words and actions. I for one feel emboldened to scream all the crap I’ve been through from the mountain tops. Some of us are tired of hiding and are reminding others of what is out there and what we’ve been through. But sure, poor Jason Momoa. He’s the victim of a witch hunt.
@gatorbait Yes.
@reverie Go away.
Sadly, we are finding actual witches. Warlocks?
Sure, that, or finally old wrongs coming to light. This isn’t a great example because he apologized, sincerely, when it happened, but am I going to lose sleep because the Afflecks of the world are finally being called upon to answer for the shit they’ve done for YEARS? Nope.
Not so much. Rape is never funny, ever. Thelma & Louise: After Harlan tries to rape Thelma and Louise puts a gun to his head “when a woman is crying she isn’t having any fun.” While some may forgive this actor because he is what they consider attractive, why I will never know, what he said is no better than trump with Billy Bush. He gave his mandatory apology, but he said what he felt and it is one’s own choice to forgive or not. Witch hunt, no. Perhaps forcing people to be held accountable for their words.
“What he said is no better than trump with Billy Bush”.
Have to completely disagree with you there. Momoa made a tasteless joke as an actor about what his CHARACTER does in a television series. Trump said that he, personally, assaults women because he is a ‘star’.
That’s a big bloody difference.
I wish people would stop making false equivalencies.
In response to Ewan McGregor’s twitter statement about how HW was a piece of shit and good riddance, a woman tweeted him back and said Ewan was “just as bad” for not knowing/stopping him. That is ridiculous.
Some perspective here, people.
I do feel like some people are getting swept up in being called rapists, harassers, ect. Jason made one, disturbing joke years ago. It doesn’t seem to be a pattern since no other comments or allegations have come out. I just don’t think it’s fair to compare him with Weinstein or even Ben Affleck.
I wish every everyone who told rape jokes could be stuck in a 5 seconds, VR simulator, and experience what it feels like. Maybe then they’d think better and STFU.
Sexual abuse, sexual harrassment, sexual assault IS NO JOKE.
Totally agree. Rape is not a joking matter. I have never Ever made a joke about Rape. It isn’t funny and when you’ve seen firsthand the aftermath of rape, it’s horrifying.
I would also like to add that the men in my life have never made a joke about Rape. Michelle Obama words are ringing in my ears right now. Good and decent men don’t disrespect women.
I agree. Good and decent men respect women as individuals not merely as their mothers, daughters, sisters, etc
Yes, how hard would it be to say you like action movies because you get to WORK with beautiful women? Why is it funny to say you get to PHYSICALLY ASSAULT AND VIOLATE beautiful women? Is it more “satisfying” because they’re beautiful? Ugh. Even just saying you get to “pretend to have sex with” beautiful women would be better.
I knew a guy once who said that closing on a house – signing the loan papers, etc. – made him feel like he’d been “raped.” And he said it so casually, as if rape were the totally understandable metaphor for feeling screwed over. And this, for a voluntary commitment of funds to obtain secure shelter. It was the 1980s but I never forgot it.
See, here’s the thing with many men… Rape is synonymous with F*** to them, except Rape is not a censored word. To them, thinking with their crotches, it denotes the sex act with tones of toxic masculinity. Most men who use the word jokingly would never perform the act nor would ever be a victim, so they do not have the same connection to the word that many of us do. To them, they casually think of it as rough dominant sex – which is why the “joke” garnered so many laughs – and is why we always need to call them out on it. I hope the meaning of the word Rape never devolves, loses power, is diminished, or becomes casual/jokey/or an offhand insult during my life (like the “R” word did)
Jason is gross and no matter how sincere he still said it
It was a horrible joke, but he apologized back in 2011 and he also got involved with a documentary about indigenous women who have suffered from sexual assault. I also remember that it was in line with how he used to talk about Khal Drago as he’d sarcastically quip that it was fun killing people…so I do think that context makes a tiny difference.
Anyway, I do think he was sincere about his apology. I wish every man who “heard” stuff like Clooney would take a page out of Momoa’s way of apologizing and get involved with charities that deal with sexual assault or help fund a documentary to shed light on the issue.
Hear, hear.
I agree context makes a difference. While it was undoubtedly in poor taste he wasn’t glorifying rape/violence but demonstrating how HBO pushes limits or something like that….
I don’t think he is particularly articulate and came across like an idiot.
I think it’s kind of crappy to lump him in w/ Affleck .
I didn’t remember this happening, so it’s a little shocking to read now. It was bad, no question, but I feel like one has to look at words and actions since then too. Unless there are other similar comments, I see it as a disgusting mistake and he has attempted to make amends for it, and learn from it. It’s gross and indicative of the pervasive rape culture that it didn’t cross his mind how it would be received, but it is not, IMO, on the same level as someone physically assaulting, threatening, or abusing someone.
I’m all in on calling all this out though. For too long it’s been laughed off, brushed aside, covered up. Victims are gaining a voice now, and we can’t let things go back to the status quo.
I like how we are literally grading apologies these days – that one’s weak and performative, this one’s sincere and heartfelt, the other one over there is just plain offensive etc. As apologies go, this one’s quite decent.
He’s a mix of a really good family guy and a total meat-head.
But a meat head who made efforts to learn from his mistakes. We probably can’t expect everyone to be born woke. Lots of jackasses talk about forgiveness. I’ve got plenty for people who say a dumb thing, get called out for it, and learn. Ultimately, everyone involved is a better person for the experience here.
Sexual assault, or any other kind of assault are never anything to joke about. I’m not sure if he’s only apologizing about it because of what’s happening with Harvey Weinstein, or if he really feels bad about the comment. I hope he genuinely regrets it and knows it was wrong to ever say
I’ll never understand why women drool over him and say he’s so hot and sexy. Maybe it’s his ratty hair that turns me off
Wow. The internet never forgets. Scorched earth policy, it seems.
joke or not, that way of thinking comes from somewhere in the depths of your inner self. If he’s sorry or not and if he’s issued an apology more or less believable doesn’t really matter, because is all PR. What matters is that is really scary how men, even new generations like Momoa, have still internalized the culture of disrespect for women.
I always want to give the benefit of the doubt but why do [some] guys always joke about rape??! Went to a wedding and one of the groomsmen was drunk and started saying he needed help getting to the bar because he didn’t want get attacked and raped. WTF!? RAPE IS NOT FUNNY PERIOD! Its not a word to use lightly, and as I get older In understand how the impact of that word affects ppl. Turn it into a learning moment and do better guys. DO BETTER
Those types of men live in a privileged bubble where they have never experienced the fear of being a victim, or a potential one, and have never bothered to speak with a woman about what that’s like.
Plus, some of them are just a-holes.
Can’t I just have one JUST ONE male crush that doesn’t disappoint me in ways that make my lady parts clam up and sew themselves shut?? I’m glad he apologized, but JFC, damage down dude.
as someone who’s been in the got fandom for a looooooong time, he’s made this comment more than once. it’s true that he apologised but still.
True, I’m also a long time GOT fan and work as a photographer so have been to several cons, fan meet ups etc. both for work and pleasure and I’ve heard this more than once from him (always followed by laughter and whoops from the crowd) and each time has been more disappointing than the last. I think there’s only video of the once, though, so he can be thankful for that (cue somebody finding other videos at other events of the same “joke”). It’s a good apology, but because of his (fairly recent) repetitions I just don’t know how sincere it is and how much of it is damage limitation. I hope it’s sincere and that the reaction is an eye opener and he upgrades his repertoire of jokes to tell at cons, etc.
I’ve been to multiple cons Jason has been at during his Stargate: Atlantis years. He was always drunk on stage. Or hungover for photo ops. I’ve never been a fan.
His comment about “sexual harassment can reach anyone and I have seen first hand it’s painful torment among members of my own family and friends” makes me wonder if he’s alluding to Lisa Bonet’s dealings with Bill Crosby. Lisa has never come out and said anything directly against Cosby but something did happen between them.
@Kitten, he never apologized. Until now. Sorry, to disappoint you.
I’ve never been a fan. When he got his start in Stargate Atlantis, I thought he was fun and hot. Then I met him at DragonCon and he was full of himself. Years later after his female costar was ousted, he threw her under the bus even though it was a dick move pulled by TPTB to capitalize on the Firefly/Serenity fandom. DragonCon revealed his true character to me. Dumb as a box of rocks, full of himself and out for numero uno. Perhaps he’s changed, but he lost me all those years ago.
I didn’t know this about him and it hurts my heart. I am honestly starting to lose faith in men period.
My husband used to interviews for security clearances. Most men are dirty disgusting dogs.
I believe all of this. His acting sucks tbh. I thought he was really an awful part of GOT, like a nod to females wanting eye candy but no depth.
@The Original Mia
You are mistaken, he did apologize back in 2011.
And no one can find it? The internet which forgets forgot his apology.
Yeah I couldn’t find any evidence on the internet that he apologized before this most recent apology.
My disappointment already occurred in 2011 when I saw the vid–which is a joke that according to posters he MADE MORE THAN ONCE (!!!!) –and he was cancelled after that so no need to worry about me being disappointed again.
I just cannot imagine any guy I’m close with who is a feminist and woke making a rape joke, especially multiple times and ESPECIALLY within the context that he made it. Gross and just NO.
I’m with @The Original Mia. Heck, I’ve been to cons where his former Stargate Atlantis co-stars talked smack about him on stage. Apparently he’s a lazy actor and need a promptor all the time for his lines as he never memorized them. Held up production and pissed off every other professional actor on the show except Joe Flannigan, who just as big frat boy bro as Jason.
If I’m Warner Bros right now, I’m on the phone with Gal Gadot and Amy Adams and begging them to go out and do talk shows together promoting this movie. It’s actually lucky for WB that the thing that seemed to get the most “buzz” after the last trailer was the return of Superman because compared to all of this, Henry Cavill is pretty unproblematic. A hot mess? Yes. But not a problem.
All that said though? This is obviously not a Justice League specific problem. Joss Whedon directed Avengers 1 and 2 before he had any association with WB. Several of the Marvel cast members made some pretty tasteless jokes a few years back. This is an industry wide problem and the men are a problem from the top down.
I was always going to see JL for Wonder Woman and the reunion between Lois and Superman so I don’t care what Ben Affleck or Momoa does as they were never the reason I was going to see the movie.
Kathleen, you are a thoughtful person who is considering these issues. Plenty of DC fan boys won’t care at all. My guess is the movie will make plenty of money.
I’m surprised they aren’t renaming the movie and changing posters.
WONDER WOMAN!
(and the justice league)
Whatever. Gross bro rape jokes are part of rape culture, but when we are talking about a long list of actual assaults and trashing of women’s careers, I don’t really have the energy to focus on him.
It was a horrible joke but additional problem is that it actually was indeed a fairly accurate description of the racist writing of his GoT character. That’s another set of problems.
I really cant stand that people on this thread are like- he’s my favourite so we must take it in context/he’s otherwise ok etc. For him to be comfortable saying something like that off the cuff, means that this is a reflection of his general thoughts- and that he felt this was an appropriate thing to say. An apology when you are called out on it, won’t make me change my mind about whether he’s a decent bloke
To Momoa’s credit, he always acknowledged that Drogo raped Danaerys. They may have had a loving relationship later, but he was uncomfortable with the fan portrayals of this ‘great romance.’
Ugh he’s so gorgeous. I guess I wanted to believe he would be brilliant, woke, and funny—the total package, but guess not. This is not OK. He can apologize all he wants, but jokes about rape are indefensible. He made light of something that is legitimately what most women would consider the worst thing that could ever happen to them, and for many of us, it is our greatest fear. Where the fuck is the humor to be found in that? He didn’t misspeak. He gets no pass from me.
Shoutout to Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, and Lena Headey for treating that joke how it deserved to be treated. They didn’t laugh nervously like everyone else did. They straight up looked uncomfortable and realized in the moment that it wasn’t OK. The way that Lena spun and looked at Peter and then covered her face with her hat pretty much summed up my reaction when I heard it.
True, I remember Peter Dinklage looking like: “Did he just say that? He did not just say that.”
Good to re-remember Peter and Lena did so too.
Him making a documentary about sexual assault doesn’t do anything to me, especially when I know that Weinstein financed a documentary about sexual assault in College and was present at the Women’s March.
This joke was awful and I’m glad Internet never forgets. Hopefully it will deter others to joke about such a serious topic.
Yeah, it’s very interesting how men of colour are getting lumped into this – Momoa, who apologized almost immediately for this terrible joke, Ryan Coogler and Lin Miranda who have limited experience with Weinstein, yet are on that list with actors and directors who worked with that predator for years and claim to be shocked and horrified by this turn of events. Not central to the issue right now, but worth noting.
I think some on the list only worked with Harvey one time. It’s like they are reaching . But Coogler’s involvement with Harvey was minimal. Weinstein distributed his first film. He said even though it was only a brief involvement with him, he felt a responsibility to speak up. I don’t think he needed to. But I absolutely loved Ryan Coogler’s statement. It was inspiring hearing from a younger director, only 31, address not only Weinstein, but the broader problem. They were very thoughtful remarks.
He ended his remarks with, “It goes without saying, but I will state it now,” he said. “Sexual harassment is a human rights violation, sexual assault is a human rights violation, rape is a human rights violation.” Spot on.
Boom! Sexual assault is a real problem. Sexism is a real problem. HW is a horrible human being. None of this is new.
But yeah. Let’s dig up all the dirt we can find on celebrities, that will suddenly make the huddled masses get it. That will end sexism and misogyny. That will end pay discrepancies. That will make us all forget that White women an opportunity to elect a female President and instead more of them voted for Trump than Hilary.
Those white women voting for Trump are some of the dumbest and most vile people on the entire planet.
But I enjoy how this puts Hollywood against the light and everyone who has done or said anything sexist is being called out and their behaviour is not being called acceptable.
And of course they’re going to get everybody into this. We enjoy hearing about gossip (hence we’re on this website) and discussing much more minor things about celebs. This is the biggest gossip event that I’ve seen in my entire life, so I’m not at all surprised that every famous person that is involved/remotely connected/simply an actor in Hollywood is going to be pulled into this, if it makes a story that gets clicks.
Momoa didn’t apologise at the time. It was actually kind of notable that he didn’t, because it was a fairly big story. But even if he had apologised, I think it’s a good thing these things come back to haunt people. An apology doesn’t change the fact he showed people how he thinks right there.
I also get why Lin and Ryan were on that list of people who hadn’t said anything (at that point). It read like a list of famous people the writer was *interested* to hear from, and most of the filmmakers Weinstein’s worked with semi-recently don’t have much of a public profile. Within the last 6 years, there’s Tarantino, Tim Burton and David O. Russell. Otherwise it’s people like Stephen Gaghan or John Lee Hancock. I suspect even people with a particular interest in films would struggle to recognise the names and pair them with their films. So, y’know, no one’s dying to know what they have to say. Lin obviously has a huge profile and a reputation for being, well, the greatest, and Ryan’s quite well known now too. I expect part of it was also about getting a view from some younger people who haven’t been entrenched with Weinstein for decades.
Everybody who has any connection with Weinstein is pulled into this.
If you said things like Momoa did, it’s right you get be called out and that it’s shown to the world that it’s not acceptable.
I don’t think he’s as bad as Affleck and do think it was a one time mistake (him thinking he was funny), but it should be called inapproriate.
I think he’s sort of cheesy looking, honestly. Khal Drogo had his sexy moments but I just can’t with the Vanilla Ice eyebrow. He would be more attractive with short hair, normal eyebrows and a suit, imo. I don’t get why everyone loves him. Is there something I missed?
I didn’t know about this until now, but it sucks he said that and honestly, I don’t encourage people to watch GoT anymore. I watch it because I watched from the beginning but I went back to watch the early episodes and there’s just way too much sexual violence in the series. I can’t stomach it on screen anymore because it’s in the news every day, I see it every time the president speaks, can’t unsee it anywhere, etc.
Why go after his eyebrow scar though- he cant help that.
I thought it was a thing he did for flair. NVM on the eyebrow then.
You know how actors who have played a killer in a horror movie or the villain in a comic book movie or whatever and said about how “fun” it was to to do? I think he was trying to say something similar. I dont think he seriously thinks or ever thought that rape is good. Just as he would know that ripping out someone’s tongue is also not good.
I think it was a poor choice of words. But its good they he apologized anyway.
I am not ever one to defend or try to justify rape jokes made by anyone, but I have always thought that this particular terrible joke, in context, was a response/reaction to the way people kept asking him about the Drogo and Dany rape scenes when he repeatedly expressed discomfort about discussing it. Like he meant it more as a sarcastic “yeah, you got me, I have said a thousand times that I hated filming that scene and don’t like to talk about it, but sure, the best part of this show is getting to do rape scenes.”
It doesn’t make the joke any less insensitive or hurtful to rape survivors, or any more appropriate to say aloud, but that’s my guess about the mindset behind it.
I don’t believe any conspiracy theory is just people, women, just fed up how easily some disgusting behaviour by men in entertainment has been overseen, minimized and justified. I’m not particularly keen with a witch hunt and going back years ago with behavior like in this case has been already issued an apology about by Momoa, but is a very consistent and internalized culture of minimizing terrible things said and done by men against women that is very scary and has to be called out, so is ok for me that social media is vigilant and saying: “we don’t forget”. Mora than the fact of the joke per se, I’m worried what kind of upbringing men had to even joke about raping women for fun.
Aside from jm to the people Who said this is depressing…It is.But come on …..is this really so surprising ?we didnt know or possibly imagine?Personally I’ve always bene aware or this system.Sadly many work environments works in this way.BUT from now on maybe something is gonna change.
🙂