"There is difference and there is power. And who holds the power decides the meaning of the difference." --June Jordan

Monday, August 18, 2008

Greg Jarrett of Fox News Apologizes for Blatant Trans-Hate

Fox News Apologizes:



And here's what they apologized for:



I think the transphobia, homophibia and misogyny are pretty apparent, but in case you can't watch the video clips, here's how GLAAD describes it:
Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett and Us Weekly Editor-at-Large Ian Drew spent the segment gratuitously insulting the America's Next Top Model contestant, using dehumanizing terminology, inaccurate and inappropriate pronouns and offensive references to her anatomy.

While laughing and joking, Jarrett mocked Isis’ description of herself as a woman whose “cards were dealt differently,” and said, “That’s an understatement!” Drew referred to recent instances of transgender visibility on reality television as “The Crying Game ’08,” going on to call the show “America’s Next Top Tranny.” Drew then said that she doesn’t look any different from other contestants because “they are not exactly the most high-class group of women.” Throughout the segment, Jarrett switched back and forth between male and female pronouns, and both Jarrett and Drew suggested that Isis “fooled” people by “blending in.” They went on to make crude remarks about her genitalia and the pitch of her voice.

(Via CineQueer)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

An on air "apology" of sorts from Fox News is better than nothing, I guess. But why oh why does it always have to be couched in "that was not our intention" - especially when it clearly was Jarrett's intention to mock and demean the contestant.

Can we ever expect anyone anywhere to say - you know what? That was really messed up - what I said/did there. I'm sorry."

Tracey said...

I know, right? It's quite a feat that the apology even happened, but of course it was just one of those short scripted and forced-sounding ones. The whole "not our intention" gets old, for sure.

Anonymous said...

Well Pigs are flying today, FOX NEWS apologized. I don't believe that it was not their intention to be offensive. What they did was intentional. Language can be very effectively as a tool of oppression and FOX is well aware of it. Those that use hate speech to maintain their privilege are always aware of what they are doing even when they don't acknowledge it.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty surprised by the apology too.

It's very irritating though, that no one ever seems to say: "We are sorry we offended you." or "We are sorry we said such offensive things."

It's always" "We're sorry you were offended." or "It was not our intention to be offensive."

Those types of apologies always feel half assed, like they are trying to get the benefits of apologizing while still ducking responsibility for being offensive.

Tracey said...

Renee: I don't believe it wasn't there intention, either. Did you notice how after the US Weekly guy said something blatanly misogynist, Jarrett just laughed and told him he was "going to get some calls about that one". Ugh.

Esra: Yep. Saying "I'm sorry YOU were offended" instead of "I'm sorry I offended you" is such crappy way to apologize.

Anonymous said...

“They are not exactly the most high-class group of women.”

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

Lindsey said...

I agree, language is one of the most effective tools of oppression. Jarret's body-language and tone also suggest his intention to demean and point out difference.

Watching this segment was like watching two high school guys joke by their lockers during passing time...

I have plenty of problems with the way the fashion industry operates when it comes to the way race, ethnicity, gender, and body shape and size are handled, but my hope is that this may serve to humanize at least this transgender woman for the folks who watch her take part in the show.