As Twitchy reported, Vanity Fair Hive posted a lighthearted video over the weekend where writers gave Hillary Clinton a number of things to do in 2018 besides starting another run for president, thus incurring the wrath of her No. 1 superfan, Peter Daou. In case you missed it, here’s the video again:
Maybe it's time for Hillary Clinton to take up a new hobby in 2018 pic.twitter.com/sbE78rA5At
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) December 23, 2017
Plenty of people have allegedly canceled their subscriptions in response, and at least one writer appearing in the video, Maya Kosoff, has locked down her Twitter account. The Intercept’s Glenn Greenwald offers his take:
One of the reporters for @VanityFair who appeared in the "don't-run-again-Hillary" video, @mekosoff, has locked her account after being subjected to the most foul vitriol and abuse, endlessly, over several days.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 27, 2017
That’s ridiculous & indefensible, obviously, but I can’t help thinking it should’ve been clear to someone higher up that this bit might not be well received. How is it that a group of people who choose to work with words & culture for a living can’t seem to see themselves in it?
— Madeleine Essss (@lunarcamelco) December 27, 2017
The journalists who produced it, many of them women, apparently assumed one of the world's richest, most famous and most powerful political leaders was fair game for mockery, and that journalists sometimes produce criticisms of leaders that aren't "well-received" by followers.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 27, 2017
Telling her to “take up knitting” isn’t journalism it’s cruel sexism. I think you understand that?
— Meg (@Meg_WritesStuff) December 27, 2017
I have no problem with people who criticize the video. That's very different from subjecting one of the women in the video to days of foul abuse and personal attacks until she's forced to lock her account and leave Twitter until next year.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 27, 2017
Im not one of those ppl. But if you make a hateful video that is also cruel and personal it isn’t surprising it comes back.
— Meg (@Meg_WritesStuff) December 27, 2017
Recommended
That sounds a lot like victim-blaming to me (she had it coming, got what she provoked, etc.). And trying to elevate this video of light mockery toward a very rich & powerful politician into some kind of hate speech seems a bit much, to put that mildly. But OK.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/kallllisti/status/946101931218309120
The last time I saw someone treated this abusively and contemptuously by a large group on the internet was Donna Brazile, the week that her book excerpt was released accusing the DNC & Clinton campaign of corruption. I'm starting to sense a disturbing pattern.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 27, 2017
What, that there’s an #I’mWithHer mob out there waiting to pounce on anyone who dares jest about her majesty, Madam President? Oh yeah, they’re out there and still sore about that whole election thing. Check out these tweets directed toward Kosoff and crew.
Name names: I would like to see a list of the “geniuses” who sat in a room and came up with the idea to trash a woman who isn’t in public office. https://t.co/QX1r8nWO7H
— Amy Siskind ?️? (@Amy_Siskind) December 27, 2017
.@Ben_Landy, @besslevin, @landsbaumshell, @abigailtracy, @mekosoff, & @JonKelly2 – I guess many of us would like to know what the thought/goal was in choosing Hillary as a target? I'm sure you thought long and hard about devoting resources to make a video. Please share.
— Amy Siskind ?️? (@Amy_Siskind) December 27, 2017
Here are the #VanityFair editors—the privileged millennial turds who thought it would be hilarious to suggest that one of the most accomplished women in American political history take up knitting.@Ben_Landy, @besslevin, @landsbaumshell, @abigailtracy, @mekosoff, & @JonKelly2.
— Stacey C (@StaceyCKs1) December 27, 2017
Let's call these misogynists out by name – @besslevin, @landsbaumshell, @Ben_Landy, @abigailtracy, @mekosoff, & @JonKelly2 #CancelVanityFair
— This Is Not Normal (@BKaytweets) December 27, 2017
You should be ashamed of your misogynistic Vanity Fair video. It was not funny & crossed the line. #CancelVanityFair
— Tina???????️? (@TinaMarie88888) December 27, 2017
Misogyny depends on the complicity of women. Sad.
— Lynn Comella (@LynnComella) December 27, 2017
Yes. For many of us, Hillary Clinton was the one, single political role model we had. The only one who fought the attacks and survived them …. for decades. The only one who never gave up in the face of horrible discrimination and attacks. In so many ways, she is all of us.
— Carol. Resisting and Persisting. (@busywriting) December 27, 2017
I'm not her age yet, but I'm old enough to have felt the attacks and looked up and seen one woman succeeding as a public, professional role model never giving in to male stereotypes. To see these young, smug women insulting someone who fought for them. It's maddening.
— Carol. Resisting and Persisting. (@busywriting) December 27, 2017
The worst part is they are defending it and are *shocked* anyone is offended.
— Carol. Resisting and Persisting. (@busywriting) December 27, 2017
What small people you must be. Shame on all of you.
— Alex (@alexdimario) December 27, 2017
Her reasoning for @VanityFair hit piece on @HillaryClinton reveals privileged, elitist, self-hating woman w ZERO hard-knocks experience. Let’s see how YOUR LIFE turns out, @mekosoff. Sure hope YOU don’t let anyone down! #CancelVanityFair
— USA Resistance??? (@AllResistance) December 27, 2017
It’s not funny in the least. Lazy comedy is the worst kind. A mean-spirited slap in the face to HRC. Would they have done this about McCain or Romney?
— ElizaSerena (@FemzForever) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/SallyDrakes/status/945933269232623617
What small minds these people have. Video is very disturbing, mean spirited, and hateful. Sick.
— NWDCLion (@nwdclion86) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/odetteroulette/status/945992359900274689
What a dumb video! Who among you actually thought this through? Why are the accomplishments of a brilliant woman thought to be a “hobby”, that she can drop to pick up knitting? TONE DEAF!
— Naomi Youngstein (@NaomiYoungstein) December 27, 2017
Comedy is supposed to be funny. Satire is supposed to be sharp. You guys managed to do neither while looking small and petty. Congratulations on this trash piece. pic.twitter.com/u9zSSyv8UA
— Daniel Aubry (@Aubs89) December 27, 2017
My part in helping them find new unemployment. Or at least time to reflect on their ingrained, institutionalized misogyny. They should have been better than this. pic.twitter.com/x1bY9U1xor
— Kim (@Eatwelllivefull) December 27, 2017
Based on their tweets about this at least some of them seem to believe telling the most prominent woman politician in American history to take up knitting is part of a substantive and well-earned criticism. Very weird.
— Jeremy Thomas (@hey_itsthatguy) December 27, 2017
I'm curious what context she feels is acceptable for hate and misogyny?
— KatherineB (@Kat41150B) December 27, 2017
These people don't seem to understand their level of disrespect and the females don't recognize their internalized misogyny.
So many of us don't find it funny but they try to turn it around and say we just don't get it.
We DO get it. That's WHY we don't find it funny.
— KatherineB (@Kat41150B) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jesmaec/status/946007131983089664
Thank you Kendally for exposing these creeps. I hope they get bombarded with tweets of outrage from millions of us who found their "advice" for Hillary disgusting and NOT FUNNY. THEY are the ones who need new hobbies. I hope they all get fired for this when @VanityFair loses $$$
— TrudyM (@TrudyM11) December 27, 2017
And I don't have adequate words, by the way, to describe how sad it makes me that so many women participated in the creation of this mean-spirited, misogynistic piece of hateful clickbait.
— Kendally Brown (@kendallybrown) December 27, 2017
Also a "new hobby"?? Her fucking career wasn't a "hobby". #CancelVanityFair
— Aaron ? (@thatlevity) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/amymonaghan14/status/946023906946834433
FWIW, their editorial careers are dead.
Having a snotty opinion is one thing.
But this? They damaged their mag’s reputation, readership & bottom line—and everyone in the biz knows it.
They’re lucky Jones can only fire them and not go at them with a tire iron.#CancelVanityFair— Molly NYC (@Molly_NYC) December 27, 2017
Poor @mekosoff has protected her account. says she doesn't "appreciate being taken out of context to make me seem super sexist…"
I have questions:
— MarthaHC in Va. (@wtf_imtooold) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/SarahLerner/status/946050984698044416
https://twitter.com/SarahLerner/status/946056827573215232
I guess Maya doesn't like being criticized by strangers. Too bad she doesn't have the fortitude of someone like, oh, Hillary Clinton
— Miss N. is fixin' to bite somebody good (@MissBilious) December 27, 2017
I did have some choice comments for Maya Kosoff last night but she couldn't handle it. Cried and locked up her acct. Strong women, like HRC, deal with it. And have been since the 1960s.
— Elizabeth Lee??? (@touraloura) December 27, 2017
You know who’s never protected their twitter account? That’s right. Hillary Rodham Clinton. And she gets more abuse than these 6 put together.
— a very stable and perfect genius ??⌛️ (@kreckerlang) December 27, 2017
JFC, @VanityFair. At least have the balls to stand up for your sexist trash if you’re going to defend it. And @mekosoff, no one took you out of context. We can all see the same video. #CancelVanityFair pic.twitter.com/uE6qHamGjp
— REDACTED (@osubusmaj) December 27, 2017
Hey @mekosoff! You weren't taken out of context and made an extremely sexist video about Hillary Clinton in an attempt to take women back decades. Nothing you can say will get you out of this but maybe apologizing and deleting the video would be a good first step. #VanityFair
— Millennials For Kamala (@Millennials4Her) December 27, 2017
@HillaryClinton was just voted most admired woman for the 22nd time, 16 times in a row this year… something that will never happen to any of you. Pass this on to your little friend with the protected account.
— Teresainnj???❄?? (@teresainnj) December 27, 2017
There's been a lot of cheap Hillary Hate from established male Vanity Fair writers while Graydon Carter was EIC. Stop dogging @radhikajones and @mekosoff
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) December 27, 2017
1. I have some serious advice for @radhikajones, the brand new editor of @vanityfair, who took over from the legendary Graydon Carter and stepped immediately into a major scandal over a stupid sexist video.
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 27, 2017
2. She's very clearly in the "it will all blow over soon" stage of denial about media in our current age. This is a very stage to be in. The longer you stay there, the worse it is. I've been there, folks.
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 27, 2017
3. With something as deeply offensive as suggesting the former Secretary of State – a feminist icon and the most admired woman in the U.S. – take up knitting as she's bullied from the public stage, only a swift and abject apology will do.
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 27, 2017
4. While the initial furor will blow over – though #CancelVanityFair is going strong now – the taint never will, especially without an apology. Let's face it, folks – VF covers boldface names, and there are three prominent Clintons.
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 27, 2017
5. Every Clinton story VF *ever does* from now till kingdom come (certainly for the next couple of decades, forever in media land) will be criticized with the lens of "knitting." It's the nastiest, most sexist disgrace … and it's forever.
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 27, 2017
6. Only an apology – swift and real and tough – can mitigate that. I've done it myself. It's no fun. But receipts are very real in our connected age. If anyone reading this knows Radhika Jones personally or professionally, please pass this along. #
— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 27, 2017
Those are some angry Hillary supporters right there. Let’s hear from another perspective.
https://twitter.com/DavidKlion/status/946088932663443456
https://twitter.com/See_Em_Play/status/945881414846775297
https://twitter.com/See_Em_Play/status/945881314456195074
Related:
Uh oh! Peter Daou pauses vacay to defend Hillary’s honor against ‘repugnant’ Vanity Fair video
Join the conversation as a VIP Member