I can’t help but post about what went down when Moe and Tracie (“Slut Machine”) from Jezebel went on the show “Shoot the Messenger” last week with host Lizz Winstead (Daily Show co-creator). What a hot mess.I hate to comment when the blogosphere goes buck wild with the latest back and forth about one of our own, but this was pretty bad.  

Here are just one of the quotes that made my skin crawl,

       Tracie on why she thinks she hasn’t been raped:

“I think it has to do with the fact that I’m like, smart.”

From Lizz (host), after the fact on Shoot the Messenger’s website:

“I don’t know if they came to the show drunk, or just ended up drunk by the time they hit the stage, but what I do know is that the discussion that ensued was deeply disturbing to me… they do not understand the influence they have over the women who read them, nor do they accept any responsibility as role models for young women who are coming of age searching for lifestyles to emulate.”

I generally don’t subscribe to the idea that celebrities (are they celebs?) should be held to “role-model” standards of behavior. But, as a self-proclaimed feminist (like M and T), and while representing a publication that is not yours and yours alone, I think one does have an obligation not to act like a total asshole. Especially by being flippant about subjects as serious as rape. 

Luckily, Anna Holmes (Managing Editor of Jezebel) weighed in on the issue today,

“These three women had the chance to have a fun, spirited discussion — or a serious talk; it remains unclear what the event was “supposed” to be … That chance was squandered. Some blame the format, or the participants, or generational differences, or alcohol, or the provocative subject matter, or unrealistic expectations, inarticulateness and lack of preparedness. I believe that everyone, however, can agree that the whole thing was a fucking shame.”

Amen, sister. She also said,

“And it wasn’t representative of Jezebel.”

I’d like to think Moe or Tracie don’t actually subscribe to 99% of what they said that night. Who knows, maybe they were drunk and stoned and just acted the fool. I hope that’s true. But how ’bout we just show up to our public appearances sober, with a clear prepared mind, and try not to act smug and insensitive? Word.