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sofia vergara.jpg

Let's Play a New Game Called "Is That Sexist?"

By Emily Cutler | Celebrity | August 26, 2014 |

By Emily Cutler | Celebrity | August 26, 2014 |


New game, guys. Today we’ll be playing “Is That Sexist? Sofia Vergara Edition.” At last night’s Emmy ceremony while Academy of Television Arts & Sciences president Bruce Rosenblum talked about stuff and about how the Emmys are great, Sofia Vergara provided the eye candy by standing on a rotating pedestal. Here’s the video in question:

The internet pretty quickly jumped on the “That’s sexist” side of the debate.

From Jezebel:

Instead of the usual boring spiel the President gives every year, they decided to throw Sofia Vergara on a spinning platform while giving the same boring spiel. She was treated like a literal object. And we’re not the only ones that noticed.

And Vulture:

Low: Sofia Vergara spinning on a pedestal. Come to Hollywood, where you, too, can be objectified, no matter how many Emmys your show is nominated for — you’re just here to be a body. Ugh, this shit has got to stop.

And a random Twitter sampling:


Vergara responded that “hell no, it’s not sexist”:

“I think its absolutely the opposite,” Vergara shot back at critics of the stunt, while speaking with the press backstage. “It means that somebody can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself. I think it’s ridiculous that somebody started this — I know who she was — who has no sense of humor [and should] lighten up a little bit.”

There’s a lot to consider. On the one hand, Vergara willingly played up the objectification so it could be seen as a post feminist reclamation of objectification. Woman can now decide if they want to be treated like objects so they should be allowed to do so if they so choose. On the other hand, sexism is such an entrenched part of our society that it’s often overlooked or even seen as normal. It’s vital that we continue to examine our own practices and customs, including arts and entertainment, to ensure that unchecked sexism isn’t masquerading as humor or sexual empowerment.

What do I think? Oh, I don’t care because this sketch was boring as shit. I mean, is it sexist? Probably. But mostly it’s a completely tired, unfunny bit that should cost at least one writer his job.

What the hell was going on last night, Emmy writers? Were you also thrown off because the show was on a Monday? Did you forget about it until the last minute and then had to put a bunch of nonsense together? Because you had a lot of really funny people involved in that show, and most of it wasn’t funny. Do you remember the Messing Parsons joke? That might have been the best thing you wrote all night. I want you to sit by yourself and think about that for a while.

Verdict: Sarah Silverman hosts next year.

Source: The Wrap