By Vivian Kane | Twitter | July 18, 2016 |
By Vivian Kane | Twitter | July 18, 2016 |
In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, Idris Elba said that his being cast in The Dark Tower “is a sign of the times in terms of a colorless society.” Elba is the Gunslinger! Women are Ghostbusters! We’ve had a mixed race president in the White House for nearly eight years! We’re living in a post-racial, post-feminist, post-hate world, right?
Anyone who says that racism is over, or that accounts of internet harassment are exaggerated, lives in a bubble of their own making. And Leslie Jones is exposing that truth on Twitter.
Some people on here are fucking disgusting. I'm blocking your filthy ass if retweet that perverted shit. Just know that now bitches!!
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Ok I have been called Apes, sent pics of their asses,even got a pic with semen on my face. I'm tryin to figure out what human means. I'm out
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
When racists are able to hide their vileness behind a shield of anonymity, things get truly disgusting. And of course Leslie Jones or anyone else shouldn’t be subjected to that kind of harassment. (And don’t you dare pull any of that ‘Why doesn’t she just quit Twitter?’ bullshit. No one should be expected to flee the playground because no one’s checking the bullies.)
But then Jones changed her mind. In a perfect world, she wouldn’t have this hate spewed at her, but in our world, she at least isn’t going to let it go unnoticed.
@Lesdoggg Twitter makes us: Block. What we really wanna do: pic.twitter.com/T5URw7AmeC
— Cole (@ColeRN30) July 18, 2016
You think this world is post-racial? Leslie Jones is retweeting the vilest (but certainly not even close to all) of the horrible things sent her way.
You know I'm gonna stop blocking so y'all can go through my feed yourself and see the bs. You won't believe the evil. It's fucking scary
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
A warning: these retweets are horrible and upsetting. You are about to feel really, REALLY bad about humans as a general whole.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
I'm exposing you suck mfs pic.twitter.com/WLzRzE92RV
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Like I'm scare for our future pic.twitter.com/WAbkG7aS5R
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
(I didn’t include the media in that one because it’s a weird, gross NFSW cartoon drawing. But yes, we should all be scared for our future.)
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Exposing I hope y'all go after them like they going after me pic.twitter.com/ojK5FdIA0H
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Sad pic.twitter.com/HrfV35BJJ7
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Reported pic.twitter.com/EbctaTp5ze
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
Exposing pic.twitter.com/jfSbGj3yCP
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 18, 2016
There are a few more. And infinitely more directed at her, and others on the internet that will never be shown, only ignored, internalized, deleted, and/or then denied by those who aren’t subjected to this kind of despicable hate. And it’s directed at Jones because she has the audacity to be black and female and hugely successful in a career based on her huge personality and refusal to hold that in. She takes up space, and these cretins can’t fucking stand it.
I hate to give them any attention at all, but share, report, or at the very least, don’t be eased into thinking that Jones’ experience is a lone one.
On the flip side: There is a positive takeaway: Leslie Jones has been flooded with supportive messages from fans all evening long.