In the following face-off, Shoutmouth's own Tom and Drew debate over TMZ.com, Al Sharpton and the meaning of the word "ho." When we debate the issues, everyone ends up dumber.
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Not too long ago, celebrity gossip website TMZ.com created a stir by labeling Beyonce Knowles "roboho" after a performance on the BET Awards in which Knowles wore a robot costume. A nationally syndicated "race, cultural and social issue journalist and critic" named Jasmyne Cannick started a debate when she referred to TMZ's comments as racist and insensitive.
Shortly afterwards, National Action Network President Al Sharpton got involved. Sharpton wrote the following letter, which was posted by TMZ.
Calling any woman a "ho" is demeaning and abusive and it should not be tolerated on any level. It is intolerable to think that TMZ.com would find humor in calling Beyonce -- someone who symbolizes the strength, dignity and uplifting of Black women -- a "Roboho," and they should be denounced by the entire community for glorifying the continued oppression of women with this derogatory term. Racism in America is perpetuated by ignorance and hate and using one's airwaves or media entity to promote it is a blatant setback to civil rights and the advancement of equality.
National Action Network has been in the forefront of protesting the word "ho" and will hold a 20-city tour featuring 100 women in each market on August 7th to protest the use of the word "ho" as well as the "N" and "B" words. We encourage TMZ.com to retract their misogynistic labeling of Beyonce and apologize immediately.
TMZ has now issued its own letter in response.
Thank you Rev. Sharpton. In response to your statement questioning TMZ's use of the term "roboho," first and foremost, please note that we called Beyonce's performance outfit "roboho" not Ms. Knowles herself. There is a difference. One need not know a celebrity personally to have an opinion on their wardrobe. Joan Rivers created an entire industry based on this fact.
As to accusations that our comment was racially motivated, TMZ has humorously called into question many celebs for wearing racy outfits -- regardless of their race. In the past, TMZ referred to Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, as "poshtitute," Hulk Hogan's daughter a "working girl" and called Lindsay Lohan's trashy ensemble a "HO-rror." A tight mini-dress is a tight mini-dress! Even Kid Rock got a humorous "ho" reference in a December 2006 story, and last we checked, he was neither Black nor a woman.
The point of the BET Awards story was to humorously highlight the fashion missteps of celebrity attendees at the show. We were making light of their outfits -- not who they are as people. With everything serious going on in our world, if you can't make fun of something as superficial as awards show clothing, then what can you make fun of? TMZ has done similar fashion stories for the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, CMTs, etc. If nothing else, the wardrobe critique of the BET Awards proved that TMZ is an equal opportunity offender when it comes to the snarky fashion policing of Hollywood.
We ask you, should the word "ho" be banned? Or only in reference to Black women? Isn't the context in which a word is used almost as important, if not more so, than the actual word? While others may have used the term with maliciousness -- we clearly did not. It was a humor piece -- as all of our fashion roundup stories are.
TMZ appreciates your feedback, Rev. Sharpton, and the dialogue it has opened, but it is clear that the only thing more subjective than what is fashionable, is what one finds funny.
Anytime race is brought into a debate, the issue becomes a touchy subject. As a public service, Shoutmouth offers the following friendly debate. Hopefully we can represent both sides of the subject and raise some points you might not have thought of before.
iDrew -- Shoutmouth's resident black guy -- will be defending the side of Reverend Sharpton.
TomZ -- Shoutmouth's resident white guy -- will be defending the side of TMZ.
Let the debate begin...
iDrew:
Well, first off - I find TMZ's response to Rev. Sharpton's letter to be nothing more than a patently dismissive rant which accomplishes nothing in the fight for racial tolerance, understanding, or sensitivity. To grandstand in such a pretentious manner only amplifies the offensiveness of their previous post. In short, the patriarchal TMZ might as well have sent Mr. Sharpton a watermelon.
It is clear they've ignored the main points of Rev. Sharpton's letter- that the use of the word "ho" in any magnitude in reference to an African American female is a travesty. Rev. Sharpton is expressing no contest to the desire of the site to provide snarky commentary on the fashion modus operandi of celebrities. The point here is mainly that "roboho" is an expression that should be reserved for when:
a) My buddies Dwayne, Antoine, and Jamal are talking about their lady friends before a drive-by.
b) My other buddies Shaniqua, LaShawnda, and Vonda are talking without the presence of mixed company, or:
c) Robocop's wife forgets to make dinner.
TomZ:
Not only do I find TMZ's letter totally appropriate, I think it's the best thing that's ever been on TMZ. Seriously, I assumed that site was run by an illiterate 12 year old girl.
Anyway, I was talking to my buddies Hunter Jameson III and Gavin McBride down at the yacht club after a round of golf, and we all agreed that Reverend Sharpton's letter is completely misguided. In fact, we all stopped reviewing our Roth IRA portfolios and listening to our Norah Jones CD just to analyze the matter. I can understand why someone might want to eliminate the word "ho" from our dialect. Like almost any word, the context is important, but in certain contexts, "ho" can be extremely degrading to women. I would never refer to any of the women in my life as such. So in that respect, I agree with Mr. Sharpton.
However, this is not a racial issue, and the joke was aimed at the costume rather than the person wearing it. Sharpton's insistence on bringing race into the mix is unnecessary and counterproductive towards racial equality. Yes, Beyonce is black, but the word "ho" can be (and is) used for all races. Ho's come in every color. Sharpton's race-baiting in this case makes me angrier than when my private jet is not fully stocked with Merlot.
[And furthermore, what exactly does Al Sharpton do? Does he even have a job? Or does he sit around all day Googling the word "controversy" and hoping he finds something so he can turn on his Bat Signal and head to the scene?]
iDrew:
Gavin better watch out and make sure he don't get a cap popped in him talkin' all that mess.
Al Sharpton is an experienced political liaison and ambassador for the Black community.
The word "ho" is not for women of other races, it is only used for skanky Black chicks, or to allude to some chick being as skanky as a skanky Black chick. There is always a skanky Black chick in the equation though. Don't get it twisted.
For instance, I heard the word used 20 times more at the Barbershop 3 screening I went to last week than I did while catering your garden party last weekend.
TomZ:
Wow. After reading that response, I spit up part of my mayonnaise sandwich and got it all over my sweater vest. Regardless of the origins of the word "ho," I believe it has taken on a new meaning over the years and is now used to refer to skanky women of all types (much in the same way that "gay" once meant happy). Clearly we will remain in disagreement over this.
Anyhow, the more important issue here is this: It's a joke! We all know Beyonce is a strong woman and I doubt many people took the "roboho" thing seriously. People in this country need to stop getting their panties (or boxers - don't want to offend women) in a bunch over every minor incident. If Beyonce were to complain about this, that's one thing, but if Beyonce isn't upset, why should anyone else be?
And don't act like you didn't enjoy that garden party. Doing the electric slide and the chicken dance in between games of croquet is always fun.
We may not agree, but you've certainly given me a new perspective. I suggest that from now on, we eliminate use of the word "ho" from our vernacular. And instead, we use the non-racially-charged "skank." After all, why should we create rifts and negate social progress with the word "ho" when there are so many other ways to describe slutty, self-disrespecting tramps?
iDrew:
Agreed. Henceforth, all trampy women, regardless of color, will be known as "skanks."
TomZ:
Perfect. So, you wanna grab some dinner at the Olive Garden?
iDrew:
Umm... no.
[Public Service Announcement: Hi Everyone, Tom and Drew here. You know, we've had a lot of fun joking around and making fun of stereotypes. But one thing that's not funny is racial intolerance. You should always treat everyone equally, whether your definition of "equally" means "equally great" or "equally like shit." Because as our fallen brother Tupac once said, "both black and white will smoke crack tonight." So remember kids, always treat everyone fairly regardless of their ethnicity, and always make sure to pass the crack pipe after two puffs, otherwise you're a greedy bastard and no one will like you.]
This has been a Halfmoon Production.
