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The Return Of Eugenia Cooney Controversy, Shane Dawson, Jaclyn Glenn, Hong Kong Chaos, & More

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Smith Family Weighs in After Shane Dawson Apologizes for Racist Skits and Pedophilia Jokes

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1 week ago

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June 29, 2020

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  • YouTuber Shane Dawson apologized in a video Friday for a long history of racist jokes and caricatures, as well as for jokes he made about pedophilia.
  • “I don’t have hate in my heart for anyone, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that I made jokes about everyone,” he said. 
  • Following the release of that video, Jada Pinkett Smith and her son Jaden offered strong rebukes of the YouTuber, who once pretended to masturbate to a poster of an 11-year-old Willow Smith.

Smiths Rebuke Shane Dawson’s Apology

YouTuber Shane Dawson apologized Friday for a myriad of controversial remarks and actions over his 15-year career on the platform, but it seems like many weren’t ready to accept it.

In fact, some people are now resurfacing even more offensive moments from his past. Not lost among the critics are mother and son duo Jada Pinkett Smith and Jaden Smith. Their rebuke of his apology is especially notable because in one clip, Dawson simulates a sexual act to a poster of an 11-year-old Willow Smith.

“To Shane Dawson … I’m done with the excuses,” Jada Pinkett Smith said on Twitter. 

“SHANE DAWSON I AM DISGUSTED BY YOU,” her son wrote in all caps. “YOU SEXUALIZING AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY SISTER!!!!!!  IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM FUNNY AND NOT OKAY IN THE SLIGHTEST BIT.” 

Prior to his apology, Dawson was already facing a number of different scandals, including allegations of him sexualizing other children such as his cousin, a fan, and even a baby. Aside from accusations of pedophilia or pedophilic behavior, Dawson is also facing intense backlash for racist moments, including his repeated use of blackface and his use of the n-word.

Over the weekend, Dawson’s apology video—titled “Taking Accountability”—trended number one on YouTube. Since Friday, it’s garnered over 10.6 million views. 

In it, Dawson begins by saying that he hates much of his past and that he’s tried to remove himself from those situations by deleting old videos. 

Dawson also noted that this isn’t his first apology video. In fact, he issued an apology in 2014 for his use of blackface, and in 2018, he denied he was a pedophile after those rumors circulated following an edited clip where he joked that he found naked babies “sexy.”

“Those apologies suck,” he said of them. “I don’t know who that person is anymore. Every apology video I’ve ever made has been from fear. It’s me sitting at home thinking the whole world hates me, crying and hyperventilating and just turning on a webcam and just saying ‘I’m sorry’ and hoping people know I’m a good person and it’ll go away, and that is stupid. That is something that a child does.”

Dawson “Taking Accountability”

In his apology, Dawson first addressed his history of racism on YouTube, including a number of times where he played very stereotypical versions of Black, Asian, and Mexican people.

While he said he thought those skits were funny at the time of recording them, he said he now hates the person he was in the past.

“That person was filled with sadness, filled with anger about their own issues, in the closet, constantly projecting on others,” he said. “Just like, I don’t know, just that person is someone I don’t like seeing. And I think that’s why I’ve been avoiding this because I’m like, ‘No, I’ve already apologized. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to see it again.”

Dawson then directly mentions his repeated use of blackface.

“I am so sorry,” he said. “I am so sorry to anybody that saw that and that also saw that people were lifting me up and were saying, ‘You’re so funny, Shane. Oh my, God, you’re so funny.’ I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be Black and to see this white fucking guy do blackface and the whole internet at that time being like, ‘LOL.’” 

“I should lose everything for that,” he continued. “I can tell you this. I don’t have hate for any race or any people with weight issues or any of that, special needs. I don’t have hate in my heart for anyone, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that I made jokes about everyone.” 

Dawson also addressed his use of the n-word, saying that at the time he justified using it because he was playing a character and it was in the name of comedy. In multiple videos, Dawson can be heard saying the word, including instances where he uses a “hard r.” In one video, he even coerces his young cousin to say the word. 

Dawson admitted in the nearly 21-minute video that he should have never used the n-word, adding that he thinks he should have lost his career for saying the word. 

He also addressed why he made yet another apology video, saying that his past apologies fell flat because he would take criticism as attacks on his character and would automatically jump on the “I’m not racist” card.

“And it’s like, you know, ‘Okay, but look what you’re making, Shane,’” he said. “Like I don’t know how I didn’t see that. That is scary, and I’m sorry.” 

Dawson promised his viewers that he’s changed since he made clips and videos like that, saying that he’s educated himself and that he stopped using racial slurs years ago.

Dawson Addresses Pedophilia Accusations

Dawson continues the video by then addressing a 2013 podcast clip where he compares pedophilia to being a normal fetish and talks about finding naked babies “sexy.” As Dawson has noted in the past, some of the clips circulating online omit lines where he says he is joking about those subjects.

“I shouldn’t have been joking about it anyways, which is my problem. My fault,” he said in rebuke of those jokes. 

Shane also apologized for that video he made with his then 12- or 13-year-old cousin, where he talks about sexual acts around her in an inappropriate way. In that apology, he said he also apologized to her mother years ago.

“I can’t believe I can’t believe I talked to, you know, my cousin like that,” he said. “And [my aunt] was like, ‘Oh my, God, we know. We know. It’s okay. It was funny, like we all thought it was funny, like that’s just how our family is’ So I kind of took it as, ‘Well, I don’t need to apologize for it,’ but I do.”

Dawson then went on to again talk about his personal life and a lot of the pain he saw in his childhood and with his family, saying that he was projecting that pain into wildly inappropriate jokes. 

“I swear on my life, I am not somebody who would ever talk about a child, like in seriousness, I would never talk about a child in any way that was inappropriate,” he said. “That is disgusting. That is gross. It is not something that I would ever do. It was something I did for shock value or because I thought it was funny or ‘Oh my, God, I’m a child molester character.’ Whatever. It’s all gross, and I promise that is not real. That is not me.” 

Dawson Debunks Rumors About Orchestrating the James and Tati Fued

Toward the end of the video, Dawson denies speculation that he was some sort of mastermind behind last year’s massive feud between Tati Westbrook and James Charles. 

Dawson previously denied that accusation in a now-deleted Twitter post earlier this month. In that note, he seemed to justify the barrage of criticism against James Charles, saying the then 19-year-old influencer deserved a slice of “humble pie.”

In fact, Dawson said he wrote that Twitter note after he started seeing narratives like that pop up and people pressuring him to respond. While he said he had tried to be funny in that note, he admitted that it came across very angry, notably because he said he was angry.

“So the part of the Twitter note that I regret more than anything in my life was the part where I said that James deserved a slice of humble pie the size of the Empire State building,” Dawson said.

He also said he wanted to come at this situation with love and started by apologizing.

“I’m sorry, James,” he said. “I’m really sorry. First of all, nobody deserves what happened. Nobody. The whole internet ganging-up on someone. Nobody deserved that. And who am I to say that somebody needs to be humble? Me? Like who am I to say that? I literally have put so much hate into the internet over my last 15 years of YouTube world.” 

He also addressed criticism that came after he said he was leaving the beauty community in that tweet. In his apology, he agrees that he was never really in it, as many have argued.

“So to know I hurt those people, who are problematic, and just love makeup, and who have been working their ass off for years, for me to shit on that, I am so sorry.” 

“I’m ready to own up to this stuff and to hopefully show you guys that it’s okay to admit when you’re wrong. It’s okay to be upset at your past self for making mistakes. But also it’s okay if people don’t want to accept your apology or if people don’t want to support you anymore, that’s okay too.”

Reaction to Dawson’s Apology

Reaction to Dawson’s apology has been mixed. Currently, about a third of the reactions on that video are dislikes.

In the comments, many criticized his apology, saying he was victimizing himself and using his past trauma to try to justify his actions. 

“Depression and anxiety isn’t a reason to sexualise children, Shane,” a number of people repeated in separate comments. 

On Twitter, hundreds of others shared this comment: “In Shane’s apology, he keeps saying things like “I would never do that” “that’s something I wouldn’t do in my whole lifetime” that is not me” “I wasn’t myself” when referencing things he ACTUALLY DID. He is not taking responsibility, he is removing himself from his past by creating two different Shane’s.”

Others, however, did strike more of a sympathetic tone.

“I’m honestly glad that he came out and apologized,” one person said in the comments section of his video. “Some of the stuff he talked about ppl won’t forgive him for, and that’s ok. I’m just glad he apologized.”

“Accepting his apology IS NOT excusing his actions,” another person said. “Some people need to realise this.”

Still, many others said Dawson would need to take even further action before he could find forgiveness.

“I think you’re trying to ‘do the right thing’ and honestly I’ll never say it’s too late but dude you can’t continue to call yourself Jeffree Star’s friend and be on the right side of all this drama, please understand that,” one person said.

See what others are saying: (The Hollywood Reporter) (Essence) (CNN)

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Billie Eilish Unfollows Everyone on Instagram After Saying She’ll Unfollow Abusers

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2 weeks ago

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June 24, 2020

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  • Billie Elish posted photos to her Instagram story Tuesday asking people to DM her if she was following their abusers so she could stop as a way to support victims. 
  • She was then quickly criticized for following or having friendships with artists like Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, and XXXTentacion. 
  • She eventually deleted her posts and unfollowed some of the artists she was slammed for supporting, then unfollowed everyone all together except one person whose identity is hidden. 
  • Some were upset and felt she did so as was a way to avoid conflict by not singling out anyone she was unfollowing. Others think the outrage against her is misplaced.

Eilish Reposts Pledge to Unfollow Abusers

Singer Billie Eilish unfollowed everyone on Instagram Tuesday after alerting fans that she will unfollow abusers, prompting mixed reactions from people online.

Since the start of the #MeToo era, more and more people have been speaking out against their abusers, who oftentimes are high profile figures or people in positions of power. That has continued in recent weeks, with new accusations coming out against social media influencers and huge celebrities.

In response to this, many Instagram users have been sharing posts that read: “If I am following your abuser, DM me & I will unfollow them. I will support you,” and “If I am friends with your abuser DM me & that will change. I see you. I hear you. I believe you. Your story matters.”

Backlash Over Who Eilish Follows 

Like many others have, Eilish posted that to her Instagram story and Twitter users say she was quickly called out for following and being friends with artists like Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, XXXTentacion, to name a few.

Bieber, who Eilish is known to be a huge fan of, was recently accused of sexual assault by two women, and later called one’s claims “factually impossible” in a series of tweets. Brown was convicted for physically assaulting Rihanna in 2009 and has continued to face serious accusations from others since then. 

As far as XXXTentacion – a musician who faced a long string of criminal cases and controversies before he was murdered in 2018 – people noted that she was close friends with him despite knowing about his history, which included charges of false imprisonment, witness tampering, and aggravated battery of a pregnant victim.

Eilish Unfollows Everyone 

According to internet users, Eilish took down her posts after around 30 minutes. However, she took her fans’ advice and unfollowed Bieber and Brown.  

Eventually, she started unfollowed everyone, which was more than 600 different accounts. 

As of Wednesday morning, she’s only following one user, but it’s unclear who because that information seems to be hidden. She also does not currently follow anyone on Twitter, however, she’s not typically active on that platform.

Internet Has Mixed Reactions 

After learning what she had done, some fans were quick to praise her.

However, a lot of people were not happy. Many felt like she was doing this to avoid singling anyone out since people would obviously be paying close attention to who she was unfollowing. 

Some say she did this to avoid conflict or backlash from their fans. Others said it basically defeated the whole purpose of her initial posts, making it an empty gesture. 

Still, some say people are misplacing their frustrations by being angry at the singer rather than actual abusers. 

Fans are also wondering if her massive unfollow spree is supposed to be some larger symbolic statement, but for now, Eilish has remained silent on the matter. 

See what others are saying: (Daily Dot) (Independent) (Newsweek)

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Jimmy Kimmel Apologizes for Blackface as “30 Rock” Pulls Blackface Episodes From Streaming

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2 weeks ago

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June 23, 2020

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  • Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel apologized for using blackface in a sketch on “The Man Show,” a show that ran from 1999 through 2004.
  • #CancelKimmel was trending Tuesday morning as people shared that clip, as well as a newly resurfaced clip of Kimmel saying the n-world while impersonating Snoop Dogg in 1996.
  • Kimmel said some of his past work is “embarrassing,” but he has “evolved and matured over the last twenty-plus years.” He also said it was frustrating that many use these old clips in an attempt to stop him from calling out today’s social injustices.
  • “30 Rock” also addressed its own blackface controversies, and per a request from the show’s creators, including Tina Fey, four episodes that featured blackface will be removed from streaming.

Jimmy Kimmel Apologizes

For the past several weeks, film and television leaders have been forced to reckon with the systemic racism that exists within the industry and often makes its way on screen. Now, “30 Rock” creators and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel are apologizing for their part in this, specifically for past uses of blackface.

On Tuesday morning, Kimmel apologized for doing blackface while impersonating NBA star Karl Malone for a sketch on “The Man Show,” which ran from 1999-2004. The clip has frequently resurfaced, and on Tuesday #CancelKimmel was trending on Twitter. Many brought up this sketch, as well as a newly resurfaced clip of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host using the n-word while impersonating Snoop Dogg. 

“On KROQ radio in the mid-90s, I did a recurring impression of the NBA player Karl Malone. In the late 90s, I continued impersonating Malone on TV,” Kimmel explained in his statement, which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

“We hired makeup artists to make me look as much like Karl Malone as possible. I never considered that this might be seen as anything other than an imitation of a fellow human being, one that had no more to do with Karl’s skin color than it did his bulging muscles and bald head. I’ve done dozens of impressions of famous people, including Snoop Dogg, Oprah, Eminem, Dick Vitale, Rosie, and many others. In each case, I thought of them as impersonations of celebrities and nothing more. Looking back, many of these sketches are embarrassing.”

Critics of Kimmel claimed the comedian was a hypocrite for calling out politicians and others for racist comments when he had done blackface himself. Among those calling him out was Donald Trump Jr.

“According to the left’s own woke rules that @jimmykimmel wants to force others to live by, it’s hard to see how @ABCNetwork allows him to keep his show,” the president’s son wrote. 

Kimmel addressed this line of thinking in his statement.

“It is frustrating that these thoughtless moments have become a weapon used by some to diminish my criticisms of social and other injustices,” Kimmel wrote.

“I believe that I have evolved and matured over the last twenty-plus years, and I hope that is evident to anyone who watches my show. I know that this will not be the last I hear of this and that it will be used again to try to quiet me.  I love this country too much to allow that. I won’t be bullied into silence by those who feign outrage to advance their oppressive and genuinely racist agendas.”

Last week, Kimmel announced he would be taking a summer break from his program to spend more time with his family. While some thought the timing of these controversies and his break was suspicious, Kimmel insisted this break was planned a year in advance, and that he will be taking more summer breaks in the coming years. 

“Thank you for giving me an opportunity to explain and to those I’ve disappointed, I am sorry,” he said in closing.

30 Rock Removes Blackface Episodes

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” was not the only comedy staple that addressed past blackface controversies in the past 24 hours. Per the request of creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, episodes of “30 Rock” featuring blackface will be removed from streaming and syndication. Fey, who also starred as the show’s lead, wrote a note on Monday night, obtained by Variety, explaining her decision.

“As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing makeup are best taken out of circulation,” Fey wrote. “I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images. I apologize for pain they have caused. Going forward, no comedy-loving kid needs to stumble on these tropes and be stung by their ugliness. I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request.”

The 16-time Emmy Award winning show streams on Amazon Prime and Hulu, and is available for purchase on iTunes and Google Play. Four episodes with blackface will be gone by the end of the week.

Two of the episodes leaving these platforms feature Jenna Maroney, played by Jane Krakowski, in blackface, one in season three and another in season five. The other two feature guest star Jon Hamm doing blackface in season five and season six. 

See what others are saying: (Variety) (The Hollywood Reporter) (Entertainment Weekly)

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