This was the year of #MeToo. It may have happened in the second half of 2017, but it sure as hell defined it completely. The world needed to speak up, and men and women, of every nationality, including Indian, rose to the occasion, giving the revolution the momentum it needed, and the issue of sexual harassment the magnitude it deserved.
The woman who started it all, actress Alyssa Milano, has continued to speak about the problem, never shying away from using strong words to attack anyone who denies the gravity of this universal problem.
This time, her wrath is directed at fellow actor Matt Damon, who in a recent interview with ABC news, spoke about the Weinstein scandal and sexual harassment allegations against other celebrities. His opinions have not gone down well with people.
Why? Well, according to him, not all sexual harassment crimes ought to be treated equally. He gave his opinion (which we wish he hadn’t) about the allegations on Kevin Spacey, Casey Affleck, Harvey Weinstein, and himself.
In the wake of Matt Damon’s marvellous interview, Alyssa Milano decided to school him on why exactly he was wrong, through an open letter. Her Twitter thread echoed what every woman disgusted by the actor’s comments wanted to say.
She began by making a powerful statement that we often seem to take small instances of misbehaviour, too casually when, in fact, they could be the early signs of a larger issue in the future.
Dear Matt Damon,
It’s the micro that makes the macro.
(Thread)
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
She addressed the observation that while it may see that ‘outrage’ has become a popular cultural norm today, the fact is that it is required and is righteous.
We are in a “culture of outrage” because the magnitude of rage is, in fact, overtly outrageous. And it is righteous.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
She attacked the ‘spectrum of sexual assault crimes’ comment Damon had made by explaining to him that all of them are equally distressing.
I have been a victim of each component of the sexual assault spectrum of which you speak. They all hurt. And they are all connected to a patriarchy intertwined with normalized, accepted–even welcomed– misogyny.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
The outrage is not because it happened. The outrage is that women were made to feel that it was normal to go through this.
We are not outraged because someone grabbed our asses in a picture. We are outraged because we were made to feel this was normal. We are outraged because we have been gaslighted. We are outraged because we were silenced for so long.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
Her cancer allegory just drove the point home, like the final nail in a coffin.
There are different stages of cancer. Some more treatable than others. But it’s still cancer.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
#MeToo is not just an outrage. It is a proclamation that the world is being plagued by a disease called sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment, misconduct, assault and violence is a systemic disease. The tumor is being cut out right now with no anesthesia. Please send flowers. #MeToo
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) December 16, 2017
Her letter drew both positive and negative comments from followers.
Some agreed to Matt Damon’s perspective that likening an ‘ass grab’ to ‘rape’ was unfair.
1. It’s not the same!
No. JUST NO. So sick of this. Sexual harassment, misconduct whatever u call it is NOT the same as rape or molestation. It’s not even in same ballpark. This is becoming toxic. Someone looked at me, asked for my number saw me naked under a robe, called me pretty.
— Jami Dawn Cole (@4colesJami) December 16, 2017
2. There’s a difference.
Matt Damon is right. He just has the guts to speak out. I a woman and I agree 100 % with Damon. There is a difference. We need real policy. Sorry about abuse people have suffered but we are going little overboard like forcing Franken resign without due process.
— MelindaKCreer (@melindakcreer) December 16, 2017
But mostly, it was applause and support for Milano all the way.
1. American television actress Piper Perabo was all for it!
I stand with you and all women. #MeToo
— Piper Perabo #StayHome (@PiperPerabo) December 16, 2017
2. Truer words have never been spoken!
As a man, I'll never truly understand and I'm not going to pretend, like Matt Damon, who is an expert at mansplaining, to justify it. As far as i am concerned, our responsibility (As men) is to listen, learn, and teach our sons to be better.
— Ben Ainger (@DangerAinger) December 16, 2017
3. Boo-yah!
https://twitter.com/Jmamaspesh/status/941877530054688768
4. *applause*
— Veruca Salty (@annie_anita) December 16, 2017
5. *mic drop*
https://twitter.com/MonteAP23/status/941849350476529665
More power to you, Alyssa Milano and to every woman who chooses to speak up.
As for Matt Damon, he may have had a semblance of a point, but he just did not get it across in the right manner. All we can say is, “Get well soon, bud.”