Everything That Upset the Internet This Week
What is the web-o-sphere up in arms about this week? A political television plot, a soap store window display and a former president trying to talk about #MeToo. Here’s everything you need to know:
Priyanka Chopra stars in a controversial episode of Quantico
THE STORY: A recent episode of Priyanka Chopra’s ABC television series, Quantico, features a plot about Indian nationalists trying to carry out a nuclear attack in Manhattan.
In the episode, which aired June 1, FBI agent Alex Parrish (Chopra) derails a terror threat days before a summit is planned to be held in NYC between India and Pakistan. In her investigation, Parrish discovers a religious Hindu symbol on one of the suspects, leading her to believe that the plot was devised by Indian nationalists with the intention of framing Pakistan.
THE REACTION:
Latest episode of Quantico is about Hindu men with Rudrakshas who are identified as Indian nationalists with knowledge of Indian government planning a Nuclear attack and blaming Pakistan and the Great priyanka chopra with FBI team stops it
Mainstreaming fake narrative
— யோகம்=சுழிமுனை (@duvijan) June 2, 2018
If you are offended by this scene request everyone one to record their protest & tweet with #BoycottSamsung, Mocking Hindutva has become fashion these days. pic.twitter.com/1rzE5FT2Ci
— Bhaiyyaji (@bhaiyyajispeaks) June 6, 2018
Hey @priyankachopra , the love, adulation and fame that you got from us Indians is a significant reason that today you are on world stage. And you, the “Desi Girl” ,played along calmly portraying Indians as terrorists in your show Quantico #Respect ??
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) June 5, 2018
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: ABC has since apologized for the episode and defended Chopra’s role, saying in a statement: “ABC Studios and the executive producers of Quantico would like to extend an apology to our audience who were offended by the most recent episode, The Blood of Romeo. The episode has stirred a lot of emotion, much of which is unfairly aimed at Priyanka Chopra, who didn’t create the show, nor does she write or direct it. She has no involvement in the casting of the show or the storylines depicted in the series.”
That’s all well and true, but I’d like to think Chopra—an A-List actress who frequently voices her political opinions—wouldn’t shy away from speaking up if she was uncomfortable with a storyline on series she stars. The show may be fictional, but Hollywood needs to tread carefully when stepping into complex political issues. (Not that this has stopped them before. Like, ever.)
Chopra has since offered her own apology:
I’m extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of Quantico. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change.
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 9, 2018
Lush launches their #SpyCops police campaign
THE STORY: Lush has teamed up with Police Spies Out of Lives, a U.K.-based organization that seeks to “end sexual and psychological abuse at the hands of undercover cops.” The month long campaign initiative features in-store signage, social media posts and a series of essays and videos on Lush UK’s site.
THE REACTION:
@LushLtd last time I checked you sold soap. With this latest campaign you’ve made yourself no better than the lowest tabloid papers. Won’t be shopping with you again. #flushlush
— Megan Alexander (@MeganAlexande12) June 2, 2018
@LushLtd am absolutely disgusted with your anti-police campaign. Our police officers save lives everyday and put themselves into situations to protect us all whilst you sit behind your big desks in an office somewhere. I will never be purchasing a Lush product again!#FlushLush
— Emma Johal (@EmmaJohal) June 1, 2018
There's already a public inquiry going on. Your campaign comes across as anti-police pure and simple, and should be withdrawn with an apology to serving and ex-cops #FlushLush
— John Hayes (@twpsaesneg) June 1, 2018
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Lush has the right to involve themselves in whichever political initiatives they so please. This is a noble cause with good intentions—no matter how anti-police it comes across in a shop window. Perhaps this brashness was part of the plan? We’re all talking about this corrupt undercover cop campaign now, aren’t we?
That said, shoppers have every right to boycott a retailer whose views don’t align with their own. Just buy your soap somewhere else, guy! (Though, TBH, I’d be surprised if these Twitter trolls were buying organic face masks in the first place.)
Bill Clinton made a tone deaf #MeToo comment
THE STORY: While promoting his new book on the Today Show this week, former President Bill Clinton was asked to comment on his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Clinton, clearly flustered and unprepared to be questioned on the topic, responded: “We have a right to change the rules but we don’t have a right to change the facts,” he said, suggesting that Craig Melvin, the interview, didn’t actually know the facts of the Lewinsky case.
“Nobody believes that I got out of that for free. I left the White House 16 million dollars in debt,” Clinton said, as though financial repercussions are enough to satisfy the #MeToo reckoning. Clinton then begins defending himself: “This was litigated 20 years ago … Two-thirds of the American people sided with me; I had a sexual-harassment policy when I was governor in the ’80s; I had two women chiefs of staff when I was the governor; women were overrepresented in the attorneys general office in the ’70s.”
THE REACTION:
Bill Clinton. Here is the truth of it: a human life was altered & destroyed due to your selfishness. Because. You. Could. You not only wiped your semen on a young girl’s dress, you left a stain on society. You actually owe EVERYONE an apology, especially her. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/HWnsAmXjlR
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 4, 2018
Did Bill Clinton just #metoo Monica Lewinsky??? I (almost) have no words… Props for always being ahead of the curve as the first male to publicly somehow claim victim-hood from his actions against women. Balsy! Stupid… but balsy!!! https://t.co/Fvn7Cp3OmP
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 4, 2018
.@BillClinton you're a damn disgusting disgrace to yourself and our country. #MeToo has taught you nothing! You were a predator who preyed on Monica and everyone knows it. It is spooky how you can have no remorse. You may have been POTUS but you are nothing but #shameless trash. https://t.co/VkzaPDIdid
— Portia A. Boulger (@PortiaABoulger) June 4, 2018
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: What’s most notable here is not Clinton’s response (though his whole victim card thing is gross), but the fact that he was so clearly shocked to be asked this question in the era of #MeToo. Lewinsky has been asked to comment on this relationship for two decades. Why is it that women are always being questioned on their behaviour—and to react to the behaviour of men—while men so rarely are called out for their own actions? This was a consenting relationship, but nonetheless is an example of professional and sexual power dynamics. Time is finally up, and Bill Clinton should have been prepared to talk about it. No matter how much debt he left the White House with, he is not the victim here.
 derails a terror threat days before a summit is planned to be held in NYC between India and Pakistan. In her investigation, Parrish discovers a religious Hindu symbol on one of the suspects, leading her to believe that the plot was devised by Indian nationalists with the intention of framing Pakistan.
THE REACTION:
https://twitter.com/duvijan/status/1003035926333882369
https://twitter.com/bhaiyyajispeaks/status/1004266001481924608
https://twitter.com/KyaUkhaadLega/status/1003870690859089920
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: ABC has since apologized for the episode and defended Chopra's role, saying in a statement: “ABC Studios and the executive producers of Quantico would like to extend an apology to our audience who were offended by the most recent episode, The Blood of Romeo. The episode has stirred a lot of emotion, much of which is unfairly aimed at Priyanka Chopra, who didn’t create the show, nor does she write or direct it. She has no involvement in the casting of the show or the storylines depicted in the series.”
That's all well and true, but I'd like to think Chopra—an A-List actress who frequently voices her political opinions—wouldn't shy away from speaking up if she was uncomfortable with a storyline on series she stars. The show may be fictional, but Hollywood needs to tread carefully when stepping into complex political issues. (Not that this has stopped them before. Like, ever.)
Chopra has since offered her own apology:
https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/1005521373756903425
Lush launches their #SpyCops police campaign
THE STORY: Lush has teamed up with Police Spies Out of Lives, a U.K.-based organization that seeks to “end sexual and psychological abuse at the hands of undercover cops.” The month long campaign initiative features in-store signage, social media posts and a series of essays and videos on Lush UK’s site.
THE REACTION:
https://twitter.com/MeganAlexande12/status/1002971729059287040
https://twitter.com/EmmaJohal/status/1002423708466794496
https://twitter.com/twpsaesneg/status/1002585595523354625
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Lush has the right to involve themselves in whichever political initiatives they so please. This is a noble cause with good intentions—no matter how anti-police it comes across in a shop window. Perhaps this brashness was part of the plan? We're all talking about this corrupt undercover cop campaign now, aren't we?
That said, shoppers have every right to boycott a retailer whose views don't align with their own. Just buy your soap somewhere else, guy! (Though, TBH, I'd be surprised if these Twitter trolls were buying organic face masks in the first place.)
Bill Clinton made a tone deaf #MeToo comment
THE STORY: While promoting his new book on the Today Show this week, former President Bill Clinton was asked to comment on his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Clinton, clearly flustered and unprepared to be questioned on the topic, responded: “We have a right to change the rules but we don’t have a right to change the facts,” he said, suggesting that Craig Melvin, the interview, didn’t actually know the facts of the Lewinsky case.
“Nobody believes that I got out of that for free. I left the White House 16 million dollars in debt,” Clinton said, as though financial repercussions are enough to satisfy the #MeToo reckoning. Clinton then begins defending himself: “This was litigated 20 years ago … Two-thirds of the American people sided with me; I had a sexual-harassment policy when I was governor in the ’80s; I had two women chiefs of staff when I was the governor; women were overrepresented in the attorneys general office in the ’70s.”
THE REACTION:
https://twitter.com/rosemcgowan/status/1003727518476722177
https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1003636782318178305
https://twitter.com/PortiaABoulger/status/1003641938464198656
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: What's most notable here is not Clinton's response (though his whole victim card thing is gross), but the fact that he was so clearly shocked to be asked this question in the era of #MeToo. Lewinsky has been asked to comment on this relationship for two decades. Why is it that women are always being questioned on their behaviour—and to react to the behaviour of men—while men so rarely are called out for their own actions? This was a consenting relationship, but nonetheless is an example of professional and sexual power dynamics. Time is finally up, and Bill Clinton should have been prepared to talk about it. No matter how much debt he left the White House with, he is not the victim here.){kind=link}