I Write (More) Letters

[Content Note: Abuse culture; misogynist slurs.]

Dear Jimmy Fallon:

Last week, I wrote you a letter, asking you to be more sensitive to issues around sexual abuse. I don't know if you ever read my letter, even though lots of people tweeted at you with the link, asking you to read it.

I'm guessing, though, that even if you did read it, it didn't have much of an impact, since last night you featured as your musical guest Rick Ross, a man who has rapped favorably about date-rape, and only apologized once Reebok dropped an endorsement deal with him.

You referred to him as "my man, Rick Ross, the boss," and then he performed his single "The Devil Is a Lie," which includes the line: "Switch my old bitch for my new bitch / Cause my new bitch something like a nympho."

Just to be clear, since you and I don't know each other, I'm not a person who believes rap is an inherently more misogynist genre of music than others. I would be hard-pressed to think of a grosser song than "Young Girl" by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, a pop band of white dudes who also gave the world "Lady Willpower" and "Woman, Woman."

Misogyny and rape culture narratives run throughout the history of popular music.

In fact, there are people who argue that it's not even possible for a variety show to exist without musical guests who don't engage in misogyny and rape culture narratives, because they are so pervasive.

But I don't think that's true. And I certainly don't think it's true that a variety show cannot exist without featuring artists who have rapped about what a cool idea it is to spike a woman's drink and then rape her while she is unconscious.

I'm not saying that Rick Ross shouldn't be allowed to have a career. I'm not telling anyone not to like his music. I'm questioning the ethics of a national cultural institution like The Tonight Show giving its stamp of approval to artists who have endorsed rape, to artists who continue to talk about women like we're garbage. I'm wondering why it is that Rick Ross is "your man."

You're now the host and steward of that institution. It's in your hands. And I get that no one wants to be the guy who draws a line at promoting men who abuse and/or endorse the abuse of women. No one wants to be the guy who picks the safety and respect of women over the right of men to treat and talk about women in terrible ways, because there isn't much reward for men who side with women. It's easier to keep on doing what everyone else has always done.

Easy isn't good enough. Not for me.

I expect more, Jimmy Fallon. Do you?

With high expectations,
Liss