Actor Seth Rogen and frequent collaborator Judd Apatow were forced to join the #YesAllWomen conversation — stemming from a mass shooting in California Friday with a horrifying misogynist bent — after a newspaper columnist inexplicably attacked the pair for the content of their films in connection with the shooting.
There is a lot to unpack in relation to the tweets posted by Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow in response to a piece written by Ann Hornaday, following the Isla Vista incident and manifesto-writing virgin killer Elliot Rodger.
To begin, Rodger left a chilling manifesto raging at women for his virginity before a deadly and horrifying rampage Friday night — one for which many prior red flags were visible.
The #YesAllWomen hashtag became a part of the conversation early on, as feminists of both genders discussed what has been called “toxic masculinity” in the wake of the openly misogynistic murder spree.
But the Washington Post ‘s Ann Hornaday took her commentary in a different direction, one that even without the commentary of Rogen and Apatow is upsetting and worrisome.
Hornaday lays some blame at the feet of the movie-making pair, lending credence to the idea Rodger’s rage was in part understandable… because Hollywood films depict Seth Rogen getting laid? As if he is some sort of otherwise unsexable manbeast?
She says :
“How many students watch outsized frat-boy fantasies like Neighbors and feel, as Rodger did, unjustly shut out of college life that should be full of ‘sex and fun and pleasure’? How many men, raised on a steady diet of Judd Apatow comedies in which the shlubby arrested adolescent always gets the girl, find that those happy endings constantly elude them and conclude, ‘It’s not fair?’”
The answer might be, “who cares? You still don’t get to kill people.” However, Rogen and Apatow both responded on Twitter about the article, with Rogen tweeting:
. @AnnHornaday I find your article horribly insulting and misinformed.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 26, 2014
. @AnnHornaday how dare you imply that me getting girls in movies caused a lunatic to go on a rampage.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 26, 2014
Apatow also joined the conversation about the murders, visibly frustrated at the unfair link between his films and Hollywood misogyny.
In some responses, he tweeted:
. @AwardsDaily @Glenn__Kenny @cbumbray @Sethrogen she can criticize but can’t handle criticism? That is as logical as her opinions.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) May 27, 2014
Remember everyone – ads next to articles generate money. They say something shocking and uninformed & get you to click on it to profit.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) May 27, 2014
Then Apatow added:
Most of Earth can’t find a mate– someone to love. People who commit murder of numerous people have mental health issues of some type.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) May 27, 2014
Here is how it all works. Anne says something thoughtless. I say it is wrong then CNN asks everyone to debate and it becomes TV.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) May 27, 2014
Ann Hornaday has not commented on the response by Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow on her column. Do you think that her assessment was unfair?
[Image via Yahoo Movies]