Heavens to Betsy - Jane Fonda Uses Vulgar Slang on 'Today'

[devilgrrl]

Jane Fonda Uses Vulgar Slang on 'Today'
From Associated Press
February 14, 2008 12:21 PM EST

NEW YORK - NBC News is apologizing again - this time for Jane Fonda. The actress used a vulgar slang term on the "Today" show Thursday while talking about "The Vagina Monologues." Fonda is appearing in a 10th-anniversary performance.

Fonda said she was asked to perform a monologue with the offensive word as the title. She said her reply was, "I don't think so. I've got enough problems."

About 10 minutes later, "Today" co-host Meredith Vieira told viewers that "Today" and Fonda apologized for the remark.

NBC has recently apologized for comments made by Chris Matthews and David Shuster.


http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20080214/47b3cad0_3ca6_1552620080214-153630094

[Missy Vixen]

1. It's too bad that NBC has its shorts in such a knot

Maybe they should have spent the time discussing the fact that benefit performances of "The Vagina Monologues" will be going on all over the US today. The proceeds go to domestic violence shelters, if I recall correctly.

Julie

[Habibi]

36. I am involved in local "V-Day" events.

Ours will benefit our local Rape Crisis Service. And yeah, these benefit events are a much more important topic. Not surprised NBC wouldn't see that.

[Ediacara]

2. Wait, so she got in trouble for using the actual name of a part of the VMs?

[northzax]

3. ok, so what was it?

so vulgar this article won't even touch it. must be somerthing really bad like "clitoris" or "female orgasm" (both of which I am fairly certain are myths :hide: )

[meegbear]

4. And what "Vulgar Slang" did she utter?

[LeftyMom]

5. cunt

I, for one, have the vapors, and must go lie back on my feinting couch until I recover.

[donsu]

9. lol good one

nt

[meegbear]

10. I just found a transcript and a clip ...

it's on "NewsBusters" so they are having the vapors over it.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/justin-mccarthy/2008/02/14/jane-fonda-uses-c-word-today

[Baby Snooks]

28. But that was what the monologue was called!

That was what the monologue was called. Nothing wrong with Jane Fonda stating it as such. And she probably would have been run out of Georgia had she done it.

[Ezlivin]

32. I wished I hadn't gone to that site

"Exposing Liberal Media Bias" my ass...

[meegbear]

35. My apologies ...

it was the first site I found that had the clip. My bad. :-(

[Blue_In_AK]

12. Thank you, Lefty Mom.

Not one of my favorite words, but hardly worth getting worked up about, especially when spoken by a woman in this context. I only really object to that word when it's used in the context of some macho asshole getting up in his girlfriend or wife's face and screaming "You f****** c***." Completely different.

[LeftyMom]

15. Exactly. It's context. And anyhow, I'm not sure how latin words are good and anglo saxon ones bad.

It's just another word for the same thing. Only the intent changes, and it's the intent that's foul in that latter case, not the word.

[King Coal]

13. What exactly did she say?

"The Cunt Chronicles"?

[AlCzervik]

8. hehe, see the clip here----

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20178054,00.html

[Blue_In_AK]

6. This has got to be the most cryptic article I've ever read.

The P word? The C word? Or did she actually say Vagina? **gasp**

[GodlessBiker]

7. Was it the "P" word? Please don't say it was the "C" word.

[antigone382]

34. One of the most brilliant monologues in the VM is entitled "Cunt"

I'm pretty sure that's what it is...

The monologue is about removing the derogatory connotations of the word and leaving only the power of the word and what it represents.

I apologize in advance if my use of the word is offensive to you or anyone else, but I think it's a necessary explanation in this case.

[GodlessBiker]

39. Thanks. Doesn't bother me at all. No part of a woman's body is derogatory in my book.

[Virginia Dare]

11. Oh my another "controversy" for the "Today" show..

my goodness, it'll be all over the teevee and internets. How terrible for them. I'm sure they're in a complete and total dither over it.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. This is the stupidest uproar in awhile

She said the name of the piece she was asked to perform. She didn't call Meredith Vieira a name or anything.

Eve Ensler named the piece - and she was sitting right next to Jane.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. So What ! This country is so damn prudish. Wish we were more

like England. People just need to freakin lighten up.

[Norrin Radd]

17. She said "impeach."

[TahitiNut]

18. Fascinating.

Let a DUer have the chutzpah to post the c-word and all hell breaks loose, with the frenzied use of the Alert button and a veritable swarm of personal attacks. Let Jane say it on network television and we have yawns and criticisms of NBC for condemning the use of that word.

It's an ugly word. Let's try to adopt a consistent standard, huh?

[americanstranger]

19. Good point.

That word is way off-limits around here, although a few of my Brit friends use it with relish.

But you're right. If someone here were to use that word, BOOM!

I guess context is everything, eh?

- as

[MonkeyFunk]

20. As usual

it depends on context, doesn't it?

She gave the title of a piece she was asked to perform. She didn't call anybody a cunt.

[Ediacara]

21. We have a winner!

[TahitiNut]

23. Oh?

:eyes:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=229&topic_id=2500
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=229&topic_id=1647
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=234&topic_id=368
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=341&topic_id=10336

[MonkeyFunk]

24. Can you make your point

without making me read four unrelated threads to try to figure it out?

And the OP of one of those threads links to yet another thread.

Do you disagree that context is important?

[MissB]

26. Exactly.

She had nothing to apologize for. She didn't call anyone a cunt, or refer to anyone as a cunt, or anything equally offensive.

You are spot on.

[lukasahero]

25. In one instance it's being used specifically as the title of a play

in the other, it's generally being used as a derogatory sexist slur deliberately directed at a woman. You really don't see a difference there?

[Zuiderelle]

31. Saying "you are a cunt" and "I'm performing the Cunt Monologue" are entirely different

now, aren't they?

[Iris]

22. She doesn't live in Georgia; she lives in Atlanta. Big difference.

[PlanetBev]

27. I read somewhere that the "C" word used to be an honorific title

I think it was in ancient Greece or somewhere, that it was a word bestowed upon women of honor or status.

I think in England, everyone and everything is fairgame to have that word hurled at them, both sentient and insentient beings.

Got to admit it, I use it all the time among certain friends.

[gratuitous]

29. What's the difference?

The tribe of pygmies is a cunning bunch of runts. The women's cross country team, on the other hand . . .

I really should have resisted that urge.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

30. Oh, my lands!! Git the smellin' salts!!

:rofl:

[earth mom]

33. This is ridiculous. If they didn't want Jane to talk about it they shouldn't have had her on.

Jeez, pretty soon they will be handing their guests scripts they have to recite instead of having a real conversation.

BTW, the video of this posted upthread is "unavailable". No surprise there. :eyes:

[calmblueocean]

40. You got it just right. What did they expect from a segment about The Vagina Monologues?

If you want to be a safe morning show, then stick to safe morning conversation.

[shance]

37. Meanwhile Iraqis are having to drink and usage sewage water

for all their needs.

But NBC is worried about Jane Fonda using the "c" word.

The Rich White Male network(s) is at it again.

Hiding their Iraqi/Afghani/African genocides, and obsessing on Jane Fonda.

[Fran Kubelik]

38. The monologue in question, in case anyone is interested.

It's kind of ironic/interesting that there's so much uproar about it.


Intro — Reclaiming Cunt


We’ve created a map of Vagina Friendly Cities!! They are wild for vaginas in Pittsburgh. In fact, a woman from Pittsburgh was obsessed about a particular word, a pejorative word used to describe the vagina. Her mission was to reconceive the word.


RECLAIMING CUNT


I call it cunt. I’ve reclaimed it, “cunt.” I really like it. “Cunt.” Listen to it. “Cunt.” C C. Ca Ca. Cavern, cackle, clit, cute, come-closed c-closed inside, inside ca-then u-then cu-then curvy, inviting sharkskin u-uniform, under, up, urge, ugh, ugh, u — then n then cun — snug letters fitting perfectly together — n — nest, now, nexus, nice, nice, always depth, always round in upper case, cun, cun-n a jagged wicked electrical pulse-n (high pitched noise) then soft n-warm n — cun, cun, then t — then sharp certain tangy t — texture, take, tent, tight, tantalizing, tensing, taste, tendrils, time, tactile, tell me, tell me “Cunt cunt,” say it, tell me “Cunt.” “Cunt.”