This year’s Primetime Emmy Awards had five hosts, all reality television hosts and all nominated for their hosting skills. Talk about having to sing for your supper. Among the hosting hosts were Heidi Klum, former Supermodel and current face of “Project Runway”, and Tom Bergeron, the new Bob Saget of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (a show I had no idea was still running!). The opening shot featured all five reality narrators appearing on stage together, in a row and sporting the same black suit, white button-down shirt and skinny black tie. Even Heidi Klum had a fitted version of this classic male staple.
.everyone, still clothed.
After running through a terribly unfunny dialogue, all five turned their attention to William Shatner and Heidi’s suit. Confused? I was. I’m not certain why William Shatner was worked into the opening skit, but he was called out, walked up on stage and began bickering with Tom Bergeron, the only male host remaining center stage with Heidi, about Heidi’s suit. Below is a rough paraphrase of the conversation:
William and Tom: “We thought you’d be wearing less clothes!”
Heidi: “I wanted to be one of the guys and I wanted to wear what everyone else was wearing!”
William and Tom: “But, we want you in less clothes!”
End of discussion.
Commence with William Shatner pulling on Heidi’s clothes from one side and Tom Bergeron pulling on them from the other. Amid Heidi’s prostrations, they literally ripped the suit off her body to reveal a low-cut, tight, sparkly black hot pants / sleeveless top number underneath. Just what the Emmy Awards needed: every man’s proverbially fantasy and every woman’s proverbial nightmare.
Obviously, Heidi was prepared to be ripped out of her clothes. But, what does this say about all the women who aren’t? And, if she knew this would happen, why protest? I really hoped that we had gotten past watered down gang bang references in media and I certainly expected more out of something that touts itself as being such a class act as the Emmy’s. Until we don’t find humor and class in primetime rape references, this behavior will still be seen as acceptable. To condone it on television doesn’t give anyone permission to repeat it in real life, but it certainly does nothing to convince people there’s anything intrinsically wrong with bodily demanding women to be less by wearing less.
60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards…for shame.
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Oh, my God. How could anyone have thought that was acceptable? It's been a while since I've seen sexism so blatant and disgusting.
I have to wonder what made Heidi a willing participant in this. I'd have had such a fit if anyone had asked me to do it.
Who exactly would you write to in order to complain about this?
This article is cross-posted on my new companion site to Something.of.Substance, Wordy Laundry: Pop Culture with a Spin.
http://wordylaundry.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/the-clothes-dont-make-the-woman/
No one has commented there yet, but I'm hoping the shorter postings will generate more discussion.
To wavesandmoon: I have no idea who you would contact. I'm hoping more for a large public out-cry, sort-of response. From what I know of her, I've always seen Heidi Klum as someone who understands the game of both Hollywood and the patriarchy, but doesn't really play into either. My mistake.
Oh jeez. This really makes me sick...though sadly, it's not surprising that they would stoop to this kind of crap. I'm sure the men in charge, with their frat-boy mentalities, thought this would seem funny and, the newest word I've grown to hate, "edgy".
While part of me wants to write to whoever produces the Emmys and rant at them, I know it won't sink in. They did this little skit to make people laugh, and I'm sure some did, and that's about as far as they will ever think about it. What they don't seem to get, and what I doubt they ever will get, is that when you make people laugh at a jokey, all-in-fun version of a serious offense, then when those people see that offense being perpetrated in a serious situation, they'll likely laugh it off then too. It diminishes the gravity of such a situation and cheapens what a victim of that situation goes through.
But again - I am not surprised. And that's probably the sickest thing about it. I also cannot help but wonder what Heidi would think if, 15 years from now, the same thing were done to her daughter on national television....
I'm so glad I don't have a tv. There is nothing funny about that. Nothing.
The protesting was obviously scripted.
As for the ripping off of the clothing, I can see how it could be kind of gross. Except that Heidi Klum has basically made her entire career off of being incredibly hot and having a great body and wearing a lot of very short dresses. You should see her Project Runway outfits. Being incredibly sexy is kind of her schtick.
So it's kind of gross, but so was the entire boring ceremony. At least Tina Fey won a bunch of stuff. She deserved it.
Nattles, i totally agree about Tina Fey. the woman is a genius. as for sexy being heidi's schtick, maybe so. however, them showing a scenario that so closely mirrors horrifying real life experiences of many women isn't cool.
So the men get to be professional and respectable, and when the woman tries to do the same she's forced to be a sexual object instead. Nice, Emmy Awards. Real nice.
I read that this was the Emmy with the lowest rating so far? So obviously this stunt must have turned off a lot of viewers. I didn't watch it, but it does sound amazingly boring.
I had no idea the skit was this offensive because I didn't watch the Emmys and see the part of the skit which had dialogue. I did, however, catch the tiniest bit of the skit which was them ripping the clothes off her and her acting surprised and looking like she was struggling slightly against it on an E news or Daily 10, or some similar show's recap. I don't think I am one to overreact or see sexism where it isn't but that little bit of the clip which I saw gave me a strong immediate repulsion and feeling that something "wasn't right". I hoped that there was some explanation for what I had just seen in the part of the skit I missed and that something would be revealed when watching it that would nullify what I had just seen. I also hoped that if there wasn't feministing would post about it, so thank you for posting this here. Like I said, I had no idea until now that the skit was even worse than I had thought. I suppose I should not be surprised that Heidi would agree to this because of her job and also because I have witnessed her do that breathy baby voice thing a lot, but since Project Runway and her jewelry line I thought she was trying to transition from just an object of desire to a tv personality and this seemed like a regression. Plus, there is a difference between being a sex object and being a sex object participating in a portrayal of sexual violence against women. Too bad they didn't just stop this type of thing after the Timberlake/Jackson fiasco.
Here's a YouTube video with some pictures of the scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CHWLJur2ww
It's the best I could find...
I missed out on seeing the Emmys however I’m glad that I did. This post explained enough for me. I think that such a glamours and classy night does not have to be brought to stripping Heidi Klum of her clothes to provide entertainment. “We want you in less clothes!” comment disgusts me, who cares what THEY want. However Heidi had to have some approval for this to have happened, so in a way she wanted this to happen.
I.... Wow.... I'm speechless.... this is.... I'm really glad I don't watch a lot of TV and when I do it's usually noggin.... kid shows that I can't stand.... I'm not overly interested in seeing who gets an award for being the best faker... but this skit if I had seen it would have been upsetting... I probably would have changed the channel and watched something elses.... no one wants to watch something that upsets them right off the bat now do they? I know I don't...