Have a Loving Weekend.

He’s problematic for sure. His behavior today would not get a free pass and he’s not about to apologize for it.

I have never been a fan of his shows, humor, any of his work. But maybe it is because I am Mexican.
Then I heard his homophobic and transphobic comments on an ep of Comedians in Cars or whatever it is called. Gross.

Never found him funny. Too whiny.

Oh yes. Alison’s behavior is appalling.

This was incredibly enlightening. Her problems go way beyond bashing Marie Kondo and Chrissy Teigan.
https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/alison-roman-and-the-exhausting-prevalence-of-ethnic-erasure-in-popular-food-culture.php

Dear god, no, please. what good will come of that – trying to judge and condemn and attack people we really know nothing about? Our national past-time seems to have become looking for excuses to take offense and jumping into an online frenzy of outrage and accusations, as if that puts us on some moral high ground. It does not. It does damage. Why do damage to someone you don’t know? So what if she made an offhand remark that offended someone? everybody is always offending someone else. It happnes in spite of the best intentions. Look for reasons to be offended and you will surely find one. I read her comments and honestly – who cares? Maybe she was tired, maybe she was stressed, maybe she was distracted or not prepared for the question she was asked, maybe her back hurt or she had a headache or cramps. It can happen to any of us. Why not just give her the benefit of a doubt, assume positive intent, and move along to tend to our own business- we all have a lot of our plates these days. Marie Kondo and Chrissy Tiegan are intelligent, accomplished, successful, capable, empowered business women. They do not need to be rescued or defended. The world, especially now, is better off without more bickering, judgment and condemnation of women, by other women. I swear sometimes we are our own worst enemies.

C.,
I agree. The way people are coming after her for snippets of an interview is insane. What were her thoughts before or after she said it. What led her to that comment specifically. We dont know but yhe internet does not care. People want to jump on the popular team destroy the other. Her words were unfiltered and should have been chosen more thoughtfully so that her message of consumerism was not lost. And it was. People want to label her an awful name that could possibly follow her professionally and could very well not be true. Labels are powerful. She was unprofessional but I highly doubt she is the monster people are making her out to be. I know people are not worried about her being bullied but now it is to the point on ig threads that people bully people who try to give her the benefit of the doubt. I doubt this would be blown up to what it is if we all weren’t socially isolated.

C. – I agree that continuing to bully her on the internet is unnecessary. But I disagree with your premise that we should give her the benefit of the doubt and assume positive intent. No matter the intent, she spoke out against two women of color, and it follows a pattern of appropriating cuisine from other cultures and passing it off as her own.

An apology is needed, and it should be more substantial than, “That’s not the kind of woman I am.”

I would say that it IS the kind of woman she is, especially if as you pose, she was under stress or distracted. When under pressure, true colors come out. Alison should take time to do some introspective work about why women of color were the first two examples that came to mind, rather than Martha Stewart, who she mentioned as an idol in her interview with Cherry Bombe.

Holding people accountable without internet bullying — it’s a fine line, but many journalists and individuals walk it well. There’s room for accountability here.

Becky, it wasn’t isolated, it wasn’t flippant, it wasn’t just what she said about Chrissy and Marie (and the crap apology, to only Chrissy) and it’s been going on for years. Feel free to not care, but the backlash she’s experiencing today is entirely of her her doing.

https://medium.com/@ravenbrunner/dont-let-alison-roman-tear-down-two-women-and-then-pretend-it-s-about-capitalism-8c33957008be

Another good read for anyone interested.

I wonder why she didn’t go after Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman), or Rachel Ray who also have a line of products out? Hmm what do Teigen and Kondo have in common?

Christina- I maybe did not explain myself very well. I take issue with the idea that it’s worthwhile to engage in any public bullying -regardless of what the justification may seem to be. I do not find it constructive or helpful to anyone, and it reinforces a culture of anger and hostility. And it seems to me the thing people are interpreting as inappropriate about her behavior is exactly what they are likewise doing in their reactions. It’s a cycle of meanness. Women hating on women is a real thing, it goes on all the time, and no good comes of it.

Another case of white fragility. Casual racism is NOT ok and should be called out.

Yes, I second that. Thanks Joanna and team.

absolutely YES! Let’s call it what it is: white supremacy. And it needs more than a solidarity run to deconstruct a racial and capital systems that is made to benefit white people. It needs more than raising awareness.
Donate money to black families and organizations, shop at black businesses (e.g. we buy black), engage actively in protests (e.g. white people for black lives), listen to black people!!

Yes! I just want to amplify this comment – calls to action by White people to a mostly White audience to run a mile or use a hashtag further the illusion that these small acts fulfill an “activism quota”. Joanna, did you donate to any racial justice organizations? Can you make a call to action for your followers to do so?

A big yes to both these comments! My family just donated to the Loveland Foundation, established by Rachel Cargle (a really powerful woman to follow and learn from and *pay* for her time and instruction). If white people are looking for concrete ways to fight the institutional and societal white supremacy we all benefit from, financial contributions are a great way to support black people and really all communities of color.

https://thelovelandfoundation.org/
https://www.rachelcargle.com/

?????

Thanks for sharing this – so beautiful!

It was beautiful! Thank you for sharing. There are never enough links to goodness, in my book.

Thank you for sharing this! It’s beautiful and much needed today.

Beautiful, thank you

A haunting read. Is a new world coming, I hope so.

Ditto. I have been thinking about it constantly. I have a 17 year old white son, and I worry about him making stupid decisions all the time. What I
I dont typically worry about other people’s stupid decisions and how they could end his life. This is so wrong, and it hurts my heart. I made a small donation and I hope it helps the family in some way. It will not bring their son/ brother/ cousin/friend back, but hopefully it helps to activate change. I’m so sorry .

I love you!! That’s great!

This gave me a big smile! Love it!

ah aha ah! I’m amazed that you found the right words! bravo!

Thank you for saying this!

How do you propose we white people do? I’m all for constructive criticism. But only if there are suggestions to improve/change, which there wasn’t.

Katie,
That was not constructive criticism, that was a call to action. You needing suggestions to improve/change is lazy. If you had a black son, you’d do the research. Since you need suggestions, here are some:
1. Stop being lazy (your lack of action is your white privilege — recognize that)
2. Read some books about what life is like as a person of color in America — educate yourself about our experience, our oppression
3. Listen to people of color, even when what they are sharing makes you uncomfortable
4. Begin to examine why you felt offended by Alice’s comment

I’m not saying this to be harsh for the sake of being harsh. I’m saying this because my life is on the line.

@Katie Jameson, for real, educate yourself, look it up, my God, there is so much to be done, so much to know, so much to learn, so many answers all around you, all around us. To sit in front of your computer and wait to be told? I’m sick for you and for all of us.

Katie: https://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+can+white+people+help+black+people

Katie, sometimes people of colour get real tired of always having to tell white people how to be better. Do some research. God forbid you put some time and effort into figuring out for yourself how you can improve race relations in your own country.

yes, yes, yes – just wrote a similar comment #blacklivesmatter.
And don’t forget: white women voted for Trump.

Katie, I believe expecting others to teach you how to treat black people or be allies is overreaching. I believe you have to take it upon yourself to educate yourself on how you may or may not have contributed to racism and how to resolve in your own little way.
Also, the tone of your message sounds like “if no one tells me or teaches me how to help reduce/eliminate injustice for black people, then I am not doing anything.”
The tone of your message also sounds very privileged and I think to should reconsider. This is the exact problem we continue to face

Katie, honestly if you’re white it’s on you to figure it out. Black people aren’t responsible for fixing white supremacy or educating you about it.

Here you go, Katie :-) https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234

YES Alice! I completely agree. The system is large and the roots are deep. I am really trying to be more vocal in my own household and friend group about what is wrong with racism and sexism and how white privilege continues to suppress minorities. How it plays out in little and big ways every day. With Ahmaud, it’s HORRIBLE that he was shot and killed. But it’s even more horrible that our justice system had the video and did not arrest the two killers. And it’s MOST horrible that these two men thought they had the right to “defend themselves” against an unarmed man by pointing a gun at him. We will always have bad things that happen, but having a system that allows it is not acceptable. The local law enforcement and DA need to be investigated and prosecuted if they did indeed not arrest after viewing the video.

What a senseless and stupid comment, especially for a PARENT to be participating in that kind of talk with their child! I’m sorry that happened to you.

I ran cross country in high school as well and I loved how chill the sport was. You really didn’t need much other than decent shoes (no fancy pads or equipment) and for the most part running is free with minimal gatekeeping or barrier to entry. I’m glad you’re still running today!