LAT: How misogyny impacted ‘Ghostbusters’ opening weekend — and its future

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Luke Ford

Maybe it is just a bad movie?

Rebecca Keegan writes: “It’s not clear the digital vitriol made a measurable impact on the box office…”

Not much of a payoff for the headline.

How come I rarely hear about the evils of misandry — dislike of men?

LAT: Leslie Jones says she’s in ‘personal hell’ after barrage of racist, abusive tweets

In the months leading up to the release of the “Ghostbusters” reboot, the film’s female stars have been the targets of criticism from online trolls who feel immense loyalty to the 1984 original.

Now that the movie has hit theaters — debuting with over $46 million in box-office receipts last weekend — the hatred hasn’t stopped. In fact, it has perhaps only gotten worse.

On Monday, actress and “Saturday Night Live” member Leslie Jones — who stars in the new “Ghostbusters” alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig — began retweeting disturbing personal attacks being sent her way on Twitter. The majority of the comments had to do with her race, referring to her as an “ape” and a “savage.”

Breitbart:

They ain’t afraid of no ghosts, but they might just be afraid of Milo. The Breitbart Tech editor has been blocked and reported on Twitter by Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones.

Following Jones’ complaints about the messages she was receiving on Twitter and other social media platforms following the release of Ghostbusters, Milo had this to say:

Jones did not take kindly to this, tweeting that not only had she blocked Milo (despite tweeting a mere three hours earlier that she was no longer going to be blocking people) but she had also reported his account.

Jones went on to call one of Milo’s supporters a “racist b*tch* after he suggested that comedians shouldn’t try curtail free speech.

Milo, as usual, took this in his stride and retaliated with multiple tweets ridiculing Jones and her inability to accept criticism.

When asked for official comment on his blocking by Jones this is what Milo said: “She must have read my review! Honestly, this is why I say feminism is cancer. She used to be funny but being involved in a social justice dumpster fire like Ghostbusters has reduced her to the status of just another frothing loon on Twitter.”

Further ridiculing Jones, Milo said, “Imagine it: the star of a Hollywood blockbuster sitting at home reporting random people on social media for saying her movie sucked. Sad!”

About Luke Ford

I've written five books (see Amazon.com). My work has been covered in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and on 60 Minutes. I teach Alexander Technique in Beverly Hills (Alexander90210.com).
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