It was meant to be an apology, but the writers who made jokes about "corrective rape" have only fuelled the fire.
|||Cape Town - It was meant to be an apology, but an open letter by the FHM writers who were suspended after making jokes about “corrective rape” on Facebook has only fuelled the fire.
Users on social media have accused the pair of using their public apology as nothing more than a platform to “play the blame game” and to justify their comments.
The initial furore was sparked earlier this week after a Facebook conversation involving FHM’s features editor Max Barashenkov and colleague, writer Montle Moroosi, was circulated on Twitter.
“I propose correctional rape and sterilisation for any white person who twerks,” wrote Barashenkov in a status update, referring to a type of dance.
Moroosi later joined in on the conversation: “I think rape can be quite fun if executed in a romantic manner. Like saying ‘I love you’ before slipping a roofie in her Earl Grey tea.”
After other users challenged the pair on their comments, Barashenkov wrote that he had been a victim of “corrective rape” and was entitled to make jokes about it.
“Corrective rape” is a common hate crime, in which a person is raped because of their perceived sexual orientation. The intention of the attacker is to “correct” the victim’s behaviour.
Local charity and support group Luleki Sizwe says at least 10 lesbians are raped or gang-raped every week in Cape Town. It is believed many of these attacks are “corrective rapes”.
Barashenkov and Moroosi’s comments were met with outrage on Twitter, and FHM suspended the pair.
On Thursday, the writers posted an apology on their shared blog.
“We apologise sincerely for our distasteful and insensitive comments and would especially like to extend our apologies to anyone who has ever gone through the horror of rape,” they wrote.
But the pair also challenged the way they were “publicly lynched for engaging with a taboo subject in their private capacity”, questioning why actual incidents of rape were not met with the same public outcry.
“In the morning, the rape will go on, the rapists will walk free, the media will remain indifferent, but the country will feel better because the real dirt is now under the carpet.
“The fact that our private joke eclipsed other content on South Africa’s media outlets, the fact that we trended above Mandela for the day, points to a problem far greater.”
However, most users were not happy with the apology.
@FreshGrndEarth tweeted: “Only you could turn an apology into a lecture, pointing fingers at others. This equals the shame of your jokes.”
“So because we are unable to prevent every rape in this country, we should not react to jokes that perpetuate rape culture… um, okay,” added @Frances_Hobden.
Rachel Jewkes, director for the Medical Research Council’s Gender and Health Unit said she was horrified when she saw the writers’ initial comments.
“But the apology is even worse.” She said despite assertions by the writers that the comments were made in jest, the pair were part of the country’s rape problem.
“They are basically encouraging rape… By making light of such a violent and brutal crime, they are inciting it.”
Jewkes said the unit’s research had found that many men found guilty of raping someone, did so because in their minds it was a social norm and not a serious offence.
“It is absolutely critical that the media are responsible not only in the way that they report rape, but also the way they react to rape.” Jewkes said she could see no situation where the pair should be allowed to return to their jobs.
FHM editor Brandon Cooper told the Cape Argus the writers had been charged, and would remain suspended until Media24’s internal disciplinary process had been completed.
“I’m not sure whether their apology will have any bearing on this but it will definitely get people chattering.”
While Moroosi said he would be in contact with the Cape Argus today, attempts to reach Barashenkov were unsuccessful.
kieran.legg@inl.co.za
Cape Argus