Lee Aronsohn Comments Labeled 'Misogynistic,' But 'Taken Out of Context'
Lee Aronsohn's comments regarding female sitcoms and comedies caused so much controversy that the "Two and a Half Men" co-creator was forced to apologize.
Lee Aronsohn commented during the Toronto Screenwriting Conference that television schedules are "approaching the peak vagina" levels, referring to shows such as "2 Broke Girls," "Whitney," and "Chelsea," which are dominated by female cast.
"We are approaching peak vagina on television, the point of labia saturation," said Aronsohn, according to reports. "Enough ladies. I get it. You have periods."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The comments were decried as misogynistic and detrimental to women by various critics in the entertainment industry and the public, and the co-creator of one of the nation's most popular sitcoms was forced to walk his statements back.
"Yes, yes, - it was a stupid joke. I'm sorry," tweeted Aronsohn. The apology came after a flurry of outraged Twitter users vowed to flood the television writer's Twitter account with a mass of period-related anecdotes.
"I declare a fatwah on Lee Aronsohn. And by fatwah I mean a big bucket of period blood on his head," tweeted Jen Kirkman, a writer for the "Chelsea Lately" TV show, to her 75,716 followers.
Alyssa Rosenberg called it the "horrible sexist trash of the day" on her account, and others agreed.
Martha Plimpton, Emmy-nominated actress on "Raising Hope," pointed out that Aronsohn's remarks could cost him in the long run with advertisers.
"Um, Lee, women are 51% of the population &a coveted demographic for advertisers. What are you thinking?" tweeted Plimpton.
Though Aronsohn praised female actresses and comediennes like Tina Fey and Chelsea Handler during his keynote address, his later tweet that women should "look up irony"- a response to graphic descriptions of menstruations being sent to his account- only exacerbated the situation.
"[For] the better part of a decade i threw up every time i got my period. you're right, periods are hilarious!" one of Kirkman's followers tweeted to Aronsohn.
At least one person thinks the controversy may be a bit overblown. Teresa Pavlinek, a Canadian comedy writer who was present during the conference, said she was "shocked" at the reaction to Aronsohn's words.
"I laughed at his metaphors. I laughed when he said 'saturation.' … I thought he was kidding," she told The Daily Beast. She added that Aronsohn's comments- though easily "construed as misogynist"- were in response to panel questions, and make more sense when put in context.
"I think he was unfairly misquoted and taken out of context," said Pavlinek. "I didn't get the sense that he was saying 'I hate chick shows.' I got the sense he was done with that kind of show."
Pavlinek's opinion is based on her knowledge of Aronsohn's experience; the experienced writer wrote for "Murphy Brown," "Grace Under Fire," and "Cybill"- three shows dominated by strong female characters.
