Backlash And Online Abuse Should Be Unacceptable

It's time the keyboard warriors and social media trolls learn a lesson. Abusiveness and hate online aren't any more acceptable than they are in public.

It's funny, but then again, it's not. Seeing women come out of the woodwork on social media to bash Sydney Sweeney over her latest commercial endeavor is saddening. Even men aren't so heartless as to turn on one of their own because of success. But wait, they really are. And it makes you wonder: why?

Why is it that we so easily turn on our brothers and sisters whenever they experience something successful, or they take on a new venture? What are they really doing wrong? In Sweeney's case, her newest commercial is getting sad reviews from women who are saying things like, "She's pushing women back 500 years."

Since when does a woman's success push women back 500 years? Sure, I'd have to agree that Sydney Sweeney isn't representative of what the average woman looks like. She's marginally attractive on a Hollywood scale. And she's got the physical attributes that make men stand up and salute. But have women forgotten the truth about the world?

Sweeney is a smart, intelligent, and ambitious young actress who knows what she has and is working with it while she's young. She's obviously got talent and appeal. Those things don't last forever. At her age, if she holds up well, she's only got another 30 years of being Hollywood eye candy. And that's if something new and shiny doesn't come along.

But for now, she's the new and shiny star who is enjoying her time to shine. And why should she not use all that god gave her? Isn't this supposed to be the age of female empowerment?

Looking back, it was about three years ago that the first round of criticisms went crazy online. And she proved then that she was not just a dumb blonde with big tits. The first criticisms were over her rom-com with Glen Powell. If you haven't seen Anyone But You, it's a great movie and one that blew up because of the chemistry she shared with Powell.

Much like when she was promoting the movie Anyone But You, Sweeney's commercial for Norwig, a sports betting app that's fairly new, caught the ire of reporters, female athletes, and internet keyboard warriors. What a lot of them aren't getting is that she's comfortable with her acting and business decisions.

There's no argument against Sydney Sweeney being an effective attention-getter. I heard one guy say he'd seen the advertisement seven or eight times before he knew what was being advertised. Wow, there's a big newsflash for you. Even in the era of hyper-political-correctness, SEX SELLS. Or in this case, sexuality.

When Sweeney pushed Anyone But You, she was also an executive producer. She is a smart young businesswoman who's confident in her skin. And even Sweeney has commented on the hate and vitriol aimed at her over her advertisements.

It wasn't that long ago that she suffered a backlash over a jeans ad. That's right, if you didn't see it, it was a jeans ad. She was paid well for the ad, and the ad resulted in a spike in jeans sales.

That's advertising.

And when so many come out of the woodwork, all bashing and aiming hate at a young woman who's proud of her body and enjoying a successful career, it makes people wonder about the other advertisements, campaigns, and magazine shoots.

Rhonda Rousey did Sports Illustrated and was wearing nothing but body paint. Not that long ago, Salma Hayek celebrated her 60th birthday. She did so by posting a picture of her taking an au natural dip in the ocean. Good for her. '90s Shawn Michaels, the WWE legend, appeared in a magazine shoot wearing just his title belt.

So, is the backlash hate, and if so, why? Could it be that people are jealous and unwilling to do the work that these stars and athletes put their bodies through to look as good as they do? Or is it something more?

Things To Consider

When I see hate like this online, it reminds me of other types of hate I've seen. In Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, we were treated to a reinvsioned team of Ghostbusters. Somehow, people were offended by Leslie Jones, and took to social media to spread a backlash of hate-filled comments and racially abusive comments.

During the first season of Obi-Wan, when Ewan McGregor reprised his Jedi character for the Disney Plus original, the actress who played the third sister with the Inquisitors faced a degree of backlash and hate that embarrassed Star Wars fans.

Reasonable people who see these things online have a choice to make. Because it's shameful that this is even something that exists. Being hateful and mean should be the unacceptable line in the sand. But people see it and don't call it out.

Has humanity sunk so low that it has to show its jealousy and misery to the world on such a constant basis? And have the rest of us sunk so low that we sit back and allow it without standing up for the actors, entertainers, and stars who are just doing their jobs?

If you wouldn't stand by and watch a store clerk get verbally abused or experience hate-filled rants, why then is it not being challenged on social media?

Do we actually need another pandemic to return to the far more supportive time that was 2020 and 2021? Or can we find it in ourselves to stop the hate and the ill will over trivial things?