SDA Graduate Emily Ratajkowski Defends Melania Trump
February 16, 2017
SDA alumna, activist and supermodel Emily Ratajkowski called out a New York Times reporter via Twitter on Monday for “slut shaming” First Lady Melania Trump. Ratajkowski described an exchange wherein the Times reporter, now identified as features writer Jacob Bernstein, called Trump a “hooker.”
Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me “Melania is a hooker.” Whatever your politics it’s crucial to call this out for
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017
what it is: slut shaming. I don’t care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should.
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017
Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bullshit.
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017
Bernstein apologized for his statement Tuesday, calling it a “mistake” and a “stupid remark.” POLITICO also reported that the Times had spoken to the reporter in question about the incident.
This is a four part tweet. 1. I want to take ownership of a mistake I made.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
2. Speaking at a party in what I thought was a personal conversation, I nevertheless made a stupid remark about the first lady.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
3. My editors have made it clear my behavior was not in keeping with the standards of the Times, and I agree.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
4. My mistake, referring to unfounded rumors, shouldn’t reflect on anyone else and I apologize profusely.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
Ratajkowski, a model and actress, was an avid supporter of Democrat Bernie Sanders during the election and has taken to social media numerous times to defy female objectification for her follower base (almost a million on Twitter and over 11 million on Instagram). She graduated from SDA in 2009.