Sofia Vergara Responds to Backlash over Her ‘Sexist’ Emmy Routine
Sofia Vergara was literally put on a pedestal at last night’s Emmys, for a bit that basically amounted to some tongue-in-cheek humor about giving the audience what they want (i.e., sexy Sofia Vergara). Well, a lot of people complained online about how sexist they thought it was.
Salon said the entire bit made the Modern Family star “a good-looking object to put on display.” Vox called it “terrible,” BuzzFeed decried it as “tone-deaf,” and Jezebel couldn’t believe the Emmys were “scraping the bottom of the barrel.” And ThinkProgress writer Jessica Goldstein said, “I was distracted by the utterly tone-deaf, cringe-inducing spectacle that was the over-the-top objectification of a woman who is far, far funnier than the ‘I’m not from this country, but look how hot I am!’ material she’s typically given.”
And, of course, there were the Twitter reactions:
I love @SofiaVergara but did anyone find that schtick somewhat offensive?
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) August 26, 2014
In fairness, Sofia Vergara always seems incredibly game for this stuff, but still. Just: no. #Emmys
— Linda Holmes (@nprmonkeysee) August 26, 2014
Sofia Vergara needs to learn how to say no and the Emmy people should have known better…
— Tim Goodman (@BastardMachine) August 26, 2014
What a wonderful time for women on television! Besides Sofia Vergara!!
— Hillary Busis (@hillibusterr) August 26, 2014
From Julianna Marguiles, "What a wonderful time for women on television" unless your Sophia Vergara and forced on a pedestal at the #Emmys.
— Jill McKenzie (@wkenz) August 26, 2014
The audience just clapped for Sofia Vergara's butt while she rotated on a disc. That Beyonce feminist moment on the VMAs was pretty cool.
— Vulture (@vulture) August 26, 2014
But when asked later by reporters about her participation in the bit and whether she thought it was sexist, Vergara had this to say:
“I think it’s absolutely the opposite. It means that somebody can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself. I think it’s ridiculous that somebody started this—I know who she was—who has no sense of humor [and should] lighten up a little bit.”
You can watch the controversial bit below, via NBC:
[h/t E! Online]
[image via screengrab]
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