Just because your Twitter feed is nice and sweet, doesn't always mean you are.
That is my biggest take-away from this week's Britt McHenry scandal. If you haven't heard, yesterday, a video went viral of ESPN's reporter Britt McHenry berating a parking lot attendee. Britt, who happens to be an beautiful blonde bombshell, goes off on this woman, insulting the woman's appearance (her teeth and her weight), her education and her lifestyle. Britt's language makes her look anything but beautiful. The video was leaked by the attendant, who was working at the tow lot where Britt's car had been towed, and has been watched hundreds of thousands of times. Britt has since been given a week suspension but the Twitter-sphere does not think that's enough. Hashtags including #FireBritt have been trending since the video went viral.
There's irony in this, as Britt has been known to tweet about kindness and post Instagram pictures with quotes like "If you can be anything, be kind." (Update: Britt just made her Instagram private!) Well, Miss McHenry. You need to take your own advice!
You know what is even more strange to me? Had Britt made these comments as posts on Twitter or Facebook, she would probably be fired. As we have seen so many times (and I write about constantly in our #DeathByTwitter series), when people make a Twitter-error, they get fired!! Isn't it more offensive if you are rude directly to someone's face?
Look, I get that people lose their tempers. We all say things we don't mean. But you don't need to insult someone at that kind of personal level. And using your news-status as a way to act better than other people is just gross.
Have you guys watched the Britt McHenry video? What do you think of it? Should she be fired or is a week suspension enough?
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