"And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now"
The rumor is Andy Karl is cheating on his wife, Orfeh, with Allison Janney. I know that I'm supposed to whip out my tin hat and choose sides, so I can really fit in with a lot of the broadway/Allison Janney fandom. But as much as I am all for imagining hot people having sex,I just can't go that extra mile, because the fact of the matter is this: pitting women against other women in the quest for the affections of a man is swell for Melrose Place but vile business anywhere else.
I'm not going to participate in blatant misogyny by saying Orfeh deserved to be cheated on (or even that she was cheated on), because she's "ugly," a "McCain supporter", a "Republican,"* etc. If the rumors are true, I will not relish in her pain because of my love for Allison Janney. At the same time, I'm not going to perpetuate the misogyny by laying the blame at Allison's feet and calling her a homewrecking slut who can't sing while conveniently ignoring Andy's role in all of this. I will not demean her because of my love for Orfeh.
I will believe, as I always have, that both women's worth is separate from and extends far beyond whomever they're dating, married to, or just plain fucking. Andy Karl does not make or break Orfeh. Andy Karl does not make or break Allison Janney. He didn't give Orfeh her gold album or her NARAS membership. He didn't give Allison Janney her trunk full of Emmys or her spot on The West Wing. He didn't give either woman her abilities or her talent - nor did he give either the guts needed to enter an industry that wasn't prone to liking their looks or voices. Both women had the conviction to pursue their dreams regardless of what current Hollywood standards were or are, and there's no crediting Andy for making any of that happen.
Knowing that, I have to wonder why in the hell anyone would wish to focus on whom either woman is sleeping with instead of on their considerable talent and dedication. I have to wonder why the conversation is about coffee cups and stage door exits and not about the notes hit, the interesting choices in their musicality and acting, or the DDA recognition and Tony nominations. I have to wonder why people can't choose to love or hate based on the things the women themselves have done, instead choosing to base their feelings on whom these women have done (and lets not even pretend that the massive amount of hate that's popped up over the last few weeks have been apart from the alleged love triangle).
Interestingly enough, part of the reason 9 to 5 the Musical exists is because the screenwriter felt that this story had a huge amount of relevance after the 2008 Democratic Primary and the sexism that had ensued within it. How depressing it is that one of the side effects of this musical existing is the sad reminder that women are often the biggest impedance to their own progress.
* I've put all of this in quotations, because the reasons why Andy cheated are all heresay. Re: her attractiveness -- I personally find Orfeh to be a beautiful woman. I think she's got a banging body and strong features that most people would have traded in for that bland California look; moreover, I think she's immensely talented, strong, and funny, and those things are more important than anything else at the end of the day. But that's just my opinion... and I would guess Andy's as well as he has in the past gushed about how gorgeous his wife is and how it was love at first sight. Things can change in a marriage, sure, but I kind of doubt he woke up one morning and discovered that his wife was hideous.
Re: her political ideals -- Orfeh was photographed at a John McCain event, but as to whether she's an actual Republican or McCain supporter... well, that's debatable. Assuming though that she is a Republican and McCain reporter, I would suggest that those things are not indicative of what her political beliefs might be. Certainly her political beliefs, whatever they may or may not be, do not make her deserving of pain and humiliation. Freedom of belief is one of those great things about our nation, and no one deserves to have their marriage destroyed for it.
Change things around, by the way, and this rant could also apply to: Hugh and Jo Laurie and Lisa Edelstein, Bill and Hillary Clinton and any number of the women he's had sex with, Lindsey and Kristen Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, and others. Really, the only couple this doesn't apply to is Cookie Monster cheating on cookies with fruits and vegetables. That's just unacceptable and disgusting. Everyone knows fruits and vegetables is a total skank giving it to everyone. :D
I'm not going to participate in blatant misogyny by saying Orfeh deserved to be cheated on (or even that she was cheated on), because she's "ugly," a "McCain supporter", a "Republican,"* etc. If the rumors are true, I will not relish in her pain because of my love for Allison Janney. At the same time, I'm not going to perpetuate the misogyny by laying the blame at Allison's feet and calling her a homewrecking slut who can't sing while conveniently ignoring Andy's role in all of this. I will not demean her because of my love for Orfeh.
I will believe, as I always have, that both women's worth is separate from and extends far beyond whomever they're dating, married to, or just plain fucking. Andy Karl does not make or break Orfeh. Andy Karl does not make or break Allison Janney. He didn't give Orfeh her gold album or her NARAS membership. He didn't give Allison Janney her trunk full of Emmys or her spot on The West Wing. He didn't give either woman her abilities or her talent - nor did he give either the guts needed to enter an industry that wasn't prone to liking their looks or voices. Both women had the conviction to pursue their dreams regardless of what current Hollywood standards were or are, and there's no crediting Andy for making any of that happen.
Knowing that, I have to wonder why in the hell anyone would wish to focus on whom either woman is sleeping with instead of on their considerable talent and dedication. I have to wonder why the conversation is about coffee cups and stage door exits and not about the notes hit, the interesting choices in their musicality and acting, or the DDA recognition and Tony nominations. I have to wonder why people can't choose to love or hate based on the things the women themselves have done, instead choosing to base their feelings on whom these women have done (and lets not even pretend that the massive amount of hate that's popped up over the last few weeks have been apart from the alleged love triangle).
Interestingly enough, part of the reason 9 to 5 the Musical exists is because the screenwriter felt that this story had a huge amount of relevance after the 2008 Democratic Primary and the sexism that had ensued within it. How depressing it is that one of the side effects of this musical existing is the sad reminder that women are often the biggest impedance to their own progress.
* I've put all of this in quotations, because the reasons why Andy cheated are all heresay. Re: her attractiveness -- I personally find Orfeh to be a beautiful woman. I think she's got a banging body and strong features that most people would have traded in for that bland California look; moreover, I think she's immensely talented, strong, and funny, and those things are more important than anything else at the end of the day. But that's just my opinion... and I would guess Andy's as well as he has in the past gushed about how gorgeous his wife is and how it was love at first sight. Things can change in a marriage, sure, but I kind of doubt he woke up one morning and discovered that his wife was hideous.
Re: her political ideals -- Orfeh was photographed at a John McCain event, but as to whether she's an actual Republican or McCain supporter... well, that's debatable. Assuming though that she is a Republican and McCain reporter, I would suggest that those things are not indicative of what her political beliefs might be. Certainly her political beliefs, whatever they may or may not be, do not make her deserving of pain and humiliation. Freedom of belief is one of those great things about our nation, and no one deserves to have their marriage destroyed for it.
Change things around, by the way, and this rant could also apply to: Hugh and Jo Laurie and Lisa Edelstein, Bill and Hillary Clinton and any number of the women he's had sex with, Lindsey and Kristen Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, and others. Really, the only couple this doesn't apply to is Cookie Monster cheating on cookies with fruits and vegetables. That's just unacceptable and disgusting. Everyone knows fruits and vegetables is a total skank giving it to everyone. :D