Last Friday, Spencer posted an apology on Instagram. In her on-air apology on Monday, Spencer went further, saying her comments were “insensitive and stupid, and I am deeply sorry.”
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Lara Spencer apologizes for "stupid" words about boys and ballet; dancers say bullying is no laughing matter
Last Friday, Spencer posted an apology on Instagram. In her on-air apology on Monday, Spencer went further, saying her comments were “insensitive and stupid, and I am deeply sorry.”
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Whilst I'm sure the apology is appreciated, and was the right thing to do, it does not change the fact that Spencer mocked something that many boys struggle with. I am sure there are many boys who love ballet or would love to be a a part of the ballet world but they choose not to because they do not think that it is acceptable. Spencer's comments and reactions validated these thoughts. For her to get on national television and laugh at, not just any boy, but Prince George, because he is taking a ballet class sets a standard and shows boys that they will be laughed at if they take that route. No apology can erase the damage that she did. We can only hope that young boys will realize and understand that not everyone sees things the way that Lara Spencer saw this situation, and hope that they will be confident enough to choose their own paths, regardless of the naysayers. Luckily, the world is changing and hopefully they will focus on the people that have rallied up and spoken up in support of the beauty and appreciation of ballet for all.
-Apriah
In my personal opinion, no amount of apologising is going to negate what Lara Spencer said. What she said were mere words; words that hurt and words that did harm no matter her intentions. But her intention, no matter what she says, was not without malice. The way she laughed at boys - a six-year-old boy, no less - for liking ballet or dance is absolutely reproachful. She sneered and mocked a small child for liking to dance, as many young children do, regardless of actual training, and made clear - on a national stage - an issue that has been so prevalent for so long: the bullying of danseurs. Dance is not only an art form, but a sport, a form of expression, and forever undervalued. To be a dancer is totally beyond me. To have that mental and physical discipline, especially when faced with taunts of ballet being “only for girls”, takes strength that, obviously, has overpowered naysayers for years.
--Emily Marshburn
The fact that people in public positions (for instance, newscasters) still think apologies like Lara Spencer's have any chance of removing the consequences of their insensitive comments is shocking to me. Saying that "it was not [her] intention but it was insensitive" discredits her apology to me because, as Emily said, there was still malice behind her words. Although people in the media have also spoken with direct intention to belittle or offend a person or group, saying offensive things without intending to offend someone shows us a person's deepest beliefs and what they think or say when the cameras aren't on them, whether that is what they were taught growing up or opinions they formed through their experiences in adulthood. And I honestly think that bringing those men onto the show has made me even less likely to forgive Lara Spencer for her insensitivity because in my eyes it is the direct equivalent of someone telling you "I can't be a homophobe, I have gay friends!" If the apology was sincere, Lara wouldn't need "representatives" of the community she offended to give her the unjustified validation that anyone has really forgiven her.
I found myself drawn to this article due to the interesting debate it brings into the ongoing discussion about gender roles in society. Dance is such a crucial aspect to the theatre community. It is especially important for both genders to match each other in dance skills in order to pull off an elaborate dance scene. Lara Spencer’s comment is not only a dig at the dance community, but the theatre community as well. Just like dance, theatre has been viewed as unmasculine due to the fact it’s not stereotypical for a majority of men to participate. The hurtful suggestions Spencer made not only encourage bullying, but shames future male talent that could really astound in the entertainment industry. Such toxic comments should be met with backlash that it did, and it is wonderful to see so many men speak out about their experiences to reassure those who were hurt by Spencer.
I found myself drawn to this article due to the interesting debate it brings into the ongoing discussion about gender roles in society. Dance is such a crucial aspect to the theatre community. It is especially important for both genders to match each other in dance skills in order to pull off an elaborate dance scene. Lara Spencer’s comment is not only a dig at the dance community, but the theatre community as well. Just like dance, theatre has been viewed as unmasculine due to the fact it’s not stereotypical for a majority of men to participate. The hurtful suggestions Spencer made not only encourage bullying, but shames future male talent that could really astound in the entertainment industry. Such toxic comments should be met with backlash that it did, and it is wonderful to see so many men speak out about their experiences to reassure those who were hurt by Spencer.
~Elinore Tolman
I found myself drawn to this article due to the interesting debate it brings into the ongoing discussion about gender roles in society. Dance is such a crucial aspect to the theatre community. It is especially important for both genders to match each other in dance skills in order to pull off an elaborate dance scene. Lara Spencer’s comment is not only a dig at the dance community, but the theatre community as well. Just like dance, theatre has been viewed as unmasculine due to the fact it’s not stereotypical for a majority of men to participate. The hurtful suggestions Spencer made not only encourage bullying, but shames future male talent that could really astound in the entertainment industry. Such toxic comments should be met with backlash that it did, and it is wonderful to see so many men speak out about their experiences to reassure those who were hurt by Spencer.
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