Tootsie controversy — Page 2

Rogerdellibovi said: "But how is this even a feminist phrase? “Being a woman is no job for a man” is just... a fact. There is actual feminist mediaout there and tootsie (the musical)ain’t it."

The implication of the phrase is that it's hard being a woman and men couldn't handle it.

The evidently don't understand the meaning so the rest of us, who do, shouldn't have to now not be able to buy the shirt because they jumped on social media and complained.

Or you could just buy something else.

Mister Matt said: "The evidently don't understand the meaning so the rest of us, who do, shouldn't have to now not be able to buy the shirt because they jumped on social media and complained.

Or you could just buy something else."

Well, that choice has already been made for them...

Well, that choice has already been made for them...

They could also choose to not buy anything at all. The merchandising team has always controlled the choices of what anyone buys for any show in the first place.

there is so much surrounding us that we could - and should - be using that outrage for.

Like the loss of a t-shirt option?

Here's the thing...the outrage stems from how easily the line could be taken out of context, when it is displayed completely out of context, as leverage for anti-trans activists. The marketing team realized this and thought it in the best interests of the show and the trans community to not distribute it any further. They probably envisioned a bunch of MAGA-hat bigots wearing shirts with that sentence holding "Get the trannies out of MY bathroom" signs (or something equally offensive and ignorant) and thought it looked like something Faux News would use as a screaming headline stating that BROADWAY was being HYPOCRITICAL because TOOTSIE THE MUSICAL sold TRANSPHOBIC T-SHIRTS. Because sad as it is, these days, that scenario is ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE. But if one needs to wear that specific phrase on their clothing, they can print it on their own t-shirt (for probably a fraction of the cost). Problem solved.

But God forbid collectors don't get the shirt they saw but didn't buy, but might want to buy later because...I don't know. For whatever reason, Rent stopped selling the fantastic Today 4 U t-shirt shortly after it won the Tony and it never emerged again (the Will You Light My Candle T-shirt stuck around for a few months more, however). I didn't get the chance to buy it and somehow, I survived. I was ROBBED of my choice even if I never knew the reason why and I completely forgot to be angry about it. I guess people are only angry about this because they know the reason why, but it isn't a good enough reason for them. Or something.

Because if there is one thing TERFs and others really needed, it was a Broadway music to crystalize their message for them, and give them an easy way to spend $40 to put trans women in their place?!

Is that what I said? No, it's not. They don't "need" it any more than musical theatre fans "need" it.

Not to mention that you need to misinterpret the line to even get there, since "being a woman is no job for a man" doesn't even make any sense, unless you skip over the "job" part.

Right. That assumes the application of logic and reason. The opposite of what I described as the potential issue. Here...I'll post it again for clarity:

The marketing team realized this and thought it in the best interests of the show and the trans community to not distribute it any further. They probably envisioned a bunch of MAGA-hat bigots wearing shirts with that sentence holding "Get the trannies out of MY bathroom" signs (or something equally offensive and ignorant) and thought it looked like something Faux News would use as a screaming headline stating that BROADWAY was being HYPOCRITICAL because TOOTSIE THE MUSICAL sold TRANSPHOBIC T-SHIRTS. Because sad as it is, these days, that scenario is ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE.

Now, if you think this is something these folks would never do, then just say so and maybe add something to support your theory. Because there is unlimited evidence that what I described isn't really far-fetched at all. Regardless, the point is moot because the marketing team realized their mistake and corrected it in the best interest of the show, which really isn't a terrible thing.

Mister Matt said: "Now, if you think this is something these folks would never do, then just say so and maybe add something to support your theory. Because there is unlimited evidence that what I described isn't really far-fetched at all."

I think it is something they would never do AT A BROADWAY MUSICAL. Out in the wild? Sure.

There is no evidence, aside from one crazy MAGA hat guy who seemingly waits all the way until the curtain call to stand up and yell about Trump, of people using Broadway theaters as protest venues. Or co-opting awkward show marketing slogans as platform positioning.

A lot of the frustration on Twitter seems to come from people who regard the whole project as inherently transphobic. I feel like this is an overreaction, but it is a valid concern when you are doing a story about a man disguising himself as a woman for personal gain. Tootsie has precisely nothing to do with the world and stories of the Trans community, but I can see why they feel concerned about a project like this, and the flippant foolish tone of the merchandise is incredibly insensitive.

I feel like there should be some trans involvement with a story like this. I accept that Tootsie is rooted in the traditional gender binaries, but if you are doing a story about a man living as a woman and experiencing the female world, their experience can provide some much needed authenticity. The merchandising scandal has merely created frustration and ensured that a small but vocal minority are actively rooting for Tootsie to fail ... NEVER a good thing...

(P.S I couldn't care less about the movie, but I like Santino Fontana!)

Updated On: 4/9/19 at 01:20 PM

Mister Matt said: "If Kiss Me Kate sold a bunch of I HATE MEN merchandise (and perhaps they are...I don't really know), we could be having the same discussion about that as well."

A better analogy would be if Pretty Woman put out merchandise glamorizing (or appearing to glamorize) prostitution...

Mister Matt said: "There is nothing about Tootsie that is transphobic. That, I'm sorry, is ridiculous.

Thank you Ben! And if they have such a problem with it, why haven't they already gone after the movie, which has been around for years?

I thought this was about a particular phrase printed on merchandise. Did I miss an entirely different conversation or are we just pretending there has been no discussion at all?"

It's mostly about the merchandise, but as I pointed out, many of the loudest detractors on Twitter are opposed to the whole concept of a man dressing as a woman to advance his own career. This criticism covers the original film as well, but awareness of trans issues and trans suffering is far greater in 2019. Again, I think it is ridiculously over the top to argue that Tootsie is transphobic, but I can see why some more militant people are frustrated by it. Most of us can make the distinction between a frivolous comedy about cross dressing and the actual life and experiences of the trans community, but it only takes one foolish viewer to create misery...

I seem to recall that the trans activists were claiming at one time that no one should be allowed to dress in drag, as it is somehow an affront to them. I realize that they are angry, but that is probably not a good road to take if cooperation with the gay community is a goal. Of course, for many that doesn't seem to be a goal.