Video: Megyn Kelly unloads on Playboy
posted at 1:30 pm on June 5, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Megyn Kelly blasts the editors at Playboy for their approval of Guy Cimbalo’s perverse essay on conservative women, and for their hasty retreat after an avalanche of criticism. When the retraction statement says that the magazine didn’t intend to encourage violence, Kelly wonders why the editors had no problem with hatred and misogyny, and especially political tolerance (via Johnny Dollar’s Place):
Well, it got a lot of criticism all around the blogosphere except at AOL, where Tommy Christopher got cashiered after having his post pulled by AOL Political Daily editor Melinda Henneberger. AOL-PD isn’t talking about Tommy’s sudden termination and their decision to spike his criticism of Playboy, but Green Room contributor Jim Treacher thought her name sounded familiar. He linked on his Twitter feed to a Slate article from last summer where Henneberger defended the lack of media coverage of John Edwards’ affair, too.
I found something else interesting about that August 2008 story. I hadn’t known that Henneberger previously wrote for XX Factor before getting hired by AOL. This is the same blog that declared criticism of Playboy to be the death of free speech:
Apparently, free speech is so over when the masses rule the media: “It’s only OK if I think it’s funny. It’s only OK if it fits my politics. It’s only OK if I say it is.” I wish Playboy hadn’t pulled it. Censoring the piece doesn’t make it any less real, any less politically incorrect, any less true. Attempting to police human nature is the real joke here.
It’s an interesting connection. Did that have anything to do with Henneberger firing Tommy? And isn’t it more than just a little ironic that XX Factor lamented the criticism of Playboy as the death of free speech while one of its former bloggers was busy censoring Tommy, declaring the topic off-limits, and kicking Tommy to the curb for daring to write about it?
Update: Don’t miss Media Lizzy’s excellent post on this topic, either.
Update II: The Huffington Post has a good post on this as well.
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For a moment, I thought you wrote ‘uploads on Playboy’.
Vashta.Nerada on June 5, 2009 at 1:37 PM
I used to(still do from time to time) slate’s female blog and I thought Henneberger was somewhat reasonable… she was rather squishy on abortion IIRC….
ninjapirate on June 5, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Megyn Kelly, Playboy
hmmmm
faraway on June 5, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Hey, me too.
snickelfritz on June 5, 2009 at 1:40 PM
The funniest thing is if a guy ever told me to my face that because of my political leanings, he’d like to hate f**k me, I’d probably kick him in the crotch……
Or tell him that I’m wayyyy out of his league (which would also be true).
mjk on June 5, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Is “Hate Sex” different from “Hate Speech”?
PappaMac on June 5, 2009 at 1:42 PM
maybe not though…
ninjapirate on June 5, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Darn! I misunderstood the title.
MichiganMatt on June 5, 2009 at 1:42 PM
This weird definition of free speech meaning free from criticism is a huge pet peeve of mine.
No one (at least, none of the prominent people and commentators that I saw) suggested that the government should punish Playboy, censor the article or get retribution in any way shape or form.
What happened was that a large group of people found the article to be offensive and said as much. Playboy then made the decision to pull the article, I’m guessing after they decided that the boost from people that found it funny was not enough to outweigh the number of people that found it offensive. The implication that it’s free speech if an editor at Playboy decides it’s not funny and pulls it but not if millions of customers decide it’s not funny and Playboy pulls it is ridiculous.
A world where you are free to say whatever you want with no risk of people disagreeing is a world with a population of one.
JadeNYU on June 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM
I love strong women….
roux on June 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Heaping piles of hypocrisy I would say.
Mr. Joe on June 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM
How dare you tease me with that headline!
DwnSouthJukin on June 5, 2009 at 1:44 PM
I suppose that getting Megyn in Playboy is out of the question…
Yeah, that is what I thought. Still, it is nice to dream.
Mr. Joe on June 5, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Excellent!
ProudinNC on June 5, 2009 at 1:45 PM
You guys are way too literal…
ladyingray on June 5, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Melinda Henneberger is @mehenn on Twitter.
Jim Treacher on June 5, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Dammit. I thought that said “appears in Playboy”.
Chuck Schick on June 5, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Is Henneberger any relation to Molly Henneberger from Fox news? That would be interesting
originalpechanga on June 5, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Megyn likes the sticky pages too?
BPD on June 5, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Nope, it’s Molly Hennberg.
Knucklehead on June 5, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Maybe I’m just naive, but I can’t even begin to imagine why a woman would be so forceful, and supportive of a magazine such as this. Especially her support for this most recent, distasteful, and dangerous essay, on raping women of a conservative mind.
Perhaps it’s in a desperate attempt to get herself immortalized, as a playmate. *sigh*
Take comfort Ms.Henneberger, that if anyone wrote, or talked about wanting to do a vile, hateful, violent crime against you, I would not support the perpetrator, but I would support you, as a woman.
capejasmine on June 5, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Whoops…
Molly Hennenberg
Sorry
Knucklehead on June 5, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Nope… it’s SOP on the Left.
mankai on June 5, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Meghan was very controlled and straightforward in addressing this. I can’t even imagine the outrage she and her husband are feeling. And add on to it the fact that she and Hasselback are pregnant, it is just a disgusting thing to suggest about all these women. The editors should be fired as well.
JAM on June 5, 2009 at 1:55 PM
People actually read Playboy? I always thought the words were filler.
FireBlogger on June 5, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Playboy has gotten out of hand?
They deserves only the finger.
profitsbeard on June 5, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Anybody who told me they wanted to hate-frak me, I’d high-kick right in the jaw.
Sekhmet on June 5, 2009 at 2:01 PM
I have a bit of a side question….
I didn’t read the article in question (just excerpts) so I’m not sure if it makes more sense in context, but, did anyone else think that “hate-f#*k” meant “sleep with them even though you dislike them” instead of “rape”?
Either way, it’s still a disgusting article and I think people were right to complain. I just wasn’t sure they were actually referring to rape there. It seemed more like standard lib garbage that I used to hear at college where guys would talk about sleeping with girls they couldn’t stand just because they were hot.
JadeNYU on June 5, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Anyone hear the amen at the end of the video?
upinak on June 5, 2009 at 2:09 PM
What ever Megyn says is gospel. She is actually too pretty and real to be in Playboy too. What a natural beauty.
workingforpigs on June 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Also, the Playboy editor who e-mailed all the conservative blogs about their rape-list is @aranyatomseth on Twitter. This wasn’t some kind of accident. They wanted us to know about it.
Jim Treacher on June 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM
It’s 11:55 PM for Playboy. Might as well pack up the pipes and bathrobes, Hef.
whitetop on June 5, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Yes I think that’s what he was trying for, but it was so poorly written it sounded like he was talking about non-consensual sex, not a hookup with someone you think is obnoxious. Epic failure.
Ted Torgerson on June 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
I took the time to google image Guy Cimbalo. Let’s just say that every single one of the woman would not give him even a nanosecond.
Topsecretk9 on June 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Can you just imagine Obama on this subject……….?
Seven Percent Solution on June 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I always like it when the media accuse “the masses” of not understanding them.
SouthernGent on June 5, 2009 at 2:19 PM
I’d never read Tommy Christopher before today, but I have to say, I actually enjoy his writing, especially the ‘…Bro Code…” article, very witty. So, even though I might not agree with him much politically, I’m going to start reading his work anyway.
Geministorm on June 5, 2009 at 2:20 PM
I’ve tried both. Restraining orders prevent me from doing so further :P
lorien1973 on June 5, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Playboy: “Geez, why don’t those willful wenches just shut up, keep their opinions to themselves and take of their clothes so we can indulge in sexually violent fantasies? Assertive women are so unattractive. By the way, we totally support equality.”
patriette on June 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
yep, she seems very objective and unbiased.
Topsecretk9 on June 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
I thought that meant something else for a second.
nickj116 on June 5, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Why would the Playboy editors want conservative blogs to know about the article? Is it free advertising, or what?
justincase on June 5, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Playboy is up for sale I believe, another victim of a now-defunct business model (pay for porn?). They haven’t had this much publicity in years. I just wonder if all this isn’t a phony attempt to boost their visibility and asking price. Personally, if they had naked strong black women with amazing biceps I’d be interested. Next month maybe.
JiangxiDad on June 5, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Bill Hemmer with the “amen” at the end was priceless.
nickj116 on June 5, 2009 at 2:32 PM
JadeNYU on June 5, 2009 at 2:06 PM and
Ted Torgerson on June 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Cimbalo works for Playboy, not Better Homes and Gardens. He knew exactly what he was writing about, and the exact meaning of the term “hate-f**@-ing”. It took me about 30 seconds of reading articles and one link to get a very clear understanding of what the term meant. No, Cimbalo does not deserve a break here, no one is misunderstanding him, and people are not overreacting. The article was an extremely awful, juvenile attempt at over-the-top humor, written by someone who obviously has severe personal issues and a very unhealthy mental life.
and Megyn’s response was beautiful!
WraithRat on June 5, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Well, it is just of smut mag.
I mean, even just mentioning it elevates it.
TheSitRep on June 5, 2009 at 2:33 PM
just a smut nag
TheSitRep on June 5, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Weird. So now it’s also wrong to view Playboy, just for the articles?
I’ll have to scheme up some other excuse now.
THANKS.
CatsGodot on June 5, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Well, shoot.
There goes any remote chance of that Megyn Kelly spread I was hoping for someday.
SilverStar830 on June 5, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Sorry for the double-post but…
Does anyone actually subscribe to Playboy, still? I mean, really, who reads the articles?
The only ones who would bother are those who are too cheap to get an Internet connection, or don’t know how to open a web browser.
Playboy, up for sale? REALLY? Next you’re going to tell me that the horse-and-buggy companies have also gone belly-up.
CatsGodot on June 5, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I’m proud of Daily Kos for putting aside their partisanship and denouncing this story.
Oh wait. They are completely ignoring the story and ejaculating about Obama being next to the Pyramids. My bad!
Speedwagon82 on June 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
That’s what I always thought the term meant too. But the guy who wrote the article made it seem more forceful, more non-consensual. I know I’m never going to use that term again.
Anna on June 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Just for that, I’m ending my subscription to Playboy.
Swank, Juggs and Leg Show your on notice.
RobCon on June 5, 2009 at 2:43 PM
WraithRat on June 5, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Right on! I told my husband about this last night and when I said he wrote these are women he wants to “hate-f*ck”, my hubby gasped and said, “my God, he’s talking about rape!” There wasn’t much wiggle room in his description for me either. Prick!
JAM on June 5, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I’ve heard the term used that way, but the part about genital flagellation convinced me that Cimbalo had something a little more, ahem, edgy in mind.
patriette on June 5, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Some people get great pleasure from sharing their contempt for others with the targets of their contempt. It’s another form of abusive behavior. They look for opportunities to bully others. They brag about it.
Their hatred blinds them to the vileness of their own behavior, as can be seen in the rationalizations and silence about this Playboy article among so many doctrinaire Leftists. Their hatred also blinds them to the humanity of their victims, to the point that they cannot imagine their victims having the intelligence and willpower needed to stand up and put a stop to their behavior. And they won’t stop until they are forcibly stopped.
This is why it’s necessary to confront these narcissistic egomaniacs instead of merely remaining silent.
Loxodonta on June 5, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Knowing most lefty pencil-d*cks, it is more like a “hate-wank”.
RobCon on June 5, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Even Larry Flynt has to tell Hef to stay classy on this one.
RobCon on June 5, 2009 at 2:56 PM
I tend to be somewhat sheltered from this sort of thing–people don’t use that kind of language around me–but I have never heard the term. The first thing that came to my mind was rape.
I did, and I wondered who the man was. I don’t watch her show, so if she has a male co-anchor, I would guess it was him.
DrMagnolias on June 5, 2009 at 3:02 PM
This attacking and vile crudness was tested with Sarah Palin. It was furthered by attacks on Miss california among others. Erbe has done the same. This will excalate because they still get psychic reward for doint it. We have a country leader that endorses it. He clapped when sykes wanted Rush dead. Musklims applauded 9/11. Until a few in some way experience pain, firing, lost litigation, civil penalties, it will grow. I guarantee the A.c.L.U. is going to protect it.
Name a single Muslim that was punished calling for the death of Geert wilders.
seven on June 5, 2009 at 3:08 PM
After what the media did to Sarah Palin and the way Obama flipped the bird repeatedly when mentioning Palin and Hillary, only the very stupidest of women wouldn’t see the leftists for what they really are – users and losers.
justincase on June 5, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Someone should publish Heffs STD score,..I’m sure it’s well into the thousands!
christene on June 5, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Don’t mess with Megyn. Seriously. She’s one of my favorites. Speak truth to power, Meg-o!
PersonalLiberty on June 5, 2009 at 3:18 PM
I could never hate fuck Megyn. She’s too adorable, and I’m too mellow.
Woody on June 5, 2009 at 3:20 PM
After what the media did to Sarah Palin and the way Obama flipped the bird repeatedly when mentioning Palin and Hillary, only the very stupidest of women wouldn’t see the leftists for what they really are – users and losers.
justincase on June 5, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Right on. I’ve always thought misogyny is at the core of liberalism.
NebCon on June 5, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Actually, I think that was King Abdullah. You know what a champion of women’s right he is! After all, he has a whole harem of women and his Arabian horses live in air conditioned stables! What better man could there be to say “amen” to Megyn’s statements.
I heard Megyn live the other day say she was an aerobics instructor for many years. Oh baby! What a class that must have been! Just thought I’d mention it for those who keep a Megyn-fantasy file in their heads ;-)
Mr_Magoo on June 5, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Conservative morality at play. “Disgusting.”
Grow Fins on June 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Non sequiturs at play. Grow Thumbs.
Jim Treacher on June 5, 2009 at 3:44 PM
When she said the thing about viewers canceling their subscriptions, I had to laugh.
OneGyT on June 5, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Hate[f**k] You, moron.
/lol
bluelightbrigade on June 5, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Playboy’s claim to respect women is laughable. All the smut peddlers think exactly the same thing about their craft. It “empowers” women. Yeah right. Their excuse for 86ing Cimbalo’s screed was weak as hell.
Ryan Gandy on June 5, 2009 at 3:53 PM
I maintain that everyone overreacted to the piece. After all, you have to consider the source. It’s not like Playboy is a respectable current events publication or anything. It’s a dirty magazine put out for people too meek to buy Hustler, Swank or Fox.
And don’t be fooled. Megyn Kelly loves it every time someone is talking about her.
Sign of the Dollar on June 5, 2009 at 3:56 PM
I’m sure you’d feel the same way if someone you knew was on that list.
Jim Treacher on June 5, 2009 at 4:05 PM
But the point is that the left is always on the attack. That’s their “MO”. It’s either “stupid” or “evil” for conservatives. Now, starting with Sarah Palin, it’s “Hey…let’s sexualize them so that whatever they say, they’ll just look like a bimbo to everyone”
A variation on the same theme.
It would make me happy if conservatives approached all their interviews like Liz Cheney: “I don’t accept the premise of your question”. It needs to be turned back on them somehow…whatever the topic is…every damn time in every interview.
We can acknowledge it and complain about it, but the talkers need to counter-attack too (staying classy of course…like Liz)
cranbone on June 5, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Notice the hypocrisy of liberals when they scream, “Censorship!!!” and yet they support the Fairness Doctrine.
Okay, all you liberals who read this blog, here’s a civics lesson for you. Censorship is when the government controls what can be said or written and the constitutional purpose of the First Amendment was to protect political speech, i.e., the right of the people to criticize its government.
Public pressure on a news or entertainment publication or website to act with decorum and decency does not constitute censorship.
Special K on June 5, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Megyn, you are the GREATEST.
John the Libertarian on June 5, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Really, though. Can liberal men even get erections? Seems oxymoronish to me.
John the Libertarian on June 5, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Playboy is slipping. They should have gone full out, and said they abwhore violence against women.
sybilll on June 5, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Good research, Morissey. The irony is so perfect it almost sounds like an urban legend.
Gaunilon on June 5, 2009 at 4:25 PM
The lack of understanding “journalists” have with respect to the 1st Amendment is stunning. I don’t know where Susannah Breslin got her degree, but she was apparently absent from class the day freedom of speech was discussed. The Constitution guarantees that government will not abridge free speech (although it does so all the time). This is a private company exhibiting an astounding lack of good taste and judgment and retracting the story after consumers and others called them out over it. That’s called the public discourse, Susannah. Contrary to being an attack on free speech, it’s the very essence of it.
Funny, but I would bet Sarah Palin with her lowly journalism degree from the University of Idaho probably knows that.
NoLeftTurn on June 5, 2009 at 4:25 PM
You’re absolutely correct. Until the government steps in and shuts down Playboy’s conduct, there’s no censorship.
Simply because a commercial enterprise makes the business decision to shut down something, realizing that it’s offensive, there’s no censorhsip.
Nothing is stopping this hateful Guy Cimbalo from launching his own Web site for this stuff. He just won’t have Playboy underwriting it.
Censorship, my a**. Take a civics course, Ms. Breslin.
BuckeyeSam on June 5, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Hef doesn’t even know how to turn a computer on.
Speedwagon82 on June 5, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Given his age, he probably no longer knows how to turn a woman on, either!
Special K on June 5, 2009 at 5:21 PM
If you want to read the article for yourself it’s been screen-shotted and posted at Redstate by Caleb warning it’s not censored so NSFW.
Mord on June 5, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Only an idiot takes on Megyn Kelly.
Playboy sure has lost it.
I remember Hugh Heftner saying once about the Playboy vs Penthouse wars. He said something like …
“Playboy is about class”.
Not anymore it’s not. It’s Hustler.
HondaV65 on June 5, 2009 at 5:40 PM
I’d like to see the author of this article say those things to those women with their husbands or boyfriends there.
I have a feeling that Mr. Palin would skin him alive.
I really thought playboy was for 15-16 year old boys…
elifino on June 5, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Guy Cimbalo has a history… Apparently on a paid junket to the Napa valley to drive Jaguars, he crapped in the hotels’ bed and set fire to the sheets…
liquidflorian on June 5, 2009 at 6:07 PM
They couldn’t come up with a list of 10 hot liberal women, could they? Let’s see, there’s Kirsten Powers and uhhhh, uhhhhh, I’m out of ideas.
darwin-t on June 5, 2009 at 6:18 PM
How about Nancy Pelosi,Janet Reno,Madeline Albright,Helen Thomas,Susan Estrich,Hillary Clinton,Debbie Stabenow,Cynthia McKinney and Michelle Obama?I need to take a shower and get back on my meds.
pistolpetestoys on June 5, 2009 at 6:47 PM
According to NewYorkSocialDiary.com, the guy on the left at this link is our friend Cimbalo.
MoCoM on June 5, 2009 at 9:31 PM
You know I used to look at playboy when I was younger, 52 now, but as i have deepened in myChristian faith I have learned that while it is okay to acknowledge an attractive woman such as Megyn Kelly if we are true Christians we don’t let that look become lust which is what some of the posters are doing by imagining her in Playboy. If we save even our thoughts for our wives it makes a big difference. Some may think this is extreme but it really focuses you on your wife instead of fantisiing about other wome whether it is like Playboy did or otherwise.
Kevin in Southern Illinois on June 5, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Tommy Christopher has too much sense to be a lib. It’s puzzling.
ddrintn on June 6, 2009 at 1:25 AM
The fact that you find conservatives taking offense to a hypothetical “rape hit list” to be more offensive than the list itself says it all.
Lefty morality missing. “Disgusting.”
I’ve heard and read quite a few “well that’s what those b*tches deserve” comments as well. Cretins.
ddrintn on June 6, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Was it Walter Williams who once wrote that just because you have the right of “free speech” doesn’t mean that I am bound to hire an auditorium for you and advertise the event?
This is relativism; free speech, and my definition thereof, is exactly what I want it to be be. Nothing more, nothing less.
oldleprechaun on June 6, 2009 at 7:44 AM
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