BL: Still from Buffy the Vampire Slayer via Instagram
BR: Photo by Brittainy Newman for The New York Times
Today grandson released a new music video, Amy Cooper’s charges are dropped, and several Buffy cast members stand in solidarity with Charisma Carpenter and Ray Fisher.
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Grandson Drops a “Dirty” Music Video
Grandson wants you to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty with his latest music video for “Dirty.” The song talks about the work it takes to see positive change in the world while challenging the listener to reflect on their own actions and beliefs by asking themselves if they’re ready to do the work. The video was performed live and follows the black & white theme we’ve seen across Death of an Optimist. This one is absolutely worth the watch, and the rewatch, and (let’s face it) a few more rewatches after that!
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Charges Against Amy Cooper
Have Been Dropped
R: Amy Cooper photo by Christian Cooper
Charges against Amy Cooper, the Central Park racist, have been dropped after completing education courses on racial sensitivity. As a recap, Amy Cooper is the woman who called the cops on Christian Cooper, a Black birdwatcher who simply asked her to put a leash on her dog as is the law in the park. This moment came at the same time George Floyd was being murdered in the street—behavior like Amy Cooper’s leads to that type of moment. She was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, and her dog was temporarily taken from her and has since been returned. In a statement, Assistant DA Joan Illuzzi explained, “Having completed 5 sessions, Ms. Cooper’s therapist reported that it was a moving experience and that Ms. Cooper learned a lot in their sessions together.”
As for Christian Cooper he is more worried about the bigger picture than what happened in the park. He told CNN, “I am far more outraged by the U.S. Congress, which continues to deny the mostly Black and Brown people of the District of Columbia statehood and the representation every American deserves, than by anything Amy Cooper did… That gross racial injustice could be fixed by Congress now, today, and that’s what people should be focused on — not last year’s events in Central Park.” Mr. Cooper’s story can be heard in his own words in the new DC digital series REPRESENT!
We just hope those classes were truly life changing and this isn’t another case of lenient sentencing due to whiteness.
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More Speak Out Against Joss Whedon
Last week, Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Charisma Carpenter joined Ray Fisher and shared her stories of abuse working with director Joss Whedon. Recently, many others from the cast joined in support. Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a post on Instagram saying, “While I’m proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon…I stand with all survivors of abuse and I’m proud of them for speaking out.” Shortly after, co-star Michelle Trachtenberg reposted Gellar’s statement and added the caption saying, “I am brave enough now as a 35 year old woman….To repost this. Because. This must. Be known. As a teenager. With his not appropriate behavior….very. Not. Appropriate. So now. People know. What Joss. Did. The last. Comment I will make on this. Was. There was a rule. Saying. He’s not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again.”
It’s not just the women of the show either. Several other cast members have taken to social media to share their love and support for those Whedon has harassed or worse, including Adam Busch, Tom Lenk, Danny Strong, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Eliza Dushku, Nicholas Brendon, Amber Benson, Amy Acker, and several others.
We hate to see abuse. We love to see supporting victims, speaking out, and holding abusers accountable for their actions.
