Amy Schumer is blocking women on Twitter for calling her out about a sexist writer who works for her

It’s been a rough week in the NYC comedy community. A comedian from the famous Upright Citizen’s Brigade theater was banned from the institution for accusations of raping several women, male comics are making fun of the accusers online and ironically accusing them of a “witch hunt,” and now, Amy Schumer is blocking women on Twitter for asking why she employs one of comedy’s biggest online bullies. Yeah, it’s all a massive bummer that’s got people upset from a number of (very valid) angles.

Sadly, it’s not news misogyny and rape culture permeate comedy. Many news stories on the issue have come out over the last few years exposing prominent and not so prominent men in comedy as alleged rapists and sexual abusers. Something that happens without fail every time a man in comedy is accused of rape are other men in comedy harassing and abusing the women who speak out online. The most notorious of these men is an Inside Amy Schumer writer, Kurt Metzger. Yes, you read that correctly: A writer for one of TV’s most beloved feminist shows is widely known for abusing women on the internet. Since 2011, comedians and women alike have been asking, “Why does this man write for Amy Schumer?”

After the latest accusations surfaced, Metzger decided to weigh in on the matter by insulting everyone involved. (Trigger Warning: rape and domestic violence)

Women comedians fed up with Metzger started tweeting at Amy Schumer and Comedy Central hoping for a response but instead some were met with Schumer blocking them on Twitter. While Schumer’s silence on Metzger over the years has been disappointing, many women comedians who looked up to the star are shocked about her blocking critics.

Surprisingly, notable writer Roxane Gay was also blocked.

Schumer blocking her fans for asking her to finally explain this Stranger Things-level mystery is incredibly alarming. The comedian makes her living using the “feminist” label. In fact, her brand of feminism is what propelled her into superstardom. One of her most famous sketches, “Football Town Nights,“a parody of Friday Night Lights, is all about rape culture. So why is she seemingly silencing those trying to keep her accountable? Why is she pulling moves that look to many people like turning her back on those who made her famous?

I know this situation must be tricky for her, but to actively block women concerned with rape culture seems pretty hypocritical. Her silence on this issue and silencing of others are perpetuating the sexist culture she constantly critiques. One of the reasons why Metzger has no qualms violently ranting online is because people with power stay silent (or just don’t care). His career and reputation as a comedian in the industry goes unscathed and our feminist comedic icons make money off critiquing men like him while simultaneously supporting them.

One of the comedians blocked, Liz Arcury, told me how she felt after the incident. “I loved her so much. I watched every episode of her show. I saw her movie opening weekend. I feel silenced and betrayed by a supposed champion of women. I think she is on the wrong side of history here.”

Others are not surprised by Schumer’s behavior.

Some good has come out of all of this. In several private Facebook groups, women in the NYC comedy community have started organizing and strategizing on how to make the community safer for women. Also one of our favorite satirical sites, Reductress dedicated their entire homepage to mocking rape culture. I spoke with the site’s founder and editor, Beth Newell, and asked what prompted such a brilliant use of truth in comedy. “Our homepage was inspired by the productive but often frustrating discussion of rape culture going on in our community right now.” She continued, “I asked [writers] to pitch ideas on the topic, our writers overwhelmed us with great ideas and we came up with the idea to do a full homepage takeover.”

I’ve been a part of the NYC comedy for almost two years now. I’m still considered a fetus compared to the scene’s wide array of insanely talented human beings. But even as a fetus, I’ve already grown tired of the MIND-BOGGLING misogyny that dominates the industry. I’ve experienced how enraging it can be for a bunch of white dudes to mock you for speaking out about one of their own. Last year, I posted an article on Metzger on a private co-ed comedy Facebook group asking “How does this man write for Amy Schumer!?” and not surprisingly, a 200+comment thread of mostly white men defending and mocking me erupted. Since then I haven’t spoken publically on Metzger and men like him.

In addition to not wanting to be harassed, there’s this very real idea that women who speak out against anyone with power or status will hurt their careers. But I’m tired. We are all tired. I got into comedy and writing to highlight the ills of the world. Men like Metzger working for a self-proclaimed feminist icon is one those ills. My silence has been holding me back, but that is over now. Women in comedy are getting louder and louder and eventually, men will be the ones scared of saying something that will hurt their careers. Until then, I’ll see you on the internet and in comedy theaters.

While writing this post, Schumer responded via Twitter, although she did not address blocking her critics.

The post Amy Schumer is blocking women on Twitter for calling her out about a sexist writer who works for her appeared first on HelloGiggles.