Smile Hillary! MSNBC host gets 'micro-aggressive' with Clinton
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton may have gone five for five Tuesday night, but she still faced a “micro-aggression” by MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough.
The host of Morning Joe sent the tweet below to Clinton after primary results were announced.
Smile. You just had a big night. #PrimaryDay
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 16, 2016
Either Scarborough didn’t get the memo that women are tired of men asking them to smile, or he did get the memo and was being deliberately provocative.
Whatever the reason, it sparked outrage on social media.
Said no one to a man ever. https://t.co/Z8LJyxIoMf
— Caitlin Abber (@everydaycaitlin) March 16, 2016
.@JoeNBC is this what you meant? #smileforjoepic.twitter.com/sqVen8aKzr
— Amy (@eeyesmith) March 16, 2016
We've called @BernieSanders grumpy for a year. @HillaryClinton is tough as hell. She doesn't need this fake outrage. https://t.co/pBGLsjoshT
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 16, 2016
Many took offense, claiming gender discrimination because none of the equally-grumpy-looking male candidates were being told to show off their pearly whites.
There are only two candidates in this race who have been told to smile more: Carly Fiorina and Hillary Clinton. But not about gender right?
— Marv (@Marv_Vien) March 16, 2016
"Smile." @JoeNBCpic.twitter.com/W0QoI5dAp2
— Brooklyn Middleton (@BklynMiddleton) March 16, 2016
@Marv_Vien@Donna_West I've never seen Bernie smile. Oh wait, there's this. pic.twitter.com/fPR3SZVgBh
— Carmen (@goprapebuster) March 16, 2016
Some converted their anger into humor, like the hashtag #SmileForJoe launched by comedian Samantha Bee, who encouraged women to tweet images of themselves offering a sarcastic smile for Scarborough.
Ladies, it's very important that you #SmileForJoe.https://t.co/hy6CBbLwdYpic.twitter.com/Z8asKguNdv
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) March 16, 2016
Since men demand facial cues to understand emotion, let's all #SmileForJoe so he knows how we really feel. @JoeNBCpic.twitter.com/mAYXMfCPLI
— Alaina Broderson (@laina_loves_you) March 16, 2016
@FullFrontalSamB@JoeNBC#smileforjoe No go, Joe. My heart is a black abyss. #ithurtstotrypic.twitter.com/YoX8CdsChh
— miss monstrosity (@imheathermooney) March 16, 2016
Clinton isn’t the first woman who’s been expected to smile whatever the circumstance.
Last year, tennis star Serena Williams was asked by a male journalist why she wasn’t smiling at a press conference, despite the fact she had won.
Williams answered that it was late, she was tired, and didn’t find the press conference “super enjoyable”.
Artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh created an exhibition entitled “Stop Telling Women to Smile” as a response to gender-based street harassment.