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Friday, March 28, 2014

Friday Freakout: SELFish Bully

So yesterday I read about how SELF magazine contacted a runner who was wearing a tutu during a race. She didn't know how the photo was going to be used, but just like everyone else, she was flippin' excited and said "sure!" Little did she know, they would bash her for wearing a tutu. It turns out she was wearing a Superwoman outfit complete with her tutu for being a cancer survivor. It motivated her to get through training and to complete this race. She ran a dang marathon WHILE undergoing chemotherapy. Do I really need to pull out the four-letter c-word here for what SELF has done to this poor woman? Yes, I do.


As a runner myself, this is not only offensive because of her personal story conquering her battle with cancer, but because I feel that SELF magazine is being a giant bully. And I don't like bullies. Shove that subscription up your ass, SELF. You can find the full story and details here. It makes me so mad and so sad for this amazing woman to have felt so humiliated.


But really, I've participated in quite a few races myself, and I think it's all too common for people to just have fun by wearing a costume or whatever else with the daunting task of finishing a race no matter what the distance is. If a tutu gives a runner the momentum to keep going and finish that race, you go girl! Work that damn tutu! Want to wear a cape throughout the whole race? More power to ya! This whole debacle really rubbed me the wrong way. A fitness magazine such as SELF should be all about empowering people who want to lead a healthy lifestyle, not bashing them. I have no time for bullies. And seriously, do your homework, SELF! Usually runners have a reason why they dress up for races! Fricken idiots! She was rocking that tutu for charity. I hope you feel real dumb, SELF.


The editor-in-chief took time out of her day to apologize...if you want to call it that. Really she just hair flips the whole thing and says "oh we didn't know she was a cancer survivor" yeah well really that's an excuse? You can read the the "apology" here. You know what's on the "BS Meter" now?? Your magazine, SELF! I hope you feel like reaallll big jack-holes, SELF. Have fun dealing with the decline in revenue for this really awful snafoo. And ya know what? I'm going to wear a damn tutu in my next race in honor of Monika Allen. If wearing a tutu apparently makes me "lame" according to them, then I want to be lame 100% of the time. Forget about the tutu, what about rolling around in colored dye on the gravel and running through it? Yeah that's me and proud of it. You have one less subscriber, SELF. TGIF!


I embrace my lameness. Come at me, bro!


Cheers to all of you other LAME race participants who wear costumes and other things that make us so high up on SELF's lame meter. I know I'm heated about this topic. Do you participate in runs? How do you feel about this? I feel like going all Tony Montana on their asses, but I'll just stick with this passive aggressive blog post instead.





14 comments:

  1. This kind of thing just makes me shake my head at society. It doesn't matter if she was a cancer survivor or not. She's still a human-freaking-being. People suck. Just flat out SUCK!

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  2. i don't read self magazine and i'm glad i don't! that's lame and to be quite honest, tacky and rude. regardless if a person is a cancer survivor or not, isn't that magazine all about empowerment of women and aren't they supposed to promote self-esteem? duh, isn't that the whole idea BEHIND THEIR MAGAZINE AND NAME??? what a dumb move. and who cares if you wear a tutu to races? it's all about fun, it's all about staying active. isn't that the point? i have this urge to slander them on twitter now!!

    -kathy
    Vodka and Soda

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  3. I cannot believe SELF magazine did that. I used to read that magazine all the time, I was actually looking to pick one up this week but this post definitely changed my mind. Personally, I will never read that magazine again. There are plenty other fitness magazines to read, magazines that actually empower women/men to run races and better themselves not be criticized and made fun of. That article was very out of line for SELF to publish.

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  4. That is awful!!! Thanks, I don't really read Self very often but now it's on my shit list for sure.... magazine pages also make great kindling!

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  5. When did "journalism" just turn into "let's make fun of people not like us"?

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  6. I was outraged as well!! I can't believe that they ran that - I am a huge fan of the magazine and they are normally really good with that meter not really drawing attention to people or anything!! Stopping by from Amanda's blog!

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  7. Yikes! I had not heard about that and it is extremely upsetting. The part that is shocking to me is that TONS of people dress up during races so I am surprised that whoever wrote it is that far behind the times that they are not cool enough to know that dressing up is the SH!T!!

    I love costumes, costume parties and just having fun. Lame on them for making fun!

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    1. I know! SO many people dress up, especially with all of the themed races. Totally lame on SELF's part for what they said!

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  8. Who fucking CARES if she wore a tutu?! Regardless of whether or not she's a cancer survivor... why would they BASH someone for THAT?! Give me a BREAK!!!!!!! I thought SELF was supposed to be about empowerment. They should be applauding people for doing things like that PERIOD!

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  9. I had not seen the article, but just heard about the snafu all over social media and am so glad I don't subscribe! I have a tutu to wear in a race so I too will be wearing it in support of Monika AND her company! I love that they make them and support young girls!

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  10. Thats terrible! They should really be ashamed! At least she had the confidence to ROCK her tutu.

    Kristen @ Your Beauty Fix

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  11. OMG when I read about that in the news I couldn't believe SELF would do something like that! Horrible! And the apology was so half-hearted. I definitely won't be reading anything from them any time soon!

    <3, Pamela
    sequinsandseabreezes.blogspot.com

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  12. I read about this too and I couldn't believe it!!! Good to know SELF magazine does their fact checking *smh* So disappointing. If I ever do a marathon i'm totally buying a tutu from that girl!!!

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  13. We totally dress up for color runs! We have tutus and crazy socks and just general ridiculousness. I've seen someone running in a freakin' chicken costume. While I can't imagine being in the thing, it was totally awesome to give that person a high five because I'm white.. err I mean, because they are awesome.

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