Political statements have long been a popular awards show accessory. From ribbons to speeches, celebrities have never really held back from expressing their beliefs. This weekend, at the Golden Globes, it was Meryl Streep who (deservedly) got the majority of the political attention, but if we look closer, we’ll see some smaller, but no less important messages.
Take a look at Lola Kirke of Mozart In the Jungle, who coordinated her politics perfectly with her pastels.
Can you see it?
What if we check out her pre-party neon version?
Yup, that’s a “F**k Paul Ryan” pin. Because yes, absolutely f**k Paul Ryan and his commitment to the stripping of so many of our basic rights. Kirke told Elle magazine:
I’m wearing a Fuck Paul Ryan pin. Paul Ryan is talking about defunding Planned Parenthood. I think that, along with a number of other decisions that are being talked about being made by the new administration, is atrocious. As a person with a platform, no matter what size it is, I think it’s important to share your views and maybe elevate people that might agree with you, that maybe won’t feel like they can have the same voice. My body my choice, your body your choice.
What makes this protest strange, though, is that the opposition you would expect to rise up against any young female celebrity expressing political views did come, but not in response to the pin. No, instead, the criticism and, yup, death threats, came in response to Kirke’s—are you ready for it?—body hair.
Kirke posted a video to Instagram before the Golden Globes showing her dancing in her underwear, captioned “Red carpet ready.” As she moves, you can see that her armpits are unshaved. And because this is the internet, a lot of people took that as an invitation for their horrible opinions. In addition to accusations that armpit hair is unhygienic (it’s not), and praise for this “feminist statement” (um, sure, maybe, or maybe it’s just a personal choice), Kirke’s post also had some people so outraged that they thought she didn’t deserve to live. On a later post (of a picture from the actual red carpet), she wrote:
Thanks to all you beautiful people who didn’t send me death threats on account of my #awesome #hairyarmpits! You rule.
Yes, a woman can say “F**k you” to the Speaker of the House, but more people will take issue with her unshaved pits, because in the eyes of far too many people, women’s political opinions don’t matter as much as their adherence to arbitrary beauty standards.
(image via Amazon)
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