When Jon Stewart announced last week that he’d be leaving The Daily Show later this year, pretty much the whole internet (including us) said that TDS’ badass correspondent Jessica Williams should be his replacement — because how awesome would it be to get a brilliant, hilarious woman of color hosting a late night talk show? So we were a little disappointed when Ms. Williams took to Twitter to respectfully decline our demands. “I’m not hosting,” she said. “Thank you but I am extremely under-qualified for the job!”
But Ms. Williams’ career decisions were outright rejected by The Billfold‘s Ester Bloom, who announced to the world that Ms. Williams was a victim of “Imposter Syndrome” who just needed a pep talk. “How modest!” she scoffed. “How self-effacing! You can almost hear all the old white people who benefit from the status quo nodding their approval.”
And that’s when shit got real:
@shorterstory @TheBillfold This is incredibly insulting.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory @TheBillfold Because of my choice, you have diagnosed me with something without knowing me at all. For the world to see. — Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory @TheBillfold Because you have personally decided, that I DON’T know myself- as a WOMAN you are saying that I need to lean in.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory @TheBillfold Are you unaware, how insulting that can be for a fully functioning person to hear that her choices are invalid? — Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory If I wanted my personal choices for myself deemed invalid, I’d go to a mysoginist. This, quite honestly, hurt my feelings.
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory @TheBillfold Also don’t call me a “victim”? How can you call me a “victim” for making a choice for myself. I’m sorry but how? — Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
@shorterstory Is it possible that I know &love myself enough to admit what Im not ready for?W/out regard to what other people want me to be?
— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015
Members of the internet community were quick to back her up:
I don’t get how it didn’t occur to this writer that maybe @msjwilly just, like, knows more than us about doing a nightly TV show. — jay smooth (@jsmooth995) February 17, 2015
Vox now voxsplaining what it is like for Jessica Williams to have her job mansplained to her. Is there an exit door for the Internet?
— ConorOnTheInternet (@conorjrogers) February 18, 2015
Not to be outdone, TIME Magazine pulled one of her quotes out of context and declared that she was lashing out at her fans instead of Ester Bloom’s misguided article — and Ms. Williams didn’t hesitate to call them out too. (The article has since been corrected.)
No, I didn’t. “@tcberenson: Jessica Williams fires back at fans who want her to replace Jon Stewart – “I am not yours” via TIME — Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 18, 2015
@tcberenson @TIMECulture That just simply isn’t true! This is TIME magazine for crying out loud. TIME! — Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 18, 2015
Well said, Ms. Williams. We have nothing to add. Okay, maybe one thing to add:
Share this valuable lesson in respecting people and not getting your ass handed to you on Twitter with all your friends.
