Mayim Bialik apologized on Wednesday for an opinion piece she wrote for the New York Times, in which the “Big Bang Theory” actress spoke about making “self-protecting and wise” choices as a woman in Hollywood.
Many people took her column reacting to the Harvey Weinstein scandal to be of the “victim-blaming” variety, and the response on social media was highly critical.
“Let me say clearly and explicitly that I am very sorry,” the “Blossom” alum posted yesterday to Twitter. “What you wear and how you behave does not provide any protection from assault, nor does the way you dress or act in any way make you responsible for being assaulted.”
Bialik then applauded the women who have come forward against Weinstein and others, concluding her new message: “I am truly sorry for causing so much pain, and I hope you can all forgive me.”
Here’s Bialik’s full Twitter mea culpa:
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) October 18, 2017
Read her original Times contribution, “Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s World,” .
Previously, Bialik had addressed the negative response to her op-ed, titled Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s World,” by suggesting that the “Hollywood Machine” took her words “out of context.”
“I also see a bunch of people have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine and twisted them to imply that God forbid I would blame a woman for her assault based on her clothing or behavior,” she had initially explained. “Anyone who knows me and my feminism knows that’s absurd and not at all what this piece was about. It’s so sad how vicious people are being when I basically live to make things better for women.”
And on Monday, Bialik hosted a Facebook Live event to discuss her piece and its pushback. Readers can watch that below.
“My mom didn’t let me wear makeup or get manicures,” Bialik had written. “She encouraged me to be myself in audition rooms, and I followed my mother’s strong example to not put up with anyone calling me ‘baby’ or demanding hugs on set. I was always aware that I was out of step with the expected norm for girls and women in Hollywood.”
“I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with,” the comedic actress and real-life neuroscientist continued. “I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy.”
That didn’t sit will with many, including fellow actresses like Patricia Arquette and Emily Ratajkowski, whose original reactions are posted beneath one last “Also Read.”
https://twitter.com/PattyArquette/status/919258032210698240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewrap.com%2Fmayim-bialik-responds-to-backlash-over-nyt-opinion-piece%2F
VIctim blaming at its finest @missmmayim https://t.co/8DWw6BgRRl
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) October 15, 2017
Unfortunately for Bialik, there were plenty more were those came from.