Liz Smith | 03/03/2009 11:00 pm
Liz Smith: Rihanna – Dump Your Abuser, Now!
Also, Rush Limbaugh — no joke; and Elizabeth Taylor at 77 – icon in furs. Here’s the daily dish with wOw’s Grande Dame
© Getty Images
“Certain women should be struck regularly, like gongs,” wrote Noël Coward in his 1930 comedy of manners, “Private Lives.”
The last time I saw “Private Lives” on Broadway, with Liz ‘n’ Dick, this line still got a big laugh. I never liked it myself, and I wonder if in any future production of this play, that line itself would be struck.
The Master’s words are timeless gems of wit. But the ticktock of political correctness could squash this one.
——————————
Two big stories were on my mind over the weekend.
One was the swirling rumor of “reconciliation” between beaten singer Rihanna and her alleged abuser Chris Brown.
Girl, get it together! This man has to go to jail. You have to press charges. I don’t care if you’re only 21, so in love and he apologized. No man who hits a woman “even once” should get another chance. Think of your young fans and the message this sends.
Afraid you’ll never feel this way again? Please. Go talk to Halle Berry who is partially deaf in one ear from the abuse she took from an early relationship — she is now madly in love again and a new mom. Sit down with Tina Turner, beaten for years by Ike. She got away, made the comeback of the ages and has had a great man in her life for many years.
Rihanna, you have a real responsibility here that has nothing to do with your “feelings.” Be an adult. This is not a Noël Coward play.
——————————-
The other story of note was the Rush Limbaugh jamboree at the CPAC conference. I channel surfed to Fox News, and there was Rush. Aside from anything he said, I was really turned off by his sloppy appearance. I didn’t need to see that much of Mr. Limbaugh’s neck in his open shirt. At least he wore black. On and on he went and I decided to get some fresh air on CNN. No escape!
There was Rush on CNN. They, too, were telecasting his entire speech, which lasted longer than the Civil War. It was, well — like when the president speaks. But he’s a radio talk-show host, yes? (MSNBC was lost in its idiotic weekend morass of specials about Death Row and other criminal matters.) CNN was leaning to the right and trying to catch Fox’s ratings.
Rush Limbaugh is not a marginal figure. He has millions upon millions of listeners/acolytes. He is the head of the conservative portion of America, if not quite of the Republican Party — there is a difference. Still, no Republican dares criticize him. The craven, frightened apologies he engenders are rather funny … in a Joe McCarthy/Huey Long kind of way.
Rush Limbaugh is no joke, and there’s no use trying to pretend he is just a buffoon or that the Republican Party will never rise again. If the stock market continues to plunge, we might see Rush on the political scene in ways too awful to imagine.
——————————
On to lighter fare. There’ll be big doin’s in Tribeca next Tuesday, March 10, when Tom Hanks presides over a special screening of his film “The Great Buck Howard” — he wears his actor and producer hats for this one. (It is a tale of a has-been “mentalist” looking to make a comeback.)
The Cinema Society is putting this together. Attending along with Hanks will be the movie’s stars: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks (Tom’s son) and the delectable Emily Blunt, who should have been Oscar-nominated for her turn in “The Devil Wears Prada.” I still feel bad that Emily and Michael Bublé split after several years dating. We dined together once and they were a great couple. She leveled him out. But a girl can only do so much.
The last time I saw “Private Lives” on Broadway, with Liz ‘n’ Dick, this line still got a big laugh. I never liked it myself, and I wonder if in any future production of this play, that line itself would be struck.
The Master’s words are timeless gems of wit. But the ticktock of political correctness could squash this one.
——————————
Two big stories were on my mind over the weekend.
One was the swirling rumor of “reconciliation” between beaten singer Rihanna and her alleged abuser Chris Brown.
Girl, get it together! This man has to go to jail. You have to press charges. I don’t care if you’re only 21, so in love and he apologized. No man who hits a woman “even once” should get another chance. Think of your young fans and the message this sends.
Afraid you’ll never feel this way again? Please. Go talk to Halle Berry who is partially deaf in one ear from the abuse she took from an early relationship — she is now madly in love again and a new mom. Sit down with Tina Turner, beaten for years by Ike. She got away, made the comeback of the ages and has had a great man in her life for many years.
Rihanna, you have a real responsibility here that has nothing to do with your “feelings.” Be an adult. This is not a Noël Coward play.
——————————-
The other story of note was the Rush Limbaugh jamboree at the CPAC conference. I channel surfed to Fox News, and there was Rush. Aside from anything he said, I was really turned off by his sloppy appearance. I didn’t need to see that much of Mr. Limbaugh’s neck in his open shirt. At least he wore black. On and on he went and I decided to get some fresh air on CNN. No escape!
There was Rush on CNN. They, too, were telecasting his entire speech, which lasted longer than the Civil War. It was, well — like when the president speaks. But he’s a radio talk-show host, yes? (MSNBC was lost in its idiotic weekend morass of specials about Death Row and other criminal matters.) CNN was leaning to the right and trying to catch Fox’s ratings.
Rush Limbaugh is not a marginal figure. He has millions upon millions of listeners/acolytes. He is the head of the conservative portion of America, if not quite of the Republican Party — there is a difference. Still, no Republican dares criticize him. The craven, frightened apologies he engenders are rather funny … in a Joe McCarthy/Huey Long kind of way.
Rush Limbaugh is no joke, and there’s no use trying to pretend he is just a buffoon or that the Republican Party will never rise again. If the stock market continues to plunge, we might see Rush on the political scene in ways too awful to imagine.
——————————
On to lighter fare. There’ll be big doin’s in Tribeca next Tuesday, March 10, when Tom Hanks presides over a special screening of his film “The Great Buck Howard” — he wears his actor and producer hats for this one. (It is a tale of a has-been “mentalist” looking to make a comeback.)
The Cinema Society is putting this together. Attending along with Hanks will be the movie’s stars: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks (Tom’s son) and the delectable Emily Blunt, who should have been Oscar-nominated for her turn in “The Devil Wears Prada.” I still feel bad that Emily and Michael Bublé split after several years dating. We dined together once and they were a great couple. She leveled him out. But a girl can only do so much.
Read more about: Celebrities, Chris Brown, Elizabeth Taylor, Emily Blunt, Gossip, Michael Buble, News, Rihanna, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Hanks
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Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested
144 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
What I find also disturbing is that they are apparently chilling together, recovering from this, having quiet time alone together in one of P diddy’s places in Florida. If I was Pee-Diddy, I would kick Brown’s ass off the continent, not molly-coddle him and "protect" or help him by offering up one of his places for them to sort it out! Grrr.
Rather I would have offered it to HER to go to alone, and then send the best therapists and counsellors to her en masse to help her heal! And ditto for Chris after a very very BIG talking to.
I agree with Woopi on the View we have no idea what the real story is behing the Rhianna and Chris event. We only have on side of the story what she told the police when she was very angry.
Dr. Phil said on the view even if Rhinna was hitting Chris on the head with a frying pan you cannot hit a woman. Chris should run.
Are we sending the right message to women that we can abuse men regardless of the circumstance. Remember the Ministers who shot him in the back took the kids and left town and is did not go to jail. That was not right and we must be careful of the messages we send to women and men.
No A man should not hit a woman and a woman should not hit a man as well. It seems that some women are getting away with murder based on the never hit a woman theory even if she hurts the man badly.
Niether should hit the other. When I see women who murder men when they could have left rather than take their lives it’s just awful and juries are letting some of these women off.
There are two lives involved in this tragedy Rhinna and Chris’s. Less get the the truth and remember no hitting from both sides. Dr. Phil is wrong about women abusing men and expecting that men should just let them do so.
I’m sure that this won’t be what we women want to hear but we must learn to respect each men and women. Absolutely no hitting. We should not tilt this argument in either direction. By doing this perhaps they both will think twice and not do any hitting.
We say we are independent, less be independent in our thinking, no hitting form either side. A woman should not hit a man and a man should not hit a woman. Who ever pass the first punch should be arrested. period.
While I agree with most every thing you said, the one part I question is, ‘Whomever threw the first punch should be arrested, period’.
Does that include throwing dishes, smashing your favorite things, setting your clothes on fire, breaking your jewelry or smashing your car windows? Because that’s typically the way women -start- being abusive to a man. The physical level is much further down the line.
But Men should not have to take being slapped in the face, hit in the head with a frying pan, or whatever else, and just ‘run away’. Their egos alone would be damaged by such a thing, and that’s the same reason many women don’t leave their abusive relationships, the whole concept ‘run away’ sounds cowardly. Men are less likely to do that than women. What they should be told is ‘take control’ of the situation. If that means stepping out of the house, moving your things, leaving this person to do the crap they do alone, then do that. You’re absolutely right, no one should lay hands on anyone else. It’s just as unfair for a woman to slap a man as it is for a man to slap a woman.
In this situation though, I don’t like the idea of saying, ‘we don’t know what happened up there, don’t cast judgement’. We do know that she was pounded to almost unrecognizable, and he seemed pretty clean of frying pan marks. No matter -who- started it, that was completely uncalled for.
Some years back I was in the veterinarian’s waiting room, as was another woman. a famous author I admire. I told her that I loved her latest novel, in which one of the main characters was an abused wife. I mentioned that there was no way I would ever allow anyone to abuse me. She agreed and said, "If anyone ever laid a hand on me he wouldn’t live to tell about it." The author barely stands five feet tall.
It’s all about valuing yourself.
ONCE AN ABUSER ALWAYS AN ABUSER. TALK WITH WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN THERE. GO TO THE SHELTERS FOR ABUSIVE WOMEN AND HEAR THEIR STORIES. GIVE YOUR SELF A CHANCE. GOOD LUCK!
PEG D
Both have many issues, but it doesn’t exonerate this guy for beating up on his gal [or anyone else].
I suggest she unload this relationship, and if she can’t she needs to get professional help. As for her BF he needs a total man makeover.
Haven’t any of you women realized How Liz Smith has manipulated your emotions in this article? She starts out with a story about the abuse and attack on a woman, then slips Rush in after your emotions have been riled. Now when readers see or hear about Rush, they will relate him to the bad feelings and fear that the artcle may illicit.
It is a psychology 101 ploy and she had the lack of respect for us all to pull it. She should be ashamed, but she doesn’t have enough self respect to care.
When a man threatens to hit, does hit, or worse….get out now…and stay out for good. No other option here. There is never a self defense excuse for someone to hit someone….man or woman. One can defend themselves by leaving, blocking the blow, etc. If a man is punched by a woman….he must back down and back off. He can then press charges should he desire.
As for Rush….a bigot is a bigot is a bigot. As long as politicians cowtow to him and the public listens to him, then sponsors will sponsor…..he’s a big fat problem with millions from advertisers. Tune him out and he’s just another slob.
As for Miss Taylor and her philanthropy vs. her living in fur…..one doesn’t negate the other. The fur industry inflicts horrific cruelty on animals and employs folks who become desensitized to suffering. It’s a disgusting business. Miss Taylor giving her time and money to AIDs charities does not make her a bejeweled Celebrity Ghandi. The wearing of fur is selfish, unneccessary, and offensive to many. How gross.
Run Rihanna run! It will happen again. If this was because of another girl texting him, it’ll happen again: he’s a young rich singer that likes the attention from girls I’m betting!
Rush Limbaugh: GAG!
Elizabeth Taylor: Hugs!
Rihanna - This is something (star news) that totally disinterests me; however, this is about violence against life.
Rihanna is in serious trouble, deeply, and must received mental health support. This is in no way intended to blame the victim, but the law must over-ride her, and prosecute this sick man. He will murder someone eventually, or already has done so. More power to those who spoke out, and to the law - now that it’s a felony, we have something to go on - and it’s federal law that anyone knowing, or suspecting of abuse must report it!
(I well remember the day the Dallas County sheriff ‘found’ me out of state to tell me, "we won." Domestic abuse became a felony! No one will ever realize the horrific tortures I have witness, with my 117 volunteers, while Schlafly et al tiptoed on - and the tragic judgements that were dealt "from the bench" that permitted the same to continue for years in Dallas County.)