In this week’s Gossip with Celebitchy podcast, we talked a lot about the Jessica Mulroney situation and how wrong Jessica was and is, from top to bottom. She went so far beyond reasonable behavior when she attacked Sasha Exeter for Exeter’s Black Lives Matter posts. Then Jessica gave some sh-tty apologies and now she’s presumably making an enemies list.
What bothers me about the whole situation is not just how wrong she was and how she got to the point where she thought she could destroy a black woman’s career over nothing, I’m also bothered by the fact that Jessica seems to feel zero shame about any of it. If I had done something THAT wrong, I would be racked with guilt and shame. Shame that I misjudged a situation, shame that behaved so abhorrently, and shame that I ended up torpedoing my privileged life all by myself. And now this: Jessica’s bullsh-t not only destroyed her own career, she’s destroyed her husband’s career too. Her husband Ben Mulroney announced that he’s stepping down from eTalk this morning:
.@benmulroney, thank you for your 18 years with Etalk. We will miss you, but are incredibly proud of your decision to step aside to make way for new voices on the show. pic.twitter.com/SAQqZbfenc
— etalk (@etalkCTV) June 22, 2020
I mean… it would be nice if white guys did this without NEEDING to do it because of their own racist sh-t or their wives’ racist sh-t. It would be nice if white dudes around the world looked around and said “you know what, I’m not the voice which is needed right now, you should hire someone else.” More dudes sitting in Fortune 500 companies need to do that. More dudes sitting in ad firms need to do that. But here we are. At least Lainey at LaineyGossip doesn’t have to worry – I guess? – about the Mulroneys coming after her job. For now.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid, Getty.
Huh, I admit I’m surprised at this. I thought he would lay low for a bit (go on “vacation” or something) and then come back.
Is eTalk his main job? Is that the job where he goes to the awards shows etc? Is it different from the morning show he’s on?
Anyway, given that he seems to encourage her behavior (not “just” the racism, but the bullying and list-making etc), this seems like a smart move for eTalk.
I read on Twitter that he is still doing special projects like the red carpets, etc.
That’s unfortunate because he sucks so badly at it. I watch other coverage of red carpets just to avoid him. Buh bye dude.
Yeah, he is AWFUL at it. I always watch E! because I can’t take Ben’s doofiness.
He totally looks like a doofus! 😂😂
He still has his job(s)!!! He hosts a daily national morning show and will continue red carpet events for etalk. That is not a resignation, he is simply cherry picking. The reality is, etalk has a ton of correspondents and him leaving won’t even matter, esp since he will still got to the Oscars. I don’t know what he do, stay, resign, get fired but I just dislike the reporting of him quitting his job when etalk is just one very small piece of the pie.
He anchors the morning show. It’s just the ETalk he’s leaving.
Exactly. For the non-Canadians it would be like he’s stepping away from Access Hollywood but will keep hosting Good Morning America.
So he’s keeping the more “respectable” gig.
My question is, who watches that Morning Show? I bailed when they canned Canada AM for this new thing.
Layla Beans – I’m surprised that Your Morning is still on the air. Although I don’t watch am tv as a rule, I can say without a doubt that Canada AM was head and shoulders above Your Morning in terms of quality. Marci Ien & Bev Thomson did a great job and to this day I can’t believe it was cancelled and replaced with Ben’s show.
Carmen and Layla – I agree that Canada AM was way better. Ben has always given off a smarmy vibe so I don’t get why he has managed to keep getting these jobs.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who misses Canada AM! I used to watch it every morning; as for Ben’s show, I think I watched it once for five minutes and never again. I read that Canada AM was cancelled because, while it was popular, most of its audience was middle-aged or older, and the powers that be at CTV wanted a younger audience. Guess what – the great majority of viewers who watch morning news telecasts, both in Canada and the US, are older. Oops. i have no idea what the ratings for Ben’s show are, but I doubt they’re as good as Canada AM. And NIC919 – maybe the fact that Ben’s dad (former PM Brian Mulroney) sits on the board of directors of CTV’s parent company has something to do with Ben’s career.
eTalk is not his main job. He is the host of ‘Your Morning’ on CTV and will remain there.
He didn’t encourage her behaviour at all. He’s stating that he loves her and will support her efforts to better herself, while also working to learn and better himself. At no point in his statement did he excuse her; he acknowledged his white privilege, and the fact that he needs to address the fact that he’s been blind to what that has afforded him.
I meant behind the scenes he seems to be encouraging the bullying behavior, at least according to Lainey.
I wouldn’t be so quick to jump on what Lainey says. She is a hypocrite and is saying what she needs to to protect herself.
@Cosmo – oh I don’t take what Lainey says as gospel, she certainly had her own motives for writing that piece.
This is like Ryan Seacrest leaving one of his jobs. He’s got many more and he will be fine.
On a purely canadian gossip level, I wonder if anyone is going to look back and ask why Tanya Kim was suddenly no longer his co host even though she started the show with him.
Bell Media did a massive restructuring in 2014 to contain financial losses and some 120 people lost their jobs. Why Tanya Kim was chosen I’ll never understand, she was outstanding.
Why does it seem he supports it? I must have missed something.. or you mean because he said he loves her?
He’s still doing the morning show and red carpets and special events. So he’s not giving up much. And he’ll still be around TV and still have power among all of the elites, so to me this smacks of some self service action. If I had spoken out, I would still be very nervous. Just because he’s not physically there doesn’t mean his friends in high places don’t have long memories. He’s still keeping a big piece of the pie, and has the reach to make people’s lives miserable. It felt very fake, too perfect. And yes, I get that’s a reach of a complaint, that someone did exactly the right thing, but I highly doubt this behavior change can happen in a week, and we’re human, so when we make mistakes, we usually aren’t exactly perfect with our follow through. So I think this is all part of their rehabilitation plan where only the outside gets shined up.
Holy shit. This is huge. And to my mind, lends credence to the hypothesis that there is MUCH more that could potentially come out about both of their dealings.
He looks like THAT?
Huh. Never seen him before so I’m pretty shocked.
I just want to know if they at least got a 2 for 1 deal on those bad spray tans.
Lol! Yeah, that’s what I thought: he looks like a young Brian Mulroney with a orange spray tan
And the day-glo teefs. Tacky AF. I know I’ll get yelled at for this but I’m surprised Meghan was/is close friends with these people. They seem awful. She seems cooler than that.
Right? Look at her feet compared to her face in that blue suit photo.
@chillywilly – I know. Meghan may not have initially known about all the talk about what lousy people they are, to be fair. That said, anyone interested in politics, especially living in Toronto for 8 years would’ve learned pretty quickly that Brian Mulroney was one of the most hated prime ministers in Canada and that he was involved in some pretty shady business after he stepped down. And since then he’s been a Trump buddy. And let’s not kid ourselves, Jessica and her husband provided Meghan with entry to certain society circles in Toronto that she wouldn’t otherwise have had. It was a beneficial friendship for them both. That’s not to say it wasn’t sincere – but Jessica helped Meghan socially and once Meghan met Harry Jessica has been profiting from that ever since.
@erinn I’m dying 🤣🤣🤣
For some reason this is cracking me up.
He’s cuter than I expected, but apparently has some weird addiction to white sneakers that needs to be addressed.
He looks weird. Like lots of Botox or something. Young and old face at the same time. His highlights are great though. Fashion is atrocious though
Yes! In each of these pictures I had to check it was the same guy and completely re-evaluated how old I thought he was as I scrolled through the story. No idea of his actual age but he looks like the women who mess with their faces and at 20 could pass for anything up to 40. Weird.
He’s 44. And looks a lot like his dad but with a touch of Mila in there. Canadians would see the resemblance right away though.
Exactly what I was thinking about Lainey being OK now. I hope she is.
+1000000000]
I think this could still be an issue for her job-wise. It resolves the maternity leave posting she is doing as co-host, but isn’t one of her main roles on ETalk (and certainly one of her favourite roles) the red carpets? I wonder if there is a chance now that Ben is staying on red carpets that he has kicked her off of them.
+1
Lainey didn’t create this mess, but she sure is really getting into it more than she needed to. I don’t know why people are so concerned about her. She still writes problematic stuff, like recently, not just from long ago. She keeps blaming white supremacy for her own racist behavior, which is a total cop out. People are showing some of her old articles and they are really disgusting.Like I said before, she has been scrubbing herself to look better.
@L4frimaire I’m not sure how acknowledging one’s own mistakes and owning up to how one has been effected–like all the rest of us–by white supremacy culture is somehow “blaming white supremacy for her own racist behavior.” Like Lainey or don’t but she’s been openly talking her past mistakes and her commitment to do better for years.
I imagine Lainey knew about this and is why she wrote that piece she did – I also think they’re getting ahead of something else. The other shoe is about to drop and this time I’ll bet its about him.
I definitely think they are getting ahead of something else.
I personally don’t believe Lainey would have written that piece if she didn’t know which way the wind was blowing on Ben.
Gee I wonder who will be the new anchor on etalk………
He reminds me of Howard Hamlin from Better Call Saul.
OMG, spot.on.
YES!! He even sounds like HH.
I can’t unsee this now.
I mean he never should gave had any work, but then Daddy was PM…
At the same time, I’m genuinely asking, is fair for a spouse to lose work bc of their partner’s issues?
I’m not trolling, supporting his wife or anything.
Despite being Canadian, tbh, I don’t know a lot of gossip about Ben M. himself, other than that when I used to watch TV and his show came on, or he came on TV in general, he just annoyed me.
Of course I know he’s benefited from his Dad’s connections.
But do we know of anything racist, sexist etc. about his behaviour?
I’m truly curious.
So I had the same thought, about a spouse losing work because of their partner’s issues, but I think this situation is different, because TV shows like this depend so much on brand – and I also think, like DU said above, that there is something else going on and they are getting ahead of it.
I also wonder how much of this is related to Jessica throwing a fit, and expecting him to stick up for her, or maybe there were new demands that his bosses wanted met that he refused to work with. It’s all pretty strange, so I suspect there’s more to come.
@spilldatt – I don’t have the answer, but I think that’s an interesting question!
I was thinking the same thing. If my partner says or does something, should I have to take the fall for it as well? What about the racist Karen’s calling the police on the black men? Did their husbands lose their jobs as well?
Yeah I don’t think it’s right to make spouses get fired, in general. Like even if Jessica had been outed as doing something worse, I don’t think HIS employer has to tell him to break up or quit, they could wait for the next contract and use the new info (racist spouse) to decide to offer him a position or not.
But he’s not losing his main Job, and he’s making himself look good. Making a fuss about how open he is to learning. Good PR decisions. I’m genuinely curious if he knew she bullied people to that extent
I think it would have been mentioned recently if he had done anything offensive that was public knowledge. Let’s see if anything comes out though! Like with Lea Michele the stuff came out over a week or two
I think this is a pivot to become a more “serious” news anchor. John Roberts of Fox News (and formerly CNN) got his start at Canada’s version of MTV wayyy back in the day and I think Ben is similarly dropping the entertainment side of his gig to focus on being the morning show anchor.
I have no doubt this would have been in his long term plans anyway, maybe this just sped it up a bit…
Ohh good insight! This is his chance to rebrand.
For it to be believable, Jessica is going to need to do a lot of meaningful PR damage control — much more than releasing an apology. It will take a few years.
Well, Walter Cronkite wasn’t built in a day. He better be prepared to be in it for the long haul.
POWER HOUR! I remember John Roberts back when he was JD Roberts and rocked the mullet while hosting the heaviest hour in television!
Yes I am thinking he just upped the timeline. If you do etalk no one actually thinks you are a legitimate journalist so dropping that from his schedule probably wasn’t anything he was too upset about. And he gets to sell it as giving a space to a non White person and will try to get good PR for that. And it will work in some circles.
Ah, JD Roberts! That’s a blast from the past. Loved the New Music!!
First: Ben Mulroney looks like a character from a Superman comic. His face is crazy symmetrical.
Second: I still remain puzzled as to why Jessica Mulroney inserted herself into Sasha Exeter’s thoughts on the current racial justice movement. I am having a hard time understanding the level of entitlement and self-absorption. It was so unnecessary. Like Karen Kulroney, this isn’t really about YOU. But now it is about her, and her husband. Their loss of jobs, positions on boards, and inevitably how they will craft their eventual PR rehabilitation. Because power protects itself. And so, I totally agree with Kaiser. Sasha Exeter’s and Lainey Lui’s jobs and reputations are only safe for NOW, but retribution is coming.
Can Karens just stop?
“ I still remain puzzled as to why Jessica Mulroney inserted herself”
It’s wild isn’t it? She could have said not one word and she would have been absolutely fine. She’d made some generic supportive posts. No one would have cared because all respect to Sasha but she’s really not (errr…really wasn’t) all that well known or a big deal). Jessica could have gone about her business. The self-absorption and entitlement! Just staggering.
Honestly, I have the same thought and was going to say something in my other comment but couldn’t figure out how to word it, lol But Jessica could have just….stayed quiet. I “get” that she felt Sasha was singling her out and “attacking” her, regardless of whether she actually was, but she still could have just….stayed silent. She could have just ignored Sasha and her IG and gone on her merry way.
Or, she COULD have posted something about BLM, but honestly I don’t think people were waiting with bated breath to hear what she had to say.
Her reaction is bizarre to me, its like the ultimate in Karen-ing. It seems like she went from 0-60 in 2 seconds, based on what we know, and I feel like if there was other information out there that would put JM in a better light, we would have seen it/heard it by now. But it says to me that this is far from the first time she has threatened someone like this, it seemed to be almost an automatic reaction.
@Becks and the others, the fact that she could have just “stayed silent” and win is what bothers me as true as it is. That is truly a privilege and I’m over it. White silence is violence and now is the time to be vocally anti racist, not just quietly non racist. IMO.
@livealot – I agree that now is the time to be vocally anti-racist, and I think Jessica should have used her platform to do that.
But in terms of specifically responding to Sasha – she didn’t have to. She had lots of other options besides threatening her, and yes, staying quiet as it related to Sasha was one of them.
I understand what you are writing. Overall I agree with you, when you are upset it is better not to do anything for 24 hours and then revisit, usually it is not as if you have to confront/ do something right away. I think best to get advice because then you are in a situation you want to answer back but IMO usually best to let it go. Especially in this situation. Jessica may have felt targeted but the immediate response and continuing immediate responses did her in. She needed to walk away and cool down. IMO she has quite a bit of power and this led to her thinking she could shut it down but the bigger you get the harder you fall. I guess I have done this as have many others and now I try the cool down technique cause usually the situation goes away. I just read the Justin Beiber story- instead of hotly denying immediately, his managers/attorneys probably researched and set up the correct response.
@livealot You are absolutely right, but there are still a lot of white people who frankly don’t care enough about black people as people to be vocally anti-racist. And while that is not okay, it also is okay.
As a black woman, it has taken me time to unlearn anti-blackness and I still catch myself in old thought patterns. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for a white person let alone one as wealthy and privileged as Mulroney. A lot of white celebrities are pushing themselves to do the least in order (a black square, a “let’s come together” tweet) in order to appear as though they care about black lives, but they truly don’t. In fact, some like Mulroney actively try to or do harm black people.
So, she could and should have stayed quiet. Yes, her silence is complicity but her actions also made her complicit. Different path, same destination.
I think she is just that narcissistic that she assumes everything is about her.
@QM’s Hand, this is so true and so peak Karen. One, they can’t mind their business and think anything a random Black person is doing is all about their needs or comfort. You can’t tell them anything, like heaven forbid we ask you to leash your dog or wear a mask. Instead of moving on and venting in private, they have to weaponize their privilege with a side of nasty vindictiveness. And the thing is, to them, it’s no big deal to call the cops or threaten your job. I don’t feel sorry for any of these women, including Jessica. Based on some of the comments I saw under Ben Mulroney’s announcement, he will be fine and this won’t be held against helm. For people like him and his wife, this is just a hiccup, and they’ll get on with their privileged life. The people of color affected by their disgusting behavior may not.
For some reason, the first time I read this comment, I missed your first point. I just caught it and cackled because it’s true! I had never seen his face that I knew of before today, and I had a similar thought, except that I thought he looked like a self-tan Henry Cavill.
Meghan looks like she’s being held hostage in that picture with Ben & Jessica. I’ve noticed her looking a bit uncomfortable in other pictures with JM too. JM on the other hand always beams when she’s posing and showing off Meghan.
I agree that they show her off, but that photo was taken in March, before Meghan met Harry in July.
They all look comfortable with one another and happy to be posing, stop creating fan fiction.
@argus – Hahahaha! Oh come on – these ouc have been out there for years attached together articles about what good friends they are. Let’s not rewrite history just because some of Meghan’s friends turned out to be garbage people.
Oops – meant to type these pics not these ouc! Stupid autocorrect!
I think she looks off in that group photo, but I can’t stick with the assumption that she’s really uncomfortable. Body language isn’t scientific, but the way she’s posing is often interpreted in a “popular science” sort of way as a subconscious distancing tactic, so maybe that’s why you think that. I see a popular pose for most celebrity types; it’s awkward as hell to lean back like that for any length of time, but it lengthens the body and juts out the hips to create a more angular composition and suggest slenderness in a photograph. It seems silly because she’s clearly tiny, but it happens all the time with models, singers, and actresses’, so I think she was just doing what those types do for an event photo. She could have also been asked to “show off” the dress she’s wearing (especially if styled by JM), and that pose effectively does that, even if it looks kinda dumb and stiff in this context of a friendly group photo. Her hair is also in that artfully messy style she got so much crap for a few years ago, and her eye makeup heavy and intentionally smudged, the overall effect of which makes her look a little disheveled, and puts that stiff pose at odds with the rest of her relaxed look.
I love Meghan and her style *now*, and had no idea who she was then until she started dating Harry, but I think the criticism of lots of her early Harry-era looks was pretty valid, and looking back has me asking if all the awful outfits were Mulroney-influenced styling choices? She’s always been stunning, even in this terrible photo, but the *outfit* is not great, and the make up worse, and the hair not bad but not good with the makeup, and all of those are *styling* choices. Is it too much to hope that JM will never be asked to “style” anything ever again? *fingers crossed*
We don’t even have any confirmation that JM was ever MM’s stylist, that was all unsubstantiated tabloid speculation…that JM absolutely profited from, so I guess neither of them really saw much need to deny it.
Actually, MM denying it would probably have been taken by the world as a direct attack on JM, so denying it would have made a mess of things. Not saying anything was the right move.
When this was taken Ben was the bigger celebrity
Ben is Canada’s Ryan Seacrest. He hosted Canadian Idol, ETalk AND does a morning show. This is a big deal for Canadian media.
I don’t think he needed to step aside because of his spouse’s actions, but making room for other voices is needed. Plus, he still has his morning show and obviously a ton of money. He won’t be hurting.
I forgot he hosted our crappy version of Idol!
He know who he married and this is the consequence of it. He just admitted that he loves his wife and they ain’t breaking up.
Just like for Galaxy player Aleksandar Katai whose wife chose the week following George Floyd’s death to just be absolute garbage on social media. He came out with some BS on his social media to do damage control but the organization was not having it and he was fired.
If you have a partner who is in the public eye and you chose to do this, then you being garbage is more important than your partner.
I admit I am shocked. I 100% didn’t see him leaving. But leaving ETalk isn’t the same as leaving CTV, he still has his morning show gig and this also lets him leave the more frivolous job of entertainment host behind and so it isn’t a loss for him but puts distance between him and Lainey.
Good point! Maybe it’s too awkward/uncomfortable working with Lainey anymore, especially if they have to make relaxed banter.
I can’t be the only who thinks Jessica Mulroney was trying to morph herself into Megan?!! It’s just weird.
🙋🏻♀️ +1. The fake tan is terrible. I saw a photo of JM without the tan and she looks completely different. She’s actually white, like really white.
Not only her tan is different. She used to look like a totally different person. Google Jessica Brownstein
Wow, really different!
Holy cats! She looks like a different person. How much must someone dislike themselves to physically change their appearance with major plastic surgery like that. She was a perfectly lovely young woman.
Omg Jessica brownstein andnjessica Mulroney are not the same person hahaha she looks COMPLETLEY different
She used to look vaguely like Jennifer Meyer, Toby Maguire’s ex-wife. Now she just looks like fillers.
With the spray tan and the fillers, she’s giving me budget Christina Aguilera vibes.
@profplum – agree re the previous Jennifer Meyer resemblance.
She does look super different. I can’t put my finger on it. Part of it is the eyebrows and the tan. Is her nose different?
Thought the same thing; she looks like she’s trying to morph into Megan! Also, I would like to put on the kettle and remind all of JM’s thirsty “ass shot, glance over the shoulder” saunter at Megan and Harry’s wedding. Prior to the big day, there was chatter that JM wanted her Pippa moment at the Royal Wedding. ALL ABOUT JESSICA.
If the influencer was white, Jessica would have still used her privilege and wealth and threats against her in a power play which is gross and terrible and all too common in our world. Labelling what she did as racism is not completely correct. Lainey threw her colleague Ben under the bus so there’s no loyalty there but that’s to be expected from someone like her. Look at her reputation destroying commentary of celebrities over the years as she has climbed upwards and pretended to play nice when they appeared on CTV shows where she is hosting.
Nope. The article Lainey wrote did not throw Ben under the bus. She mentioned that they always got along at work and were there for each other. It is Ben’s wife who threw him under the bus by her insanely narcissistic actions. Trying to blame Lainey, a Chinese canadian woman who was not born the child of a prime minister and pretending that anything she does could affect Ben Mulroney’s career is ridiculous.
Did we read the same article? I remember she talking about their professional relationship, which was good, but that they weren’t that close as friends. I like Lainey’s blog, it’s my favourite, she even calls herself out, for her past actions, not to mention that the tone of her blog has changed/improved a lot in the last 10 years (if not more).
The article written by Lainey didn’t blame Ben for Jessica’s actions. She wrote about Jessica’s actions. So Ben leaving etalk is on him.
ahaha ohhh Nic, I agree with your comment, I was refering to the first commenter, I never saw any intention from Lainey to “throw Ben under the bus”, but to explain the kind of relationship they had.
I think this is one where they’ve decided to try a “two birds with one stone” hit. He’s addressing his wife’s incident, saying the right words regarding learning, and he is giving up his seat with heavy emphasis on a person of colour taking the spot. He didn’t need to leave, I don’t recall seeing any press calling for his resignation from TV, but he’s now managed to step back from a gig (without losing his Paycheck for his other hosting gigs) and has made it into a equality positive move.
Definitely a PR move. Whether that is to try and mend the Family name, or getting points on the board before something else comes out, is yet to be seen.
He mentioned that while he loves his wife, he can’t speak for her. That said we shouldn’t expect anyone else to either. It was fitting that her husband said something. That said ,this isn’t going fix racism.
If you saw how pompous Ben was with Anne Marie his host on Your Morning…well he shot her down everytime he could, he would argue or belittle her I found (but yet not the 2 white women….hm). Ben was nervous and squirmy this morning- he KNOWS that he has lost the power on Your Morning too – everybody watching him now too. He is going to have to be nice at work with EVERYONE now – imagine that – no mistakes will be allowed.
It will be interesting to see what happens over the next year.
I just posted something on the other Jessica Mulroney thread more relevant to this one, so I’ll just get yelled at on this thread:
“OK, I may be the only one but I think what Lainey did was shady and purposely done to ensure that Ben Mulroney lost that job, one way or another, to her benefit. As though she took advantage of Jessica’s wrongdoing to attack someone else (whose job she wanted) and imply, if not outright state, that he is essentially a dangerous racist.”
I am not familiar with Toronto and it’s social and television scenes to know if it was warranted but I just found Lainey’s “oooh I’m so scared” narrative over-the-top, totally atypical from her usual style and to be attacking someone who, to my knowledge, had nothing to do with Jessica’s wrongdoings.
I am a Torontonian working in media.
Some questions for you Mary: Is it possible that Lainey has also experienced racism in her dealings with the Mulroneys? (Yes.) Or within her career? (Yes.)
No one would share this much insight and opinion publicly without feeling they would be supported in doing so.
Does BM’s resignation (or whatever this is) open doors for Lainey (that should always have been open for her and others)? (Probably and hopefully.)
Give a professional woman some credit – if she applies for and/or ends up with BM’s old job, you know she’s earned that opportunity. Lainey doesn’t need to throw anyone under a bus to give herself a leg up.
As for your criticism of her narrative, I think you’re being unfair. You don’t know what she’s experienced to make her feel that way. Have some compassion.
@EM, yes, I don’t know Lainey’s experiences in the work industry and it is entirely possible that she has experienced racism. But, she did not allege that Ben Mulroney had been racist toward her.
Your question about whether it was possible that Ben had committed a racist offense against Lainey is kind of like asking if Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. Asking the question in such a way and implying that it is true in hopes that people just accept it and the question ultimately becoming a statement of fact.
Lainey allegedly got all scared because of rumors. Gossip. Gossip that she spreads and a guy loses a job she wants. Go figure
If lainey was subject to racism why did she often refer to Ben as her friend? Why did she reference spending time with him on a social level?
@Lotus – Lainey very intentionally explained in her post that he is a work friend, NOT a social friend. I don’t think she has much respect for him but would engage respectfully with him as a colleague. I have no problem with that – she is able to professionally engage with someone she’s sees through.
@mary My question posited whether it was possible that Lainey had experienced racism – and I do think it is possible. Is it certain? I wouldn’t know. How would I be able to speak on anyone else’s lived experience with any accuracy? Hence, the question for discussion, and in response to your suggestion that Lainey’s narrative was “OTT”.
@lotus It is possible to be friendly with someone but also to be racialized by them. That is the power of white privilege at work. Lainey did not say they were friends, but that they were “work friends”:
“Given our professional history together, it might seem to you like Ben and I are close. And in many ways, we are close – in the way that two people can be close but only at work and only when we are working. I don’t see Ben on weekends. I don’t text him regularly. We do not overlap friend circles. I hardly go out. I have no idea where he hangs. At work though, yes, there is mutual respect and trust. I know I can go to him in a live situation and he will catch me, as he knows that I will catch him. He is to me, as Thor would say, “a friend from work”.” — From https://www.laineygossip.com/how-jessica-mulroney-used-white-privilege-and-white-fragility-against-sasha-exeter/66442
@em see my reply above, dont believe everything someone tells you.
@Em, it’s “possible” that Lainey experienced racism, it’s “possible” that Ben racialized Lainey…. ? Geez, have you no shame? You are totally justifying Ben’s having to step down because it is “possible” that he might have, at some point, done something, we don’t know what, when or how, to be racist toward Lainey. With no proof or even allegation by Lainey. Next thing you know you’ll be saying Ben has weapons of mass destruction hidden under his bed!
@mary I’m not sure how I could be more clear or why you seem so closed to discussing this in a balanced way. Perhaps you should reread my posts to get a more accurate understanding of what I said (rather than what you are inferring I meant).
@Lotus — I am a Black person with non-Black friends, almost all of whom have acknowledged (before the last months of protests/before quarantine even) that they are racist based on the fact that our entire society is steeped in white supremacy. Our conversations are more nuanced than that, but that’s the gist. I even dated a guy in college who told me after we broke up that we broke up not for the reasons he told me at the time, but because he was an f-ing racist, raised by racist parents, and he felt awful about it (boohoo for him; that phone call still makes me sick to think about it). Non-white people interact with racists every single day of our lives. Sometimes we call them friends. Sometimes we have a really efficient professional relationship, and we work well together. Sometimes they become our in-laws. It is so much more comforting to me to be in close proximity to someone who acknowledges their issues and works on them than someone who claims color blindness or that they “don’t have a racist bone in their body.” Because one is just a fact in our societies that we have to work though, and the other two are completely delusional and dangerous.
Trying to blame Lainey for Ben leaving his job at etalk is a really bad look. When you go after the racialized person in this story instead of the son of a prime minister it really shows how you are prepared to protect the white guy even though it is his own wife who acted this stupidly.
And questioning whether or not Lainey experienced racism is also disgusting. Only a white person could question this. Of course a Chinese canadian woman has experienced racism. No non white person has gone through life without some micro aggressions if not overt racism.
@Nic919, I was responding to @Em’s query about whether or not it was possible that Lainey experienced racism (and I addressed this in work and not society at large respects). I was merely pointing out the nebulous nature of the “possible” term. I never said I thought she did not encounter racism. You totally misconstrued what I said.
@Em turned around and answered her own question as yes, it was possible but that she did not know for a fact if she did. Are you going to call her a Karen too??!
I’d tell you to keep my name out of your mouth but you seem a little obsessed so I know you won’t. Tell you what, you can call me Karen and I’ll call you B*tch. Then we’ll both be happy.
Lainey’s been at Etalk since 2006; she’s been there a long time, and is filling in now as co-anchor for Danielle’s mat leave. Now, who will be co-anchor once the mat leave’s over and Ben is leaving remains to be seen. I’d like to see Traci Melchor get it – she’s been there a long time also. I think Lainey’s post last week might have created an awkward situation between her and Ben, since they co-hosted, and maybe that’s why he decided to leave, who knows. Lainey’s post was well-written, and she’s spoken many times before, mostly on The Social, about the racism she’s endured over the years, so it would be hard for CTV to discount her experiences over Ben’s, imo.
Lainey’s post was completely about protecting Lainey and distancing herself. There was no other reason to go into the details about how she and Ben aren’t “really” friends or how she doesn’t really know Jessica at all.
It doesn’t make what she said less true though, even if it had a definite purpose and angle, but even with that – I don’t think it was part of a master plan to get Ben fired.
I think it was also partly about settling a score over being fed bad information about the Sussexes staying in Canada.
I would still love to know Lainey’s source for the infamous blind item.
Mary,
In the first of your comments you literally say
“As though she took advantage of Jessica’s wrongdoing to attack someone else (whose job she wanted)and imply, if not outright state, that he is essentially a dangerous racist.
But in your reply to Em you immediately say:
“I don’t know Lainey’s experiences in the work industry and it is entirely possible that she has experienced racism. But, she did not allege that Ben Mulroney had been racist toward her
You’re contradicting yourself so much. But at the same time – you’re not even considering the possibility that HE made the decision to step down. You’re automatically assuming he was fired, when currently, the statement from him is that he CHOSE to do this. I don’t know how you read Lainey’s piece and got that feeling from it. I did not find that she attacked Ben in any way. All she did was clarify that their relationship was nearly exclusively a working relationship, and that they did not hang out outside of work, and they were not a source for Meghan information. She DID mention that Jessica was keeping a list of names in order to potentially cause problems for those that didn’t support her – but that had nothing to do with Ben.
The thing is – both Ben and Jessica have influential families who I’m sure network extensively with the same kind of folks that are bosses on the network. I think it was sensible to have some fear of retribution – and I’m sure that made her write up more measured and careful. I think had she not been concerned about her job security she would be a complete fool.
@Erinn, the two statements are not contradictory. Lainey does not state that Ben has ever behaved in a racist fashion toward her but then cites GOSSIP to imply that he is or could be a vindictive (that is what I meant by dangerous) racist. One specific, one speculative and general. Anything else I said you want to twist?
I would have loved to be a fly on the Mulroney’s wall in the past week. Lots of brainstorming, blame-shifting and attempts at reputation management going on, I’m sure. And tears. A lot of tears. She may be rich but will die with her reputation in tatters which is all that matters at the end.
I’m Canadian, I remember when Ben Mulroney started in TV and when Etalk started. It blows my mind that a) anyone cares about him and his wife at all and b) this bush league version of Entertainment Tonight is still on the air. I always thought it was just a show created to fill dead air on CTV and mocked it mercilessly. Also, Ben is so embarrassing on red carpet coverage. He is technically Canada’s Seacrest and that is embarrassing for the country. I would have never guessed that Ben, a boring mediocre white boy would end up at this juncture. Ben is like Rick Campanelli (formerly Rick the Temp from Muchmusic and now hosting ET Canada) and I thought both were just there to fill dead air and mock as wannabes on shows no one under 60 watches. Live and learn.
LOL I remember Rick the Temp!!! Whatever happened to him – he was dropped from ET Canada…
Jessica is so overly tanned, I thought she was not a white person!
🤭
She’s Peak White Person.
IDC that fallout is hitting her rich husband. I just don’t. I’ve had enough of entitled rich people walking all over others.
It isn’t like he – or she – really needs to have a job. Their jobs do not contribute much if anything to the world. They can get out of the way and still have their posh life hanging with their rich friends. Time’s up on this BS and I am here for that. #FedUprising
I grew up in Canada and Brian Mulroney was PM when I was a child, I remember how hated he was…we sang made up songs making fun of him on the playground at school! I have lived in the States for all of my adult life and haven’t seen pictures of him until now…and Ben looks exactly like it’s father, which is not a compliment. I am having a hard time understanding how he was able to leverage a media career in the first place!
I’m confused about Jessica being a fashion consultant for people. She always seemed dressed so badly. She has a nice body but no one could make that stuff look good. Her colors remind me of ice cream flavors.
He isn’t leaving completely, is my understanding. My understanding is that he will continue to do red carpets (why?!!!!) and behind the scenes stuff. Also p.s. Ben really isn’t aging well.
Can’t believe Ben Mulroney has his own post on CB!! When I listened to his announcement he sounded different – very patronizing & smooth. It’s almost like he was trying to imitate Justin Trudeau giving his daily COVID speech 🤪
I’m pretty sure the second part of the statement by CTV / Etalk said that Ben was not only staying on for special segments, but he’ll become a producer instead of on air talent which was explicitly described in the statement as being in the works for some time. So, he’s ultimately going to have MORE power and influence with his white male voice. And this isn’t a demotion, but a promotion in his career! Smh at the spin.
Wow i saw this elsewhere first im shocked but now reading comments this sounds like his workload will not change much as he’ll still hold his other multiple and this may be used for better PR than actually feeling like he and his wife need to work on their privilege and advocate for diversity?
Aw, God bless poor Ben. I guess now he and Jessica will just have to be content with each being very, very, very, very wealthy, well-connected heirs.
I used to think Justin Trudeau probably envied Ben’s career. If he ever did, be probably doesn’t anymore…
@ KL – I’m not Canadian so I’m sure I’m missing certain nuances, but why would a Prime Minister be envious of the career of the nepotism Ryan Seacrest?
JT was a drama teacher prior to becoming Prime Minister and definitely has a flair for the dramatic. I’m sure there are days he would love to host a TV show and not have the responsibility of leading a country. They’re close to the same age, and both the sons of former PM’s. Basically, they’re two sides of the same coin.
There was a similar but distinct situation at the august Globe and Mail. It will sort out itself with time. Unfortunately for Sasha, she is no Kimberly Jones, should move to become a creative. Ben Mulroney was not pushed, did not jump, he walked away into production.
Etalk has had 18 years, it is a new chapter and we live in interesting times. I will caution any black or indeginious person up for the job. That friendship endured. The Sussexes and the Mulroneys relationship will endure.
Almost every thing else is up for grabs. It is a small ecosystem in which the aristo(s) and nouveau riche are separate and equal, their take on this story is all that matters. It is not about Princess Meghan nor Sasha.
Are you talking about an editorial shift at the Globe?
No. It was about reportage about a famous and well known Canadian in the society pages. The society pages and the problem no longer exist. Enough said.
I commented earlier that ,while I enjoy done of Lainey takes and appreciate she is very clear about making mistakes and learning from them, I felt she delved way too deep on this one. It would have felt more genuine to me if she had stated she was work friends with Ben, the Mulroneys were not her sources and that she have concerns about their future relationship moving forward.
Instead she goes on and on about rumours, about what might happen to her as retribution for saying…the Mulroneys have influence and could use it?
She even kills her own rational by noting she is covering for a woman on maternity leave- how would Ben take away this job when it is not even her?
Then she states she has as much seniority on the network as him…hey. I thought she was scared ?
I do like Lainey and I understand we, non white people,have all the right not to feel safe in a world that caters to certain people, but honestly…I was really not convinced about this one!
Even if she lost this gig,Lainey has a site with huge traffic out of Canada- their influence just goes as far. She made it sound they could destroy her life honestly and this is an exaggeration.
She was either convinced some was coming her way or…she took the opportunity to make it about herself.
(Bottom line: Lainey reports on gossip. Jessica did something dumb that everyone was talking about. Lainey could very well write while she has a positive, professional relationship with her husband, what Jessica had done was abhorrent and that she supported the bloggers decision to come forward. Period.
@Priscila, agree with your takeaway, although I’m not that into her . She could have been more professional about it and the effect it had in her working relationship. She got too into the salacious, gossipy aspects and made it too much about her.
totally agree with what you said here!
@Priscila Your take about Lainey is spot on, although I have enjoyed reading her blog, I actually cringed when I read it because I felt that she went too far in her personal attack on the Mulroneys. She took away the attention away from Sasha and made it all about her.
Also read today Lainey fessing up to criticizing Janet Jackson using the word ‘ghetto’-isn’t that racism? She did it tons over the years.
Famous people need to know they ARE replaceable.
Jessica Mulroney is an heir to the Browns Shoe fortune in Canada. She has had a very privileged 1% upbringing. So it’s no shock to me that she doesn’t know how to behave in the real world, and that she’s a complete and utter asshole.
People in the 1% need handlers. They need people to consult with who know how to handle tweets, IG, interviews, etc. Because they don’t know.