You probably know Jason Momoa as “Khal Drogo” from the hit HBO series Game of Thrones (GoT) and “Aquaman” in the upcoming Justice League film.
Back in 2011, Momoa was at a Comic Con panel together with some of the cast of GoT and he was asked to comment on the things that he’s able to get away with in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
He said: “I love that genre, there’s so many things you can do, like rip someone’s tongue out of their throat and get away with it and rape beautiful women.”
While the crowd applauded and laughed at the actor’s remarks, the cast members beside Momoa seem quite embarrassed and there was a collective “facepalm” among them.
Six years after the 2011 Comic Con panel, a clip of him making the rape joke resurfaced online and people, even some of his fans, were disgusted by the joke.
https://twitter.com/peeanofreek/status/918331118906236929
Well, so much for Jason Momoa. Why on earth would joke about rape? Why is that funny? pic.twitter.com/UIX5YePxly
— Master of Coin. (@AnotherKeisha) October 12, 2017
Beyond Jason Momoa’s horrendous “joke” is how disgusting it is that so many male creators envision fantasy worlds where rape is commonplace. https://t.co/ji7M5QV4lH
— Raquel Willis (she/her) (@RaquelWillis_) October 12, 2017
People were also appalled at how the crowd laughed at the joke.
Are you KIDDING ME?!?!? And the dumb audience LAUGHED THO?!?!? pic.twitter.com/VxeVZ5iGVG
— Miss Char (@misscharj) October 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheSimAisletv/status/918581104495472640
Some of his fans defended the actor and quoted him in a previous interview where he said he does not enjoy rape scenes and it was hard for him.
https://twitter.com/bestofjasonmo/status/918524992194863105
Others pointed out how those calling out Momoa for his rape joke enjoy watching GoT which explicitly presents viewers with rape scenes, labeling them a bunch of hypocrites.
https://twitter.com/shakira427/status/918500739034513409
So rape is okay on GoT, but Jason Momoa making a joke about the rape on GoT, a FICTIONAL show, is an issue? 6 years later? D'accord.
— Negrodamus (@callmeemorgs) October 12, 2017
Jason Momoa made a bad joke 6 years ago. Calm down ppl it wasn’t recent. Also the show has lots of rape on it that we all watch.
— Jazz D. (@Jazzey2788) October 12, 2017
Jason Momoa took to Instagram to apologize for his comment saying: “I am still severely disappointed in myself at the insensitivity of my remarks that day. I know my sincerest apology now won’t take away those hurtful words.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaKqDCfnARp/
The problem with this is that six years ago people laughed at his joke, and today people are justifying that it was “just a joke” and all is well because he apologized for it. Sure, he regretted it, learned how insensitive he was back then, but this doesn’t make it all okay.
The idea that he thought it would be fine to make light of something as serious as rape and how people are accepting of his apology only goes to show how people encourage rape culture.
Making a joke about rape is not okay. Not six years ago. Not ever.
