You’ve probably already seen TIME Magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year, which honored “The Silence Breakers”–women who have spoken up about the sexual assault they have experienced from powerful men–and referred to them as “the voices that launched a movement.”
Many people applauded the cover, but that praise was short-lived. TIME released the runner-ups to their Person of the Year, and the second person on their short list is no other than US President Donald Trump. Yup, you read that right.
TIME says Trump is their runner-up because of how he “has changed the rules of the presidency.” This despite the fact that Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by no less than 16 women, his notorious “grab ‘em by the pussy” remark, and despite every other offensive and sexist thing he has said to various women both before and after becoming president.
Naturally, people weren’t happy that TIME chose an alleged sexual abuser as a runner-up to an entire movement that seeks to end misogyny, rape culture, and the impunity enjoyed by powerful men with regards to sexual assault.
Singer Demi Lovato slammed TIME in a series of tweets, saying she is disappointed by the hypocrisy:
Time mag highlights brave women coming forward against sexual assault on the cover but names a man with sexual assault allegations against him runner up to person of the year.. Really @TIME? #hypocrites
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) December 7, 2017
I’ve become less vocal about my distain for certain people over the past year because it only divides our country even more but this is worth speaking up about. @TIME mag – very disappointed in your hypocrisy and disrespect toward the women on your cover.
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) December 7, 2017
To be named POTY by @TIME it should be for doing something positive or brave LIKE the women on the cover. It’s annoying that it’s just about impact on the news.
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) December 7, 2017
Actress Sophie Turner said that it was an “injustice and insult to the inspiring people on the cover to have a known sexual abuser as runner up”:
https://twitter.com/SophieT/status/938797342156828672
Other people on Twitter expressed their disappointment and anger as well:
https://twitter.com/basilballs/status/938444713190977536
They name women in the "Me Too" movement as Person of the Year for speaking up against sexual assault, and name Trump, who has numerous sexual assault allegations against him, as a runner up. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. @TIME give your damn head a shake.
— TconaSportsDaddy (@TconaSportsGuy) December 7, 2017
So the @TIME person of the year are The Silence Breakers… the runner up is Donald Trump. While their article on why is compelling, I can’t help but think it’s a contradictory and a huge slap in the face to the women on the cover who were brave enough to share their stories.
— Lorena Bobbitt (@earthtopay) December 7, 2017
TIME: “Victims who have the courage to speak up about sexual assault and harassment are our persons of the Year”
Also TIME: “Donald Trump is our runner up for Person of the Year”
Me: … pic.twitter.com/tJrUHY3ly0
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) December 6, 2017
Surreal: President Trump is mentioned 7 times in the article, both as someone accused of sexual harassment and whose election motivated women to speak out. He is also the 2017 Person of the Year runner up. pic.twitter.com/s5uWZe9iKS
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) December 6, 2017
How do you make the TIME Person of the Year “The Silence Breakers” & then, in good conscience, *even announce* you’ve chosen a man accused of over a dozen instances of sexual harassment is the runner-up? How fucking offensively tone deaf… https://t.co/khXOp1LPo9
— Jayson Gegner (@geg) December 6, 2017
HOW is it that the women who spoke out about sexual harassment won Time’s person of the year and Donald trump is runner up??? Please tell me how that makes any sense? There’s literally evidence of him admitting to sexually harassing women!! WHAT IS GOING ON
— grace geniella (@GeniellaGrace) December 7, 2017