Feminism or misogyny? William H. Macy referred to as Felicity Huffman's husband in news reports
On Tuesday, nearly 50 people across the country were charged for their involvement in a nationwide college admissions cheating scam. Included in the arrest warrant issued from Boston, Mass. were actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Notably missing from the headlines, though, are their famous husbands — and the internet is angry and confused.
William H. Macy being identified solely as Felicity Huffman's husband in this college admissions scam story is… feminism? Misogyny?
— Louis Peitzman (@LouisPeitzman) March 12, 2019
As reports from top news agencies — including ABC, NBC News, the New York Times, Buzz Feed and more — featured the two stars’ names and headshots in their coverage of the case, named “Operation Varsity Blues,” both of their partners were seemingly overlooked. (Loughlin is married to fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, who was named in the indictment, but Huffman’s husband, actor William H. Macy, was not and routinely referred to as “spouse.”)
Despite both the husband and wife pairs being what many are calling “equally complicit” in the scheme, people online are furious that the moms’ names are being more heavily used. They argue that the reports are “misogynist” for allowing only women to take the fall.
Note: this references Felicity Huffman's "husband," who is actor William H. Macy. It also references Lori Loughlin's "husband," who is the fashion designer Mossimo.
Why are the moms the only ones named in media reports? Asking out of genuine curiosity, but bet I know the answer. https://t.co/ZQKCsD0qx7
— Elizabeth C. McLaughlin (@ECMcLaughlin) March 12, 2019
Am usually cool with the famous man being referred to simply as "her husband," but not when they BOTH did the bad thing!!! William H. Macy should be taking flak, too. https://t.co/3tWB8ViZSl
— Alejandra Ramos (@alwaysalejandra) March 12, 2019
This is like the weird inverse of "George Clooney and wife" https://t.co/MUIZUOSVUE
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) March 12, 2019
Am usually cool with the famous man being referred to simply as "her husband," but not when they BOTH did the bad thing!!! William H. Macy should be taking flak, too. https://t.co/3tWB8ViZSl
— Alejandra Ramos (@alwaysalejandra) March 12, 2019
Have to admit that I kinda love that it is "Felicity Huffman and her husband" and not "William H. Macy and his wife"
— Hillary Kelly (@HillaryKelly) March 12, 2019
The lawsuit names Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, as well as alleges "Huffman and her husband" made a "donation" for someone to take the SATs for their eldest daughter.
The story leaves out that Huffman's husband is William H. Macy.
— Julie Bogen (@JaBogen) March 12, 2019
But #NationalWomensMonth surprise! William H. Macy is referred to as "Felicity Huffman's husband"! https://t.co/BJebWSUZyz
— Brian Santa Maria (@briansantamaria) March 12, 2019
All the reporting on the college scam arrests seems to mention Felicity Huffman and "her husband", rather than naming him. She is married to William H. Macy… he is also famous. And it sounds like equally complicit. https://t.co/N2ZjH1Ksb9
— Alex Vandermaas-Peeler (@AlexVandermaas) March 12, 2019
The suspects allegedly involved in the college admissions cheating scandal paid bribes of up to $6 million to get their children into the nation’s top colleges, including Georgetown, USC (where Loughlin’s daughter Olivia Jade attends), UCLA, Yale, Stanford and more. The plot orchestrated by a man in California involved getting students into elite colleges by recruiting them as athletes regardless of athletic ability or helping prospective students cheat on their college exams, court documents reveal.
Loughlin and Giannulli paid kickbacks totaling $500,000 to admissions employees to designate their daughters as recruits to the USC crew team “despite the fact that they did not participate in crew — thereby facilitating their admission to USC.”
Meanwhile, Hoffman allegedly paid a charitable contribution of $15,000 “to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of her eldest daughter.”
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