Why On Earth Was Anthony Anderson Allowed To Host The Emmys?

Host Anthony Anderson speaks onstage during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.
Host Anthony Anderson speaks onstage through the seventy fifth Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.
Monica Schipper through Getty Images

The Television Academy sparked backlash on-line when Anthony Anderson was introduced because the host of this yr’s Emmy Awards, which aired on Monday.

Advocates for victims of sexual assault had been fast to remind the web in regards to the three separate sexual assault or misconduct allegations towards the “Black-ish” star, spanning from 2003 up till as current as 2018. He has denied every of them.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Association referred to as for Fox and the Television Academy to take away Anderson as a bunch. That didn’t occur, after all, as Anderson took the stage on Martin Luther King Day accompanied by his mom, Doris Bowman, who he included in a number of bits all through the night time.

Anderson acquired a lot reward for his job internet hosting, however amidst that got here extra backlash. Folks took to social media to name out Anderson’s controversial historical past.

In 2004, the primary girl alleged that she was “lured” right into a trailer on the set of “Hustle and Flow” the place Anderson and assistant director Wayne Witherspoon “began removing her clothes” and “sexually assaulted her,” in line with the criticism revealed by The Smoking Gun. The report goes on to state {that a} witness heard the lady’s screams and unlocked the trailer door, after which she “ran from the trailer naked.” Anderson was charged with aggravated rape, however a Memphis choose dismissed the costs towards Anderson and Witherspoon.

That similar yr, one other girl filed a sexual assault lawsuit towards Anderson below Jane Doe, in search of $900,000 in damages. The girl alleged that the assault occurred in his dressing room after a taping of “All About the Andersons” in Los Angeles in 2003. Doe mentioned Anderson “made suggestive comments, grabbed her genital area and sexually assaulted her,” in line with UPI.

In 2018, the Los Angeles Police Department opened an investigation into Anderson after a 3rd girl claimed he assaulted her after catering one among his occasions. According to The Blast, who first reported the story, the lady went to the police months later with encouragement from the Me Too Movement. The girl, nevertheless, didn’t need to be interviewed by the authorities, which led to the case being thrown out.

Anderson and his reps have denied every of those allegations.

The comic has maintained a profitable tv profession, incomes 11 Emmy nominations since 2015. He lately assumed the position of the host for Fox’s sport present “To Tell The Truth” alongside his mother. After Monday’s ceremony, he informed TMZ, “Of course, I want to host the Oscars.”

On this week’s “I Know That’s Right,” I talk about my concern for the way a lot we’re disregarding sexual assault the additional away from the Me Too Movement we get:

If you need extra interviews, popular culture rundowns and conversations too layered for a social media thread to sort out, subscribe to “I Know That’s Right.” With new episodes dropping every week, this present is certain to maintain you entertained, knowledgeable and shouting “I know that’s right” now and again.

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