Jacob Bernstein on Twitter calls himself a New York Times features writer, documentary filmmaker and “persistent crank.” How so? He called Melania Trump a whore.
That private remark, overheard Sunday by supermodel Emily Ratajkowski at a New York Fashion Week event, went public bigly Monday when Ratajkowski tweeted about it, saying: “Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me ‘Melania is a hooker.’”
On Tuesday, in a four-part tweet, Bernstein apologized.
“I want to take ownership of a mistake I made. Speaking at a party in what I thought was a personal conversation, I nevertheless made a stupid remark about the first lady,” he wrote. Followed by: “My editors have made it clear my behavior was not in keeping with the standards of the Times, and I agree. My mistake, referring to unfounded rumors, shouldn’t reflect on anyone else and I apologize profusely. My editors have made it clear my behavior was not in keeping with the standards of the Times, and I agree.”
The first lady, who has tweeted but five times to her 6.8 million followers since Inauguration Day, hailed Ratajkowski with ”Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women!”
Less remarked upon was a later tweet in which Ratajkowski said “Bravo” to a comment by Brittney McNamara that said in part: “Being a sex worker can be a personal, valid choice. So even if she were a sex worker, it shouldn’t matter because it has nothing to do with whether she would be a good First Lady.”
In any case, here’s the chronology:
Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me “Melania is a hooker.” Whatever your politics it’s crucial to call this out for
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017
what it is: slut shaming. I don’t care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should.
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017
Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women! @emrata #PowerOfEveryWoman #PowerOfTheFirstLady
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) February 14, 2017
This is a four part tweet. 1. I want to take ownership of a mistake I made.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
2. Speaking at a party in what I thought was a personal conversation, I nevertheless made a stupid remark about the first lady.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
3. My editors have made it clear my behavior was not in keeping with the standards of the Times, and I agree.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017
4. My mistake, referring to unfounded rumors, shouldn’t reflect on anyone else and I apologize profusely.
— Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017