Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah savage Eric Schneiderman, #MeToo hypocrite
On Monday night, The New Yorker published allegations from four women that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman had physically abused them. "Schneiderman denied the allegations, saying, 'I have not assaulted anyone,' but then immediately resigned," Stephen Colbert said on Tuesday's Late Show. "The women have accused Schneiderman of heinous acts of physical violence, but Schneiderman saw things differently," saying he just "engaged in role-playing and other consensual activity." Colbert wasn't buying it: "Oh, okay, role-playing: 'You be the damsel in distress, and I'll be the angry piece of garbage that causes you distress.'"
But it was the hypocrisy that poured fuel on the Scheiderman fire, given his lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein and advocacy for abused women. "Mr. Schneiderman, I think you misinterpreted the phrase #MeToo," Colbert said.
The push to hold powerful men accountable for abusing women "shows no signs of stopping," Trevor Noah said on The Daily Show. "Who knows, they might even get R. Kelly this year. You realize, he's been uncatchable for years — he's like the #MeToo's bin Laden." But the Scheiderman story is also getting so much attention because "he's one of the biggest opponents of President Trump's agenda," Noah said, "making it rain lawsuits all over Trump."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, the hypocrisy is galling. "So it seems this guy was trying to put Harvey Weinstein in jail while he was abusing women himself," Noah said. "This is like finding out Robert Mueller has been taking secret vacations with Putin." He brought out Dulcé Sloan for her thoughts on "this insane issue," and she explained that Schneiderman "sounds like a monster, but in a way, he's still a champion for women," because "he pushed for tougher laws that are going to make it easier for us to throw his ass in jail. I wish every abuser would build a Wile E. Coyote trap for themselves." Watch below. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
5 deliciously funny cartoons about turkeys
Cartoons Artists take on pardons, executions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published