People are seriously unhappy with Brendan O’Connor’s opinion piece for the Sunday Independent.
The 46-year-old wrote a controversial column over the weekend based on what young girls were wearing in town on the day Rihanna was playing at the Aviva – which has resulted in Brendan getting SLATED on Twitter.
Twitter users labelled Brendan as “vile”, a “misogynist” and accused him of sexualising young women as his column was titled, “Me and the junior prostitutes’ convention.”
Not happy: People are furious after Brendan’s opinion piece | ANDRES POVEDA
Here’s a snippet of what Brendan wrote:
“At this point I remembered that Rihanna, a former singer who now acts largely like a porn star, was playing at the Aviva. Exactly in the direction I was headed. I was walking into arse cheek ground zero. And instead of enjoying the festive air, I found myself tut-tutting. What kind of a role model was this Rihanna tramp? And here was proof positive that the continuing sexualisation of popular culture was having a direct affect on our young women. They were all emulating Rihanna. They wanted to be her, in all her half-dressed glory. Now I know that some feminists would accuse me of slut-shaming right now. And would argue that these young women are empowered, that they are owning their erotic capital. To which I would respond by questioning the erotic capital of a 12-year-old with badly applied streaks of fake tan, walking around town dressed like a sex worker. And I would argue that by the looks of them, many of these young ones would have been better off going for a run or playing a game of football or something. (Go on so, add fat-shaming to my list of crimes).
“As I got closer to the epicentre of it, I realised that there was a competitiveness to the slutty dressing. It was a peer pressure thing. They were all trying to outdo each other by being more Ri-Ri than the next one. And I saw all the boys too, delighted boys, who possibly wouldn’t be able to believe, if indeed they thought about it, that this was the gift feminism had bequeathed them. These young ones had the freedom to parade their booties down the road. It was female empowerment.”
Naturally, Brendan’s column has annoyed A LOT of people, and here’s what some had to say:
Brendan O’Connor… man… I know we have freedom of speech and all but jeez, this is what you choose to use it for? https://t.co/AQLO8RP6G6
— Michael C (@michaelcc33) June 28, 2016
Regarding this, by Brendan O’Connor…https://t.co/BzIsvGnt9t pic.twitter.com/oSQPDsewgt
— Jase (@jaseomcn) June 27, 2016
Criticise the way women dress all you want Brendan O’Connor, it’s not gonna stop you looking like a thumb pic.twitter.com/dl5mUXvNtV
— vanderlyle crybaby (@BlaisinSquad) June 27, 2016
I don’t see how girls in shorts are more visually offensive than Brendan O’Connor’s face tho?? https://t.co/6xaPe0S66F
— Clob (@plmnkoijbhu) June 27, 2016
@ brendan o’connor where do you get off talking about TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRLS like this? pic.twitter.com/3Gic1PCBMU
— seamus.pdf (@seamuslouisryan) June 27, 2016
So eh, why does Brendan O’ Connor refer to children as prostitutes here? https://t.co/jFhiwDL49D
— Khaleesi Vosi ✨ (@RebeccahLouise) June 27, 2016
Someone build a bridge on top of Brendan O’ Connor so he can spend his days trying to get over himself. Please.
— Jen Ronan (@JayRow) June 27, 2016
Brendan O’ Connor doing more for the sexualisation of young women here than tiny shorts and tan ever will https://t.co/bxZdmTp9S1
— Tea Lizard (@MidnightDreary_) June 27, 2016
Wow, Brendan O’Connor is truly showing his vile misogynist colours in this Indo piece. https://t.co/UVSbJEJ6gO
— Rachel W. (@Rachelagain) June 27, 2016
Brendan O’Connor wrote about how he had a good old gawk at some 12 year olds arse as she headed off to Rihanna. https://t.co/H4yzPLKpZN
— Dearbhla Ruisèal (@DervlaRussell) June 27, 2016
@edelmariebrady So hateful and pointless, Brendan O’Connor is better off venting in his diary @Independent_ie
— ѕнaυna (@shaunabuckley_) June 27, 2016
Shame on @Independent_ie for publishing this crap by Brendan O’Connor. Just what girls need, another middle aged white man passing comment.
— ѕнaυna (@shaunabuckley_) June 27, 2016
Brendan O’Connor wrote about how he had a good old gawk at some 12 year olds arse as she headed off to Rihanna. https://t.co/H4yzPLKpZN
— Dearbhla Ruisèal (@DervlaRussell) June 27, 2016