RantCrush Top 5: February 15, 2017

On Monday, model and actress Emily Ratajkowski tweeted that she had heard a New York Times journalist call first lady Melania Trump a hooker at a party. Ratajkowski reacted fiercely and tweeted that it’s “crucial to call this out for what it is: slut shaming.”

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

Later that same day, Melania tweeted as well, thanking Ratajkowski for her support.

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

The Times issued a statement on Monday, saying that the reporter in question was engaging in a private conversation at a party and that he doesn’t cover Washington or politics, but that editors had talked to him about the “lapse.” Yesterday, the reporter outed himself, also on Twitter. The journalist in question was Jacob Bernstein, the son of Carl Bernstein–one of the Washington Post writers who unveiled the Watergate scandal.

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

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.