When I first saw this HuffPo article title “Italian American Watchdog Group Accuses ‘Don Jon,’ Joseph Gordon-Levitt Of ‘Racist Stereotypes’” I initially read it as “rapist stereotypes.”
And my interest was immediately piqued. (Cue the angry reader letters explaining to me that rape is not a joking matter. I know! Just hear me out.)
My interest was piqued because “Don Jon” is a movie about a dude who’s so addicted to porn that he can’t maintain a normal sexual relationship, and I was eager to read about the parallels this group of watchdogs had drawn between zambonis who watch a lot of porn and rapists. (Ha ha ha see what I did there? “Zamboni” is a racially stereotypical name. Cue the angry reader letters explaining that one to me. My last name is Cavallo, btw, just saying.)
Anyway, this coalition — who also called for boycotts of “The Jersey Shore” when that was a Thing — do not like the way that Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays the Italian-American, Jersey-based characters in his new movie. But, I mean, come on. One, that’s what they are — characters. And two, I mean, come on, people like that do exist, and what of it? I grew up on Long Island, trust me.
That all said, I’m more concerned with the terrible Jersey accent Scarlett Johansson is working with in the film’s previews. Someone should take her to task for that, no? (Cue the angry letters from ScarJo fans.)
For the record, I condone the boycotting of “The Jersey Shore.”
