The bar for sexism keeps getting set lower and lower. Total Film’s new Ghostbusters cover has been deemed sexist for putting Chris Hemsworth in the middle of the four female Ghostbusters.
It doesn’t matter that Chris Hemsworth was the main interview in the feature or that Total Film completely subscribes to the narrative that the film’s haters are misogynist basement dwellers, nothing gets past these people.
Total Film's cover is @paulfeig's #Ghostbusters but Chris Hemsworth front and centre. Coz if you cant be a solution, perpetuate the problem!
— Jack Burton (@Jerk_Burton) July 1, 2016
Total Film’s editor-in-chief, Jane Crowther even explained the decision to Metro:
This film has attracted ugly criticism from the get-go and I was always determined to put a female-led blockbuster on Total Film’s cover. We supported the film from the beginning and interviewed everyone for this feature – director, Paul Feig, the leads (Wiig, McCarthy, Jones and McKinnon) and Hemsworth. And our feature frankly discusses the sexism and backlash against the film with all those we talked to. Not sexist at all – but if it gets people talking about, and more aware of, sexism – and gets bums on seats for a female-led summer blockbuster all to the good.
Well, if you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. Total Film has whole-heartedly joined the media crusade to label criticism of the new movie sexist and has inevitably gotten stuck with the label itself.
But it’s not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Look at the blatant misandry on the cover of Rolling Stone promoting Ghostbusters II.
Really @RollingStone? The centre? Really? @TNeenan @totalfilm pic.twitter.com/lJR3XLoTJa
— SƐX-H∆R∆M-B∆Ɛ (@TheArtOfVivianJ) July 5, 2016
Perhaps there is another reason for featuring Hemsworth on the cover. Sony is clearly worried that men won’t see the movie after letting the director Paul Feig go on a media rampage calling geek fans of the original Ghostbusters misogynists, Gamergaters, and “some of the biggest assholes I’ve ever met.”
All the TV Ghostbusters tie-in advertisements feature male Ghostbusters (like this Kobe Bryant NBA finals ad). Though, it’s unlikely that the hunky “mimbo” will attract more straight men to the film, as he seems like eye candy for the ladies.
