Jessica vs. Sasha

I’ve been following the story of Jessica Mulroney and Sasha Exeter. To recap the story, it seems that Ms. Exeter, a Black social media influencer, had posted a general call to action on her Instagram story for influential individuals to use their platforms to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Apparently, Ms. Mulroney felt singled out even though she was never mentioned by name, and in response she lashed out at Ms. Exeter on-line.

Aside from making the self-centered assumption that Ms. Exeter was referring to her, it appears that Ms. Mulroney made a much worse error in informing Ms. Exeter that she’d “spoken to companies and people about the way you treated me unfairly.” These companies and people are the basis of Ms. Exeter’s career, so this was no idle threat.

After Ms. Exeter exposed Ms. Mulroney’s “problematic behavior” in a lengthy Instagram video, Ms. Mulroney apologized to her in public but then apparently threatened her with a libel suit in a private message.  Libel is defined in the dictionary as “a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation.” This situation is rife with irony, in that by publicly accusing Ms. Exeter of treating her “unfairly,” Ms. Mulroney herself could have been accused of libelous actions.

The irony is compounded in that after Ms. Mulroney threatened to ruin Ms. Exeter’s career and take her to court, Ms. Exeter then called out Ms. Muroney for exhibiting White privilege, and the result was Ms. Mulroney being dropped by all the “companies and people” who’d been the basis of her career. On top of which, Ms. Mulroney herself was taken to court – the court of public opinion.

What is White Privilege?

Let’s look at the term, “White privilege.” It’s defined by the author, Frances E. Kendall, as “having greater access to power and resources than people of color (in the same situation) do.”

Implicit in Ms. Mulroney’s threat to “talk to companies and people,” was her fundamental belief that she had the power to directly influence how these companies and people would deal with Ms. Exeter. No-one would make this type of threat without strongly-held assumptions of power and invulnerability.

Just the assumption on the part of Ms. Mulroney that she’d be the one who’d be taken seriously; she’d be the one whose side everyone would be on; she’d be the one seen as the injured party – this is what Ms. Exeter meant by “textbook white privilege.”

People with White privilege assume that they’ll win. They assume that they’ll be taken seriously and that they’ll come out on top. I think the biggest shock to Ms. Mulroney is that this time she didn’t come out on top. I think that her White privilege led her to believe that she could get away with pretty much anything.

And sadly, at most other times in history, she probably would have gotten away with it. It’s just that right now, when the subject of racism and White privilege is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, her behavior, for a change, didn’t get a pass. I’m convinced  that Ms. Mulroney never for a minute believed that she’d have to face real-world consequences for her actions toward Ms. Exeter.

Apparently, while people were out protesting the death of George Floyd and taking to social media to decry racism and White privilege, Ms. Mulroney was busy promoting her new TV show – the show that has now been cancelled and pulled from all platforms. It appears that Ms. Mulroney’s White privilege was so great that she didn’t bother to inform herself of the momentous events swirling around her. Tucked away in her elite Toronto neighborhood, she seemed oblivious to the sea change that had been happening while she wasn’t paying attention.

The Damage Done to People of Color

On the other side of the coin, let’s look at what Ms. Exeter, a Black woman and single mother, risked by publicly confronting someone steeped in White privilege. Just think – her original, generic call to action was met with a threat to her very livelihood.

Even a few short weeks ago, by standing up to Ms. Mulroney, Ms. Exeter could have lost both her career and her reputation. She could have had mental health repercussions from being on the receiving end of Ms. Mulroney’s threats. And such a negative outcome could have emboldened Ms. Mulroney to continue her bullying behavior. And for many other people of color, standing up to White privilege has cost them a lot more.

Black women earn considerably less than White men and women, and Hispanic women earn even less. Women of color own less property and have fewer retirement savings than White men and women. To threaten a woman of color who is a single mother with the destruction of her livelihood is a devastating attack, and something that people with White privilege have been able to get away with, up until this very moment.

Things are finally changing. Hopefully, the changes will stick and everyone will recognize that racism is an abomination that can no longer be tolerated and even more importantly, something that must be actively opposed.

While I have nothing against Ms. Mulroney, I do have a problem with what she represents. This powerful individual just blew an amazing opportunity. Rather than stooping to attack after seeing Ms. Exeter’s first post, Ms. Mulroney could have graciously thanked her for the reminder that this is an ideal time for everyone with a platform to use it for good.

I deeply respect Ms. Exeter for her courage in standing up to Ms. Mulroney’s attacks, given all that she stood to lose.

As we reflect on the tragic death of Mr. Floyd and all the other people of color around the world who’ve lost their lives, their dignity and their freedom solely because of their race, Ms. Mulroney is a sad reminder of the obliviousness and grandiosity of the elite, while Ms. Exeter is an example of the courage that is needed today and every day to stand up and say “No” to abuses enacted from a position of White privilege.

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