Blaming the victim: CNN Host Tells Joan Tarshis How She Could Avoid Being Raped [View all]

[kpete]

CNN Host To Accuser: Why Didn’t You Bite Cosby’s Penis To End Rape?

CNN's Don Lemon took it upon himself Tuesday night to explain how a woman who accused actor Bill Cosby of rape could have avoided the situation -- explicitly, that she should have used her teeth as a weapon.

Lemon sat down Tuesday night with Joan Tarshis, a former actress who said this week that Cosby raped her in 1969. The two had this extremely awkward exchange:

LEMON: Can I ask you this, because -- and please, I don't mean to be crude, OK?

TARSHIS: Yeah.

LEMON: Because I know some of you -- and you said this last night, that he -- you lied to him and said "I have an infection, and if you rape me, or if you do -- if you have intercourse with me, then you will probably get it and give it to your wife."

TARSHIS: Right.

LEMON: And you said he made you perform oral sex.

TARSHIS: Right.

LEMON: You -- you know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn't want to do it.

TARSHIS: Oh. Um, I was kind of stoned at the time, and quite honestly, that didn't even enter my mind. Now I wish it would have.

LEMON: Right. Meaning the using of the teeth, right?

TARSHIS: Yes, that's what I'm thinking you're --

LEMON: As a weapon.

TARSHIS: Yeah, I didn't even think of it.

LEMON: Biting. So, um --

TARSHIS: Ouch.

LEMON: Yes. I had to ask. I mean, it is, yeah.

TARSHIS: Yes. No, it didn't cross my mind.

more insults, plus video:
http://mediamatters.org/video/2014/11/18/cnns-don-lemon-to-cosby-rape-accuser-you-know-t/201625
http://jezebel.com/bill-cosby-accuser-joan-tarshis-to-cnn-i-blamed-myself-1659990131
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/don-lemon-joan-tarshis-bill-cosby-rape