Clementine Ford

[Blueshirts]

For me, all three are equally accountable.
I find the initial calls for the uninspired unfunny to be held responsible strange. They weren't the ones who advertised the event. Yes they came up with the idea, but the others presumably were aware of what the event was, agreed to it and used their following to create an audience for the event.

 

[frenchiefern]

Ruby not holding back

 

[Squelch]

The Inspired Unemployed have 2 million followers on Instagram. Clem has less than 250K. They'll be fine because their audience base doesn't have any expectations of them besides "tell stupid jokes". Clementine has burned her own base with this.

 

[Squelch]

Clementine using Gaza to continue her years-long feud with Mia Freedman is gross. Yes, Clementine. You've posted more pictures of babies shot in the head than Mia. You're the good one here, clearly.

Clementine has hated MamaMia and Mia for at least a decade. She used to mock the female writers on Twitter all the time and Mia Freedman eventually called her out for it. I don't read MamaMia and I have mixed feelings about Mia Freedman (often find her annoying but respect her willingness to go out in public looking like a rainbow vomited on her) but they're entitled to set their own editorial agenda even if Clementine disapproves of it. As far as I know, Mia has never said anything about Israel or Zionism, she's only talked about antisemitism. Which makes Clementine's behaviour even more disgusting. I don't believe her when she says she doesn't hate Jews, only Zionists.

 

[éman]

She makes me absolutely sick. Of course people getting murdered by a crazy guy with a knife in my own country (i.e close location to my family the shopping centre some attend) is going to affect me! We are allowed to be shocked and grieve. This comment by her is disgusting. She has certainly gotten on with her own life in the past few months: that Taylor Swift singing thing, the panel where she pranked people, numerous selfies and walks and rants. Not sure what else as I don’t follow anymore but she’s not been sitting in a corner crying.

Of course the images from overseas are shocking, sad and troubling and she’s the one reposting them like it’s war porn. What does she think her reposting has actually achieved?? Clem has absolutely hyper focused on Palestine to the point that she’s completely obsessed. View attachment 2878550
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Fight for these children?? HOW? Resharing someone’s IG post?

This is the heart of the whole thing for me. All these people (mostly women, depressingly) whipping themselves into a completely irrational frenzy over a complex, millennia-long geopolitical conflict they clearly don’t understand, begging and pleading for people to “help” with completely meaningless indulgent empty gestures. Why did they not give a shit about any of the other miserable wars and global tragedies affecting children/innocents?

It’s kind of mesmerising to watch, in a terrible way. As if I didn’t feel awful enough for the people of Gaza already, it’s somehow amplified by the quality of their advocates over here.

 

[frenchiefern]

Hi Clem!

 

[savefloss]

Clem would think I’m the biggest loser I’m sure. My partner moved in with me about 4 months ago and it’s been wonderful having someone there with me at nights and someone to discuss my days with. I also do a lot of the household tasks as I work part time and his hours are very long but there are days I don’t do most of the household chores and my partner will just swoop in and do them for us. It’s equally shared.

She definitely has a one size fits all to men. My husband was raised by a single mother and totally gets it. An absolute legend across all fronts that I’m sure clementine would still somehow find a problem with!!

 

[BumbleBeeMarmalade]

I guess women aren't as problematic...

I love a lot of what Clem has to say, adored her 'How To Love' book (haven't read the others yet - I read for escapism and get the sense they would feel more like work), and generally feel she does more good than bad. I think there's a frightening number of women in the world who would benefit deeply from heeding Clem's advice. But the totality of her opinions has never sat well with me. She's very all-or-nothing, and some of what she believes to be utterly, totally true just isn't. There is nuance and context to everything - I saw her speak live at a writer's event last year and the hardcore "don't get married and if you are already, you're dumb" grated a bit. It's just not as black and white as that. I understand feeling deeply perturbed by the history of marriage, but it is possible to reclaim something, or do it in a way that doesn't "honour" the shit of the past. Otherwise, by that logic there are loads of things we should veer away from now and vilify others for doing.

The history of something is often worse than the current state. That's evolution.

This. I'm not anti Clem by any stretch but I find her takes often very unrelatable in how black and white they are and lacking in complexity of the topic. It's not a nuanced analysis, just someone's very vocal opinion presented as fact.

 

[Pollie]

I know this will go against what most think of Clem BUT I just find her a miserable, bitter person.

Same! Imagine going out for dinner with clementine and Carly Findlay LOL
Oooff they are so angry

 

[emmygluewho]

I feel there is definitely some tea here.

@lauren.lately was ALWAYS gushing over Clementine Ford. I’d often get confused whose page I was on as she’d always share Clem’s stuff lol (cringe).
Clem even sent her the newest book for proof reading and feedback.
Fast forward to yesterday, the launch day of Clem’s book and not a single word from Lauren or share or post.
Hahahahhaa what’s gone on here!

Just another 'friendship' down the shitter because Clem is a cunt.

 

[leeeeleeee]

. She's very all-or-nothing, and some of what she believes to be utterly, totally true just isn't. There is nuance and context to everything - I saw her speak live at a writer's event last year and the hardcore "don't get married and if you are already, you're dumb" grated a bit. It's just not as black and white as that. I understand feeling deeply perturbed by the history of marriage, but it is possible to reclaim something, or do it in a way that doesn't "honour" the shit of the past. Otherwise, by that logic there are loads of things we should veer away from now and vilify others for doing.

I too have issues personally with this black or white, all or nothing approach. But then I also sort of think that it takes these extreme views to stimulate the conversation amongst those in the middle, if that makes sense? If she was balanced and nuanced about everything then maybe she’d just get lost in the internet abyss.

 

[giveitaboneploise]

So Clem criticising others for posting frivolous stuff but she has an ad up for a mattress. Make it make sense!

 

[beigelinen]

Surely they could say something like, " we can't say anything for legal reasons but please know we have listened to your feedback and understand the disappointment some participants had after attending the show, we will let you know more when we can." I am sure one of them has a savvy friend in PR.

 

[loveinfluenzas]

I’ve actually enjoyed some of Clem’s commentary around marriage (and I’m saying that as a married woman!), but this just feels really mean. I don’t see the need to put some girl on blast who Clem (presumably) doesn’t even know?

This is awful. There are many things she could pick to whinge about at the moment *cough cough Deni and his damage to the trans and queer community and making light of domestic violence, but she chooses this?! Who cares if people chose to get married, and I say this as someone who is not married!

 

[Kip]

she lost me when she said she went off Taylor Swift (after non-stop posting about her for weeks) when TS was allegedly dating that guy who had said racist things. Like, is that not the epitome of misogyny? Punishing a woman because of their supposed association with shitty man?

 

[loveinfluenzas]

I’ve never ever clicked on Mamamia for hard hitting news and deeply researched intelligent articles. I just see it as a magazine but online. The articles are 3 paragraphs max and it’s usually just news.com.au or Daily Mail content regurgitated or it’s a sponsored post of some fluff piece that someone has sent in that’s been posted (for free or for what $50?)

The women of Australia are intelligent enough to get their news source elsewhere. Give us some bloody credit. I’m so sick of Clem using “white feminist” as an insult when SHE IS ALSO ONE TOO. Makes her look delusional.

I mean she is at the point where she should be over providing volunteer aid in Gaza considering she screams at anyone who is still living their life in Aus, screams at anyone who has any level of privilege, who lives in nice houses etc. So why is it then okay for Clem to still live in a nice house and live in a country without war? Why is she allowed to enjoy times with friends but no one else is? Why is she allowed to make money from t swift but God forbid anyone enjoy her new album? Make it make sense!

 

[Pollie]

Let me just start by saying the whole “leave your husband” rhetoric is a bit rich from someone who’s never had a successful relationship

And loves to gloat that she has sex with married men. God she’s painful

 

[Squelch]

Lauren has posted anti-Semitic theories often since October 7th. She seems to think saying “Zionist” instead of “Jew” is some Get Out Jail Free card but it isn’t. When she’s insinuating that Frank Lowy controls the Australian government because “Zionist”, she’s peddling anti-Semitic theories about Jews controlling the world. It is nonsense.

Clementine - for all that she’s a self-aggrandising, attention-seeking clown who hates any woman who disagrees with her - has been a lot more careful. I give her credit for that but it’s gross that she doxxes women and deliberately riles up her audience who go on to harass and abuse women online. If you’re sending images of dead babies to Jewish women in Australia because you and Clem hate their political views, you’re not a good person. It doesn’t mean you care more about Palestinians, it means you’ve lost your damn mind.

The other one in that article - Constance Hall - isn’t even worth bothering with. She’s just a mess.

God, to have the confidence of a white lady influencer opining on the most complex geopolitical issue of our times. If only.

 

[blahblahboring]

It feels like going after marriage is like going after low hanging fruit. Feminism has way bigger issues to address. Maybe if she was talking about child marriage, forced marriage but she really only seems interested in going after privileged, white women getting married. I would be really interested to know what Amy Thunig makes of it.

 

[Michy02]

I understand that this is controversial but as a still fairly recently postpartum mum prone to very severe anxiety, I am tired of the rhetoric around how selfish it is not to look at images of babies being killed. I know it is happening. I condemn
It and it is abhorrent. I still have the right not to look at the images. My kids deserve a mum who is not a basket case. The same is true for many others.

It’s not controversial. We aren’t meant to see these images day in day out. Our minds aren’t equiped to handle it. The stupid cat pics or selfies “for levity” to break up the death and destruction don’t cut it. I’d be curious to see Clems numbers since she’s posting about Palestine/Israel conflict and nothing on Feminism. These women are living in a patriarchal society and would never even heard of her.