Feminist writer Clementine Ford attacked a group of high school students on Twitter, calling them "pissants" and "dickheads" for walking out of her lecture after she refused to take questions from boys.
3AW spoke to a parent of one student at Aquinas College in Melbourne, who alleges the 35-year-old Ford “treated the boys like crap” during a speech she gave back in May, causing the girls to leave the event. According to the parent, the boys wanted to ask questions, but were told, “No, no, I’m only taking questions from girls.”
In a letter obtained by 3AW, staff at Aquinas College explained Ford was chosen to give a talk about women in the media due to her experience. The letter claims the topic was part of a “larger framework of talks, workshops and curriculum during Year 10 where we provide opportunity for the students to engage with the complex and often difficult realities of life beyond school.”
However, the letter added, based on the reaction from students after the talk, “it is clear that we have more work to do in opening up this topic to the students in a way that answers their questions and confusion, and can provide meaningful preparation for the remainder of the Year 10 program.”
After the event, Ford attacked the students in a 20+ tweet spree (selections here):
There is no group more arrogant and yet conversely less intelligent than 15 year old boys who think opinions are the same thing as facts.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
SRSLY. I gave a straightforward talk on gender stats and pop culture yesterday at a school and the follow up behaviour has been absurd.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
They think they know more than someone with a decade of solid work in this area because they watched a couple of angry wanks on YouTube.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
The ENTITLEMENT! One emailed me twice today. 1st to ask why i bring my "message of bullshit" to schools, 2nd to berate me for not replying.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
I feel like emailing back my hourly rate.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
Dickheads, do you think I'm one of your intimidated school peers? I deal with hundreds of pissants like you every week. Of COURSE I'll dob!
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) May 5, 2017
The Daily Mail notes Ford also addressed the 3AW story specifically, calling it “bullshit,” and claiming the boys “abused” her after her talk.
Ford reportedly told the Daily Mail to “Get a real job” when asked for additional comment.
Ford is famous for getting a man who called her a “slut” fired from his job.
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