#im not beating the same face problem allegations though
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naturally-dazed · 4 months ago
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She has serious video game protagonist vibes and i love her!!
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mysmegrace · 3 years ago
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Hi! I’d love a short fic of Zen with a shy yet bubbly MC in a Christmas Fake Dating scenario <33 Hopefully with some anxious pining and a love confession at the end if that’s okay! I’ve been musing over this sweet scenario for a pretty long time and wanted to make my small dream come true
hey hey hey~ (ew im sounding like my old math teacher lol). i'd love to write that for you! sorry this came out a little late, i've been offline and working on other things. i hope i did this justice! 
summary: GD entertainment, the company zen works with, is throwing a christmas party. giving many of the actors special benefits, one of which is a free 2021 computer model for people who had brought in their significant others. zen could really use the upgrade, hence why he asked you to pretend to be his girlfriend for the night. he also asked you because he had feelings for you and figured that tonight would be the perfect night.
topics: christmas time, pretending to date, love confessions, romantic pinning, fluff.
words: 2k
For the Night, Or a Lifetime - Zen x MC
---
"are you sure this is alright to do zen..? i mean, what if rumors start to spread or they think badly of us?" you responded briskly. you were worried this would take a hit to his career, not to mention your anxious thoughts building up around the fact that you may have to speak with his boss and co-workers.
when zen had initially showed up 15 minutes prior, you were dumbfounded. last time you had spoke to him on the messenger, he had told you about some work he needed to finish up. yet an hour later, he was at your front door asking for you to act as his girlfriend tomorrow for the companies christmas party.once he had explained why to clear up your confusion, you weren't sure how to react. of course you would like to help him, but what if things didn't go as planned? what if you ended up ruining the night? you weren't secure in your acting abilities either.
"it'd be fine, i promise. we'll just act like a normal couple throughout the night and no one will suspect a thing" you heard him say, breaking your train of thought. looking up to meet his gaze, you quickly broke eye contact to contemplate your next action.
you knew zen could use the new computer, you’ve seen how old his current one was. but the fear of denting his career wouldn’t go away. you look up to meet him again, looking for a sign of reassurance or dismay. 
god those puppy eyes you gave to you. how could you say no? giving it another minutes, you eventually give in, saying “alright, but if something starts to happen we have to come clean”.
a breath he was unaware of holding came free as he heard your confirmation. a weight had been lifted off his shoulders because unbeknownst to you, he was planning to come clean about his feelings for you tomorrow night. so far, the plan was going just the way he was hoping for. 
“thank you babe, i’ll repay you back for this one day!” he said, giving his gratitude. “i’ll call when i come to pick you up” he adds, before turning to leave. it had already gotten late and he knew better than to stay with you for any longer while the moon was tempting him. no, that stuff would have to wait until the time was right.
watching as he left, the click of the door confirming it, your mind had completely gone blank on you. did that really just happen, you thought. you could hardly contain your excitement once he proposed the plan.
but you knew how the industry and his fans were. sure many were great, but many also say zen as a trophy they could reserve to themselves. a romantic partner could damage his career as allegations and opinions started floating around.
at the same time, it was difficult to hide. you had felt something for him that was so unfamiliar to you. something you could only identify as love. but what if he didn’t feel this same? what if...
enough, you told yourself. it was too late to get emotional and curious about what might happen. perhaps it would be better to rest and let your mind heal it’s anxiety for the time being. so that you did, drifting off while fantasying about the future, though you would never admit that.
a knock at the door caught your attention, allowing you to briefly look up from your phone. the sky had changed as christmas had arrived. everything was ready for your night as you had prepared once he had alerted you of his travel. 
opening the door, you gave a smile to greet him. one he returned promptly, pulling you into a friendly embrace. your heart skipped a beat, so anxious that you might do something he wouldn’t like. your body wouldn’t even offer you peace of mind to enjoy the closeness.
eventually letting go, you pulled your jacket on in a swift motion as you followed zen’s footsteps. being led to his motorcycle, a helmet was presented to you. “don’t worry, i’ll be safe. can’t damage precious cargo” he reassured you. 
god, was he trying to embarrass you, you thought as you felt yourself heating up. slowly gathering the courage to meet his eyesight again, you found him with a grin plastered across his lower face.
the nerve, though you’d have to let it slide for now. hoping on the ride, you heard the engine rear up as you went on your. wind hitting your face from all angles, moving your hair in whichever way it desired. 
pulling up to the event, you fixed your hair the best you could with your fingers with little time to spare. feeling your hand being grabbed, you looked towards zen, expressing a confident smile. in reality, you couldn’t believe what you had gotten yourself into.
taking the lead, zen greeted the people at the entrance in a polite yet swift manner. in your luck, they managed to find the time to question zen about your role to him. “she’s my girlfriend” he answered, before gesturing for the two of you to walk in.
the room was full of traditional christmas decorations with the occasional piece related to acting and performance. you quite liked it if you were honest. your attention was quickly redirected to the co-worker approaching the two of you.
oh no, you thought. what would you say to leave a good impression for zen and yourself as a pretend couple? remembering zen’s past words of advice, being confident and positive, you decided to adopt that attitude for the remainder of the evening.
“hyun, who’s this?” the person asked, leaving an eyebrow subtly raised. zen flashed a quick glance at you before responding “ah, she’s my girlfriend”. now was your time to shine. don’t mess this up, you told yourself.
“hello~ i’m mc. gorgeous event right?” you said with the nicest expression you could muster up. now you were left to hope you didn’t come across as too obnoxious or nervous.
“hello mc, pleasure to meet you” the co-worker greeted, reaching out a hand in your direction. slightly taken aback, you met his hand as you were involved in the handshake. that wasn’t so bad, right? maybe tonight would be easier than expected.
leading you to make a mental note of the three things you wanted to portray yourself as this evening. that being energetic, respectful, and adding in a tad of humor.
this formula seemed to be going well. an hour had already passed and nobody seemed to have a problem with you, openly at least. yet things started going down hill when you had a couple down further in the area whisper “things aren’t adding up with those two”.
a males voice added onto that, saying “i doubt they’re a real couple. look at them, neither one of them has shown the other any form of affection since they’ve gotten here”. you couldn’t find the words to say as you stood in slight horror.
how were they able to catch on? you thought you were doing good all night, making the environment relaxed and laid back. little to your knowledge, zen had heard the couple as well.
without giving it much thought, he knew he had to prove their thoughts wrong. hence why you suddenly felt yourself taken by the hands, pinned against the wall behind you. looking up in shock, you were met with zen’s face going in a kiss. of course, you couldn’t push him away. 
kissing him back, he found himself not wanting to stop. his rational mind took over quickly, pulling away. staring at you face to face, you could read the shock in his eyes. as if he was surprised by his actions. 
shock was something evident in your mind at the time too. you didn’t know what to think, what to feel. too many emotions were present for you to ever make sense of.
releasing your hands, he subtly went back to your side the same way he was before. almost as if it didn’t happen. yet you promptly heard his voice whisper “can we talk about this later?”.
without giving it much thought, you nodded in reply. you had so many new things to think about, you needed time. but in a good turn of events, the couple were no longer questioning your relationship status.
time passed in a slow motion, though reality reminded you that only an hour had passed once you looked at the clock. people were beginning to say their goodbyes, being given many gifts by the hosts. you and zen included as the computer was given for your leave.
returning to the motorcycle, you put on your helmet once again, as did zen. he would drive as you held onto the gifts in the back. this time, the wind wasn’t a bother to you. it had cooled off the heat from your face, deriving from the sudden actions of zen.
reaching your apartment complex, you got off the vehicle. looking nowhere but down as your feet carried you to your apartment, zen following behind you. as soon as your entered the familiar room, the fatigue from todays events had caught up to you.
now you were left with zen to discuss all that occurred. yet it took you a second to collect yourself for the conversation. you had no idea where this would go, you only hoped it would result in something good.
you heard the males voice begin to speak, “i’m sorry about doing that tonight, i should’ve asked first. i didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable”. your thoughts paused for a quick second as something new entered. you didn’t want him to feel bad about anything, he didn’t deserve it.
“no no, you didn’t make me uncomfortable, i enjoyed it to be honest” you replied in a haste. your face changed as you really started to take in what you had just told him. you hadn’t meant to let that last part slide.
on second thought, perhaps it was a good thing to get it out there. you couldn’t hide your feelings forever. now it was zen’s time to become a visible shade of pink. were you serious...?
god that made him so happy. the last thing he wanted was to make you uncomfortable and hate him. worried thoughts filled his head for a split second before you came in to save this sanity, as you always did.
“i’m.. glad to hear that. i was worried you would be upset. look, i have something to confess” he started, deciding now was the time. he observed as your eyes became a tad bit bigger as your mouth opened slightly in a curious form.
continuing, he said “i’ve had feelings for you ever since you joined the rfa. i couldn’t understand them at first, thinking i was juust lonely and desperate. but as time goes on, i can understand why”.
“mc, you’ve made my life change for the better. i can’t imagine life without you. so, will you go out with me? we don’t have to play pretend anymore” he finishes, lightening up the mood ever so slightly during the end. 
to say you were ecstatic was an understatement. finally your prayers were being answered. you could feel as your cheeks flushed before you gave your answer.
“yes, of course i will” you responded softly, as if speaking any louder would make this go away. standing in comfortable silence, zen was content with your answer. offering his gorgeous smile for your eyes only.
“thank you, ha you’ve gotten me so stocked. i have to prepare for practice so i’ll see you tomorrow.” he says, the tone of his voice raising noticeably. you give him a nod of approval, but become flustered at the words he said before leaving through the door.
“merry christmas, sleep well love” he sang out, before closing the door behind him. how did he expect you to sleep once he’s gotten you all worked up, you thought. giggling to yourself, you felt as the fatigue became even more present now that you were home.
laying down to rest, you were grateful for the best christmas gift you had received this year. the one that would be stuck with you for a long, long time.
---
15:43 AST - 07/28/21
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jakette · 6 years ago
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Im so sorry if this is not b99 related, as you're a pakistani, what's actually happening between india and your country? Cant find any good source.
Hey! It’s no problem at all. It’s a really long complex story mainly due to India’s media. But I’ll try my best to keep it short and cogent. Read under the cut. 
Okay so it all started with an attack on Indian soldiers in Indian occupied Kashmir, at the site known as Pulawan. India wrongfully accused Pakistan of carrying out the attack to which Pakistan responded by telling them to give us evidence or proof so we could carry out our own investigation. India failed to do either. This was actually all a move by Indian Prime Minister so he could have the public beside him, by creating tensions between the two countries, as India’s elections near. 
So fast forward a few days, among the slightly higher than normal tensions between the two countries, India invades Pakistan’s air space in the dead of the night, trying to carry out a so called air strike on a militant group, Pakistan says it has already rid of. India claims it killed 300 people in that ‘successful’ air strike while in reality only some plane debris fell onto Pakistani land uprooting a few trees as Pakistani air planes were quick to rush the Indian planes out. 
Pakistan issued a statement due to India’s violation that it will seek vengeance at its own time and place. Pakistan had repeatedly stated up til this point not to take it’s offers of peace talk as it’s weakness and that we were fully capable of defending ourselves in all capacities. So the next morning Pakistani air planes move into Indian air space and lock their bases as target but consciously drop bombs at an empty land field to prove to India once again that we could have attacked but we prefer peace and human life. Indian planes rush to counter the Pakistani planes but two planes end up shot down as they invade Pakistani territory once again. One pilot dies while the other ejects and is held captive by Pakistani Army. Videos have surfaced showing the Kashmirs (Pakistan’s side of Kashmir where the plane was shot down and where the pilot ejected) beating the Indian pilot when the Pakistani Army frees him from the people’s clutches. India for the longest time denies all such allegations but by the afternoon of the same day admits that one of it’s plane is in fact missing. By the time India does admit that Pakistan has captured one of their pilots, Pakistan army releases a video of said pilot healthy and alive and well taken care of. He is not forced to answer any questions and sits with a cup of tea, medicated for his injuries. Basically he is treated according to the international prisoner standards.
After one or two days, Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan states that Pakistan will let the pilot go as a gesture of peace and so not to let the position escalate any further but warns once again that this is not to be taken as a sign of weakness. The pilot is released as promised, Two days later still an Indian submarine invades Pakistani waters, which was asked to resurfaced and leave. Firing still continues at the LOC (line of control) from the Indian side of the border and it occurred excessively during these days of high tension. It was a very serious situations. Our schools, colleges were given vacations for 2 days and exams were rescheduled. The situation does seem calm as of now and we do hope that it stays that way but some of us are still unsure if this situation has actually subsided. 
Now if you’re not from the subcontinent you should know that emotions and patriotism runs very high here and by high I mean high. Indian media had escalated the situation so much by false reporting that save a few logical Indians, they were rooting for war. Whereas Pakistani's though making memes and such were rooting for peace (though fully prepared to defend ourselves and partake in war for their country if need be) save a few. So it was basically war on social media sites and near war situation on the field. By the end of this ordeal Indians themselves have admitted that their media did not handle this with much grace. But all in all this really all is just an act put up India’s Prime Minister to increase his number of voters.
I don’t know if you know much about India and Pakistan’s Kashmir issue but this is all an extension to that conflict. People in Indian occupied Kashmir are still facing brutality at the hands of Indian soldiers while they fight to be a part of Pakistan. their struggle has been going on now for 72 years. I only hope that the International community steps up to resolve this conflict. Innocent people are dying in Kashmir and it’s about time it stops. 
If you still wanna ask something else free feel! You can message me or anonymously ask I don’t mind either! Hope I was able to explain it clearly.
#anon asks #anon
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olko71 · 4 years ago
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New Post has been published on All about business online
New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2021/05/china-disappeared-hm-from-its-internet-splitting-fashion-industry-group
China Disappeared H&M From Its Internet, Splitting Fashion Industry Group
LONDON—A debate over how much to push back against the Chinese government has set off a conflict inside a prominent coalition that guides much of the world’s cotton production.
The Better Cotton Initiative, a collaboration among big brands like Nike Inc. NKE -0.46% and Gap Inc., GPS -0.12% environmental groups, farmers and human-rights organizations, has for years worked to bolster the global apparel industry’s access to sustainably produced cotton.
But the Chinese government’s recent attacks on the group and one of its leading members, fast-fashion giant H&M Hennes & Mauritz HM.B 0.45% AB, have raised concerns about whether BCI’s fashion brands can continue selling clothes in China—a huge and fast-growing consumer market—if the group challenges Beijing again.
In March, Beijing all but erased H&M’s internet presence in the country after the company and BCI raised concerns about allegations of forced labor in the cotton-rich Chinese region of Xinjiang.
Following the online blocking of H&M and Chinese social-media users calling for boycotts of members Nike and Adidas AG , BCI deleted from its website a months-old statement about concerns that cotton was being produced by forced labor in Xinjiang.
A worker at a railway station in Jiujiang, in central China, unloads cotton picked from Xinjiang, the source of one-fifth of the world’s cotton.
Photo: str/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Some nongovernmental-organization members have said that BCI’s deleting of the statement and silence during the backlash in China suggest the group bowed to pressure at the behest of retail members, say people familiar with the organization. They feel BCI’s reaction undermines the initiative’s mission of bettering the lives of cotton farmers, the people said.
Some NGO members are urging the group to cease operations in China altogether and are pushing their representatives on its board—the environmental group Pesticide Action Network and Solidaridad, an organization advocating for responsible supply chains—to restore the Xinjiang-related statement online and push back against the Chinese media attacks, the people said.
At the same time, some retailer members and nongovernmental organizations say that BCI should instead quietly engage with Beijing, the people said.
A spokesman for BCI declined to comment.
Western businesses with supply chains in Xinjiang walk a fine line. Companies are trying to avoid Beijing’s ire and at the same time take seriously allegations from human-rights groups and the U.S. and U.K. governments that authorities are committing genocide against ethnic Uyghurs and using forced labor in the northwestern Chinese region.
Nike was among the fashion retailers targeted by Chinese social-media users.
Photo: Liau Chung-ren/Zuma Press
The Chinese government has called the allegations lies, saying it is combating terrorism and improving livelihoods in Xinjiang. It has lashed out at those raising concerns about the region. No industry is more ensnared in the issue than fashion: Xinjiang accounts for four-fifths of China’s cotton output and a fifth of the world’s.
The Better Cotton Initiative began as a World Wildlife Fund project in 2005 and became its own organization in 2009. The nonprofit group trains farmers and gives its seal of approval to those that meet standards on water usage, chemical usage and labor rights.
Members had an incentive to join. Farmers learned how to reduce expenses and improve cotton quality. Nongovernmental organizations got to lobby the fashion industry on environmental protection and labor rights. And brands, such as founding members Gap Inc., H&M and IKEA, could boast to customers and shareholders that they were part of a planet-helping initiative.
“Brands were making commitments for their cotton to be 100% from sustainable sources by 2025,” said Lise Melvin, BCI’s chief executive from 2006 to 2013. “They saw the Better Cotton Initiative as a way to meet that goal.”
Beijing is beating back international criticism of its treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang with a propaganda push on Facebook, Twitter and the big screen. Here’s how China’s campaign against Western brands is aimed at audiences at home and abroad. Photo: Thomas Peter/Reuters
The group set a target for having 30% of the world’s cotton output come from BCI-licensed farmers by 2020. That ambition made it hard to ignore China, where BCI opened an office in 2012.
Tensions with Beijing began after BCI increased attention on labor rights world-wide last year. In October, the group stopped training and licensing farmers in Xinjiang, citing “sustained allegations of forced labor and other human-rights abuses.” A BCI committee on forced labor later cited, among other concerns, that Xinjiang farmers couldn’t speak candidly about their situation.
Those actions didn’t cause ripples in China until March, when the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and European Union sanctioned Chinese officials over alleged human-rights violations in the region. Chinese state-controlled media outlets criticized those sanctions and blasted BCI and member brands, in particular Sweden’s H&M. H&M disappeared from Chinese e-commerce sites, while Chinese celebrities dropped their sponsorships with the company.
In a recent earnings call, H&M said it wanted to remain a “responsible buyer” in China. It declined to quantify the backlash’s cost, saying only that landlords closed a few H&M outlets in China. In total, 20 out of about 500 stores were closed, the company has said.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you think Western brands like Nike and H&M should call out countries that tolerate forced labor in their cotton industry? Join the conversation below.
In the days after Chinese media outlets and social-media users began attacking BCI and its members in late March, China’s state television broadcaster aired an interview with the head of BCI’s Shanghai office, who said her office found no evidence of forced labor in Xinjiang. The group deleted its October online statement about the Xinjiang concerns without explanation.
The actions, seen inside China as an about-face, drew a taunt from a youth branch of the ruling Communist Party in a social-media post last month: “Your face must be hurting!”
BCI hasn’t publicly addressed the situation, saying a response could threaten the personal safety of its dozen or so staffers in China, the people close to the organization said. While BCI has backtracked on its public statements, it has maintained its position on halting training and licensing of farmers in Xinjiang.
One person close to BCI said the group’s presence in China, and the brands it represents, give it clout to influence Beijing, even if it must do so quietly, the person said. Not-for-profit organizations can operate in China only if they are invited by Beijing and play by its rules, the person added.
Ms. Melvin, the former CEO, says the group faces a Catch-22.
“How does anybody choose whether to avoid working in problem areas,” she said, “or to work in them to improve them, even though there are risks in doing that?”
—Qianwei Zhang in Beijing contributed to this article.
Write to Stu Woo at [email protected]
Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
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amazingviralinfo · 7 years ago
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In the early 2000s, People magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff was assigned to cover all things Donald Trump.
It was the height of Trump's "Apprentice" popularity, and Stoynoff was along for the ride. She conducted multiple interviews with Trump, attended his wedding to Melania Knauss, and tracked the success of the show.
On Oct. 12, 2016, Stoynoff published a story in which she stated that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her during an interview in 2005.
It was the same year as the now-infamous hot mic recorded conversation between Trump and Billy Bush. Stoynoff writes that Trump led her to a room alone, where he suddenly pinned her to a wall and kissed her.
"Were going to have an affair, Im telling you," she says Trump told her.
The story is one of many allegations recently made against the Republican presidential nominee. Each story that comes out and there will probably be more as the election gets closer is deeply troubling on its own, even more so when considered together.
But there's one part of Stoynoff's story that hasn't gotten the same attention that her description of the physical assault has and it points to a disturbing tactic often used by abusers.
It's what she says Donald Trump did the next day:
"Earlier in my trip, I had tried to arrange a session at Mar-a-Lagos spa for my chronic neck problem the spa was part of a private resort separate from the Trump residence but they were booked up. Trump had gotten wind of that before the interview and called himself, asking the top massage therapist if he would come in extra early to see me, as a favor to him."
After arriving at the spa late, Stoynoff says, the massage therapist told her that Trump had shown up to her massage appointment and had waited for her for 15 minutes before he had to leave to attend a meeting.
Stoynoff writes of her reeling thoughts:
"I lay on the massage table, but my eyes were on the doorknob the entire time. Hes going to show up and [the massage therapist is] going to let him in with me half-naked on a table. I cut the session short, got dressed and left for the airport."
What's so deeply unsettling about this part of Stoynoff's story is that reflects how abusers exercise power over others without even being in the same room as them.
Most of the conversation around Trump's treatment of women in the wake of the leaked hot mic moment has been about the physical allegations against the candidate, especially as more women come forward (Stoynoff included) with stories demonstrating the behavior he describes on the tape.
What's less talked about is the insidious way in which abusers actually plan their attacks, unprovoked though they may seem at the time, and use their status to create a sense of utter helplessness in those they subjugate.
"In order to assault someone ... they must be manipulated in some way, and that manipulation implies the use of power," William Flack Jr., associate professor at Bucknell University's Department of Psychology, wrote in an email, explaining how perpetrators of sexual assault use power and manipulation to their advantage.
Stoynoff was just a reporter trying to do her job when Donald Trump a man who wields a lot of social power and influence allegedly assaulted her. The next day, all she wanted was a massage for her aching neck and to go home quietly.
For Trump to find out that Stoynoff hadn't been able to set up a massage appointment and then set it for her despite the spa being booked wasn't necessarily a kind gesture on his part it was also likely a display of power. Trump was letting her know that he called the shots, that he knew where she would be, and that as long as she was on his property, she had no expectation of privacy.
The power that abusers use is not always physical.
In the case of Stoynoff's experience, Trump used his power to remain at the forefront of her thoughts and fears. Instead of having a private moment to herself to enjoy her massage, she remained fearful of what might come through that door.
"Someone who has been assaulted can certainly fear their perpetrator, and act on that fear, regardless of the perpetrator's location," explained Flack.
Showing up at Stoynoff's massage appointment without warning is an eerie parallel to the story Trump told Howard Stern in 2005 about walking through the dressing rooms at his pageants while the contestants were changing. "Im allowed to go in because Im the owner of the pageant and therefore Im inspecting it," Trump said.
Replace "pageant" with "Mar-a-Lago" and you can see why Stoynoff knew she couldn't rely on the massage therapist to keep Trump out if he showed up and demanded to be let in even if she said she didn't want him there.
Upon returning home, Stoynoff filed her story about his marriage and immediately left the Trump beat behind.
As for why Stoynoff didn't come forward with her story earlier?
Just look at how Donald Trump reacted to it, even with the hot mic tape leaked and at least half a dozen other women accusing him of the same behavior:
Why didn't the writer of the twelve year old article in People Magazine mention the "incident" in her story. Because it did not happen!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2016
At a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Oct. 13, Donald Trump denied the allegations against him and slammed the various news sources reporting them. There was even a victim-blaming hashtag to go along with the whole thing.
If Stoynoff had come forward in 2005, with none of the present evidence, none of the other survivors sharing their stories, and at the height of Trump's "Apprentice"power and influence, she likely would have faced even more denial and victim-blaming than she is now. You probably never would have heard her name or her story again.
It is incredibly brave of Stoynoff and all these other women to come forward now, with the election just a few weeks away.
Sexual assault and rape are not about sex. They're about about power. When your first instinct is to cast doubt on the accusers and side with the accused without question that gives the perpetrator more of an excuse to abuse that power to keep their victim from speaking out against them.
When Trump says Stoynoff and the other women accusing him of assault should have come forward years ago with their claims and that they didn't is a sign that they're lying he is exerting his power and status as a presidential candidate, a wealthy businessman, and a celebrity to try to keep them quiet and keep his supporters doubting them.
As more women come forward with stories alleging Donald Trump assaulted them or demeaned them, remember that these women have nothing to gain by making these accusations.
Remember that these women are being viciously attacked and blamed for sharing parts of their lives about which they have likely felt deeply ashamed. And remember to err on the side of trusting them. To do otherwise is to trust a man who has bragged about this behavior on tape and give him a shield behind which he could continue to abuse and assault even more women in the future.
Standing with Trump's accusers means you have seen an injustice and want to fight it with your belief, your words of support, and your vote.
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amazingviralinfo · 7 years ago
Link
In the early 2000s, People magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff was assigned to cover all things Donald Trump.
It was the height of Trump's "Apprentice" popularity, and Stoynoff was along for the ride. She conducted multiple interviews with Trump, attended his wedding to Melania Knauss, and tracked the success of the show.
On Oct. 12, 2016, Stoynoff published a story in which she stated that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her during an interview in 2005.
It was the same year as the now-infamous hot mic recorded conversation between Trump and Billy Bush. Stoynoff writes that Trump led her to a room alone, where he suddenly pinned her to a wall and kissed her.
"Were going to have an affair, Im telling you," she says Trump told her.
The story is one of many allegations recently made against the Republican presidential nominee. Each story that comes out and there will probably be more as the election gets closer is deeply troubling on its own, even more so when considered together.
But there's one part of Stoynoff's story that hasn't gotten the same attention that her description of the physical assault has and it points to a disturbing tactic often used by abusers.
It's what she says Donald Trump did the next day:
"Earlier in my trip, I had tried to arrange a session at Mar-a-Lagos spa for my chronic neck problem the spa was part of a private resort separate from the Trump residence but they were booked up. Trump had gotten wind of that before the interview and called himself, asking the top massage therapist if he would come in extra early to see me, as a favor to him."
After arriving at the spa late, Stoynoff says, the massage therapist told her that Trump had shown up to her massage appointment and had waited for her for 15 minutes before he had to leave to attend a meeting.
Stoynoff writes of her reeling thoughts:
"I lay on the massage table, but my eyes were on the doorknob the entire time. Hes going to show up and [the massage therapist is] going to let him in with me half-naked on a table. I cut the session short, got dressed and left for the airport."
What's so deeply unsettling about this part of Stoynoff's story is that reflects how abusers exercise power over others without even being in the same room as them.
Most of the conversation around Trump's treatment of women in the wake of the leaked hot mic moment has been about the physical allegations against the candidate, especially as more women come forward (Stoynoff included) with stories demonstrating the behavior he describes on the tape.
What's less talked about is the insidious way in which abusers actually plan their attacks, unprovoked though they may seem at the time, and use their status to create a sense of utter helplessness in those they subjugate.
"In order to assault someone ... they must be manipulated in some way, and that manipulation implies the use of power," William Flack Jr., associate professor at Bucknell University's Department of Psychology, wrote in an email, explaining how perpetrators of sexual assault use power and manipulation to their advantage.
Stoynoff was just a reporter trying to do her job when Donald Trump a man who wields a lot of social power and influence allegedly assaulted her. The next day, all she wanted was a massage for her aching neck and to go home quietly.
For Trump to find out that Stoynoff hadn't been able to set up a massage appointment and then set it for her despite the spa being booked wasn't necessarily a kind gesture on his part it was also likely a display of power. Trump was letting her know that he called the shots, that he knew where she would be, and that as long as she was on his property, she had no expectation of privacy.
The power that abusers use is not always physical.
In the case of Stoynoff's experience, Trump used his power to remain at the forefront of her thoughts and fears. Instead of having a private moment to herself to enjoy her massage, she remained fearful of what might come through that door.
"Someone who has been assaulted can certainly fear their perpetrator, and act on that fear, regardless of the perpetrator's location," explained Flack.
Showing up at Stoynoff's massage appointment without warning is an eerie parallel to the story Trump told Howard Stern in 2005 about walking through the dressing rooms at his pageants while the contestants were changing. "Im allowed to go in because Im the owner of the pageant and therefore Im inspecting it," Trump said.
Replace "pageant" with "Mar-a-Lago" and you can see why Stoynoff knew she couldn't rely on the massage therapist to keep Trump out if he showed up and demanded to be let in even if she said she didn't want him there.
Upon returning home, Stoynoff filed her story about his marriage and immediately left the Trump beat behind.
As for why Stoynoff didn't come forward with her story earlier?
Just look at how Donald Trump reacted to it, even with the hot mic tape leaked and at least half a dozen other women accusing him of the same behavior:
Why didn't the writer of the twelve year old article in People Magazine mention the "incident" in her story. Because it did not happen!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2016
At a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Oct. 13, Donald Trump denied the allegations against him and slammed the various news sources reporting them. There was even a victim-blaming hashtag to go along with the whole thing.
If Stoynoff had come forward in 2005, with none of the present evidence, none of the other survivors sharing their stories, and at the height of Trump's "Apprentice"power and influence, she likely would have faced even more denial and victim-blaming than she is now. You probably never would have heard her name or her story again.
It is incredibly brave of Stoynoff and all these other women to come forward now, with the election just a few weeks away.
Sexual assault and rape are not about sex. They're about about power. When your first instinct is to cast doubt on the accusers and side with the accused without question that gives the perpetrator more of an excuse to abuse that power to keep their victim from speaking out against them.
When Trump says Stoynoff and the other women accusing him of assault should have come forward years ago with their claims and that they didn't is a sign that they're lying he is exerting his power and status as a presidential candidate, a wealthy businessman, and a celebrity to try to keep them quiet and keep his supporters doubting them.
As more women come forward with stories alleging Donald Trump assaulted them or demeaned them, remember that these women have nothing to gain by making these accusations.
Remember that these women are being viciously attacked and blamed for sharing parts of their lives about which they have likely felt deeply ashamed. And remember to err on the side of trusting them. To do otherwise is to trust a man who has bragged about this behavior on tape and give him a shield behind which he could continue to abuse and assault even more women in the future.
Standing with Trump's accusers means you have seen an injustice and want to fight it with your belief, your words of support, and your vote.
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