It has come to my attention that several men have complained about my inappropriate behavior over the past twenty years. I want everyone to know that I’m listening, I’m learning, and, most importantly, I’m trying to figure out how never to be publicly criticized again, because it’s deeply uncomfortable.
But in my defense, I ask you to consider that it is perhaps unfair to judge my past actions by today’s standards. I know it’s hard for young people to imagine, but back then, it was considered perfectly acceptable for a woman to go up to a guy completely unprovoked and kick him in the balls.
We all did it all the time, and no one blinked an eye. Apparently, things have changed.
Recently, I have come to understand that what we used to consider “no big deal” or “hilarious”—specifically, I’m talking about whacking a guy in the nads until his knees knock together and his eyes cross—was actually harmful and not funny at all.