Addressing the “Uncut: NAIAS model interview” situation
January 19th, 2010 at 1:45 am by Barrett Andrews under News
It’s been brought to my attention that several blogs have picked up my video of an uncut interview with a Chrysler model, Lauren, who was gracious enough to let me interview her about her job at NAIAS. Not a serious, hard-news interview, but a light-hearted, feature-type interview.
Despite other reports, I told Lauren beforehand that I was working on a humorous piece, and would end the interview by asking her for her phone number (instead, I asked what she was doing later — this was merely an ad-libbing decision). I asked her to shoot me down and to play along with the joke. She laughed and agreed.
I did not “rope” Lauren into the interview, as one blog suggested. I asked her, in front of another Chrysler employee, if she’d be allowed to talk to us. She agreed.
If she wanted to stop at any point, she could have just walked away. But, as I explained to her, it was meant to be a lighter, joking story.
As for accusations that I was being sexist or “creepy,” I would first like to point out that my photographer was in fact a woman and a fellow reporter. If she had felt this story was in bad taste on those grounds, I know she would have said something.
With that, my photographer also knows me personally and understands my personality, knowing that I didn’t truly mean what I said. I took too much trust in expecting everyone else to understand it was a joke, and I understand that now.
Secondly, with as much concern as there seems to be over this interview, there is one major thing to remember: this is what these models have to put up with every day from people who are completely serious. I quickly came up with this idea after a long day of walking around the auto show and watching men, standing at the ropes, snapping pictures and ogling, whispering to each other and staring.
I was sick of seeing it. Honestly. Yes, these are very attractive women — that’s why they are hired. But to stand there and stare like they aren’t even people? A bit much.
So this was my way of poking fun at something that seemed so rampant across the NAIAS floor, in part to draw attention to the kind of environment these professionals deal all the time.
So again, in summary:
Lauren agreed to do the interview.
Lauren was in on the joke.
Lauren agreed to shoot me down as part of the joke.
When we ended the interview, Lauren asked if the video would be posted online, I told her yes and gave her a business card. If she had been offended or felt like I misrepresented the interview situation, she had more than a few minutes to talk to me about it.
Instead, I waved, said “Thanks!” once more, and went on my way. Never did I think this thing would be this misconstrued.
If you have any other questions, feel free to call me on my cell phone at 419-461-1591.
Edit to add this: Clavius commented on Autoblog that, based on the write up, that “I was half expecting some overly fat guy snorting and drooling over the model, but instead we get a tall plump exfrat boy trying to stage a funny viral internet video.”
Yeah, I’m tall. I’ll take plump. But I’ve never been in a frat. Nor was I trying to stage a viral video — that part was an accident.
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Barrett,
I don’t know you so I really shouldn’t care, but I think you are taking this too seriously. I posted just prior to you on DYCWTC (under the name, the formerly amazing Phil) and stated that it was an obvious joke. Anyone looking at your exaggerated body language would pick right up on it.
The internet should always, perhaps sadly, be approached with caution because the line between fact and fiction is too blurry. I recall a cell phone video making its way around of Pauly Shore getting punched by a redneck while performing at a comedy club. Pauly let it circulate for awhile and then showed a video of it being staged and rehearsed.
Barrett
Chin up!
Earlier in my career I wrote a weekly sales letter to employees across the country. One week I included a cartoon that I thought was humorous and pertinent. We were in the middle of a sales contest and cartoon said something like “1st place is cash, second place is a new job.” About 95% of the store managers got the joke – they knew me and my sense of humor. However the remaining 5% raised holy hell. I survived the firestorm. So will you. Keep doing great work.
“Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.”
— Vaclav Havel
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”
– Elbert Hubbard
Barrett I would recommend you hastily remove your cell phone number from that blog post and your profile for the time being. I know there are /b/ and ex/b/ folks on autoblog and blowing up your cell phone plus doing other malicious acts to you through your cell phone is exactly what they live for. Props for putting it up there for people to ask you questions but if it is your real personal cell phone and not some work specific one I would remove it as quickly as possible.
Maybe this story wasn’t in the best taste but it wasn’t indecent either. People are always looking for a fight. I hate the way slutty girls are treated! It’s these “models” job to go and stand in front of cars in trampy outfits they’re just looking for attention. And then when they get it they complain.
Barrett~Don’t let what these people say to you get you down.
Barrett,
It’s sad how some people can take a story that’s supposed to be light hearted and turn it into a big issue. Most of the people who are leaving comments on other blog sites are basing their comments on this one story. They have never seen any of your other stories, yet they feel they have the right to define you and the station you work for based on one story. I live in the Toledo area, and Fox Toledo is my favorite local news station. I also think that you’re a great reporter. The people leaving these comments are the one’s who are truly unprofessional because of the rude and cruel comments they are making. Keep your head up! You’re a talented reporter!
Yeah, it might have been poor taste but let us not overreact either. It was meant to be joke and humour is one of the hardest things to classify in terms of political correctness-what may offend someone could be hilarious to someone else and so on.
So, you’re saying you staged an entire news bit to be aired as truth, without disclosing it was not real? Did they teach you this utter lack of professional integrity at journalism school? Good reporters have been fired for less. You should be ashamed of yourself. If you want to make up skits, go work for an improv troupe.
Barrett. it’s Lauren. Sorry you had to recieve all this flak from people who take this wayyy to serious. We were clearly joking and having a good time everyone. This was planned as part of the joke for his segment.. to lighten it up a little. Barrett was more than respectful and nice, and that’s always appreciated! Thank you for those who understood the purpose.
@Jeffrey Davis, Buckeyefan, Tigers35: Thanks for the kind and encouraging words. I needed ‘em.
@British_Rover: it’s my work cell – and I didn’t get a single call. Interesting the way the internet works like that…
@Fun play Online: I completely agree, and I’ll remember that in the future.
@Pete: Again, it goes back to two things: it was a feature story, and I thought it was pretty obvious that the ending – and just the ending – was staged. Had it not been obvious, of course I would have divulged that information. Since this video stood alone on YouTube as it is, there was no additional context that viewers saw when watching the segment air on TV. That intro made it clear this was not a serious news story.
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