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Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Tuesday marks the two year anniversary #MeToo went viral bringing wider attention to victims of sexual assault and misconduct. Though 2017 was the viral moment, the #MeToo work has been carrying on since before 2017 thanks to founder Tarana Burke . For the movement’s two year anniversary, Burke is reflecting on its impact and how it’s shifted the ways people talk about sexual violence. In an interview with Teen Vogue , one standout moment came when Burke was asked about the “gray areas” of sexual assault and misconduct. One person who came to mind was Aziz Ansari , who was accused of sexual misconduct for repeatedly pressuring a woman to have sex. Eventually, Ansari issued a statement saying he took time to “process” the woman’s side of the story, and he also addressed the incident in his Netflix stand-up special “Aziz Ansari: Right Now”. Burke spoke on this and even brought up Dave Chappelle , who notoriously made jokes about Michael Jackson and child molestation in his latest Netflix special “Stick & Stones”. “Can I say something about that in terms of accountability,” Burke started. “I have been thinking a lot about Dave Chappelle and Aziz Ansari because they both have these comedy specials, right? And I know Dave Chappelle wasn’t accused of anything, whatever, but he decided he was just going to go down this road….But some people are not going to be comfortable with what I’m going to say. I’ve said this in places where people are like, ‘I don’t agree with you,’ but I think Aziz Ansari’s response… has anybody seen his stand-up? He didn‘t act like it didn’t happen. He talked very clearly about what his year’s been like, and not from a like, ‘Yo, this has been a really messed up year,’ but like, ‘what did I learn? What did I do? How did I try to make this situation, turn this situation around?’ He was humble.” Burke then went on to compare him to fellow comedian Louis C.K. who was also accused of sexual misconduct and is now trying to make a comeback. “And I said, you know, ‘Why can’t these other folks at least have some lessons,” Burke said. “I’m just so angry at the folks who kind of hide for six months, and then peek their head, like Louis C.K . Louis C.K. is an assh*le.” She continued: “And I’m going to tell you, he was one of my favorite comedians, right? I loved his show, I love Louis C.K., but you going to come back and start talking about transphobes, and children getting shot, what are we supposed to do?” Finally, Burke asserted: “And this is the thing about accountability with these public figures that I think they don’t get. You want my support, right? I don’t tell anybody what it should look like, but for me, when I think about accountability, you start with the person you harmed first. So before you bring your face out into the public or whatever, did you go to the people who you caused harm to and ask them what they need? Did you try to have a process, any kind of process, restorative process, with them? And they may say, “I don’t want that. I don’t want anything to do with you,” which is their right. But you have to start there. The second layer of that is, you want me to laugh at your jokes, buy your tickets, watch your specials, and you think you’re not accountable to me, and my values are not supposed to come into play on how I spend my money and my time? You are mistaken.” SEE ALSO: Questlove Clears Up Comments He Made About Iggy Azalea And Cultural Appropriation Police Interrogation Firm Sues Ava DuVernay And Netflix Over ‘When They See Us’
#MeToo Founder Tarana Burke Has A Message For Comedians Trying To Return After Sexual Misconduct
