Geraldo Rivera sez “70 is the new 50”! Thanks to the Q Morning Show for the heads up!
This picture fascinates and delights me all at the same time.
It is of journalist Geraldo Rivera, who posted it on his twitter account over the weekend with the caption “70 is the new 50”. A kerfuffle ensued.
I missed most of the hoopla, because I was upta camp; I first saw the pic posted on the Q Morning Show Facebook Page first thing this morning.
I shared the post on my Facebook page, and it performed very well, inciting a bit of consternation amongst my Facebook pals. My friend Brenna said “nope. 70 is 70.” Rosemary said “My issue is: why do we know HOW he looks? People, keep your clothes on when you take selfies!” My Mom said “TMI Oh My.” And Jeffry piped in with: “He needs to trim that damn mustache…”. All very interesting.
I had several thoughts going through my mind all at the same time:
- Whoa. Did he really post that?
- Looking good, Geraldo.
- He looks naked. Is he naked?
- Why is he naked?
- He really does look good for 70.
- I’d do him.
- Why can’t I see his junk?
- I want to see his junk.
- This is not fair. Why can’t I see his junk?
- Why did he post himself naked?
- Shit, he looks good for 50!
Here is a problem we didn’t have twenty years ago, a (mostly) respected journalist and public personality publishing a naked picture of himself. And it’s kinda socially acceptable. Not really, obviously, because he did take it down, but it’s no different from some of the pictures millions of non-public personalities are publishing. It’s fascinating to see the reactions people are having to the picture.
Why did he post it? I think it’s because he thinks he looks great for a 70-year-old; that shows a healthy degree of self-love. Why not feel great about how you look? He looks very fit, but only because he looks relatively thin. What if he were 50 pounds heavier? Would the picture seem to be as amusing (sexy) or would people be even more offended? Like: how dare he love himself when he’s all fat and shit. I don’t know.
What if he were a 70-year-old female, and was posting a picture in a tiny bikini. How would the reaction be different? Would it only be a series of “you go girl” comments or would the backlash be the same? I think if the female was as fit-looking as Geraldo, she’d be lauded for her hot bod AND her bravery. Think about that for a second. If a 70-year-old female looked “hot” in a picture she posted on Twitter, she would be illustrating that she is still performing for the male gaze, and doing what women are “supposed” to do: be attractive.
Geraldo doesn’t have to be attractive, he’s a man. His attractiveness is a boon, for sure, but he would still be respected if he weren’t attractive. He would be judged on his past successes (and mistakes), and even this little snafu will not do much to harm his reputation.
Recent Thoughts