Ok so I’m going to start off my blog with something I surprisingly feel really strongly about. This is something a large amount of people have passed off as simple ‘sarcasm’ and ‘only a bit of harmless fun’, but Cara’s interview on ‘Good Day Sacramento’ really made me angry. If you haven’t seen it, I’d advise checking it out before you read what I have to say - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ennt078MBzI
The interview was a promotional appearance for the upcoming film ‘Paper Towns’,written by the same author who wrote the emotionally-manipulative yet tear-jerking teen sensation ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort,which was released last year and received a massive reaction from teens. Cara,a popular model,was a cool and refreshing choice to play the role of Margo in this film and many are excited to see what she has to offer the role and the film industry. Nominated for ‘Breakout Film Star’ at this year’s VMAs has truly put her name on the radar,as did her appearance in Swift’s new music video for ‘Bad Blood’. However,in this interview,she was discriminated against because of her age,and,quite ironically,was made look two feet tall.
The interviewer (female) started off on a bad foot by calling Cara ‘Carla’,to which she reacted negatively off the bat. There is noticeable tension before the interview even commences,which led a lot of people to believe they had fought before they went on air.
Then,the woman stupidly asked ‘Have you had time to read the book seen as you’re so busy?’.....I actually had to prop my mouth closed again. What kind of a ridiculous question is that? Of course Cara has read the god damn book she’s in the film....which is based on the book? That’s like asking a doctor have they learnt to do open-heart surgery after completing the surgery? What kind of stupid person would ask something like that? And it wasn’t even the question itself that got to me,it was the condescending nature in which it was asked. She asked it as if she was trying to make a fool out of her. She obviously saw Cara as some random model-turned-actor that only ended up in a film by chance,and took her age as an opportunity to belittle her.
The male interviewer asked her another baffling question,something along the lines of - ‘If you weren’t so busy,would you be less focused?’. Now I don’t know about you guys,but for me this has major traces of ageism,and he seems to be,whether its subconscious or not,saying that Cara would get lazy if she didn’t have all of these exciting projects to keep her occupied. As if she’s some sort of domesticated animal,that has to be kept occupied through walks and playtime in order to satisfy her mood and prevent her from getting fat and overweight. It seems they have a pretty backward view of young people,and this interviewer almost implies that we need a constant distraction otherwise our ambition dwindles and we turn into blobs. Ok?
To make matters worse,that annoying man to the woman’s right then spoke to Cara as if she was a four-year old that didn’t get their way,telling her she seemed ‘a lot more excited’ at the film’s premier in London. While Cara’s response was dry,she remained professional and put it down to tiredness. To which the female interviewer responded,‘it’s probably just us’. Yes honey,it is just you. You annoying,ageist fool. Cara had obviously reached boiling point when she responded with ‘Yes,yes it is’. She was right to respond this way,as the interviewers were totally unprofessional and quite frankly way out of line.
To end,in the way that only she could,the female interviewer told Cara to go ‘take a nap’ and drink some red bull,again speaking in a stupid condescending voice that made Cara out to be inferior to these pompous reporters. Cara muttered something under her breath,which I presume wasn’t particularly nice!
While that post may seem long-winded,it has a point. These interviewers quite obvious took an immediate disliking towards Cara’s personality and it seemed to me that they begrudged her her youth? I feel as though they expected her to be bright and responsive to their mediocre questions but when her reactions failed them they began to condescend her further and further.
What I would like to point is is that this would NOT have happened if the interviewee was older. They would have put it down to stress or tiredness in an understanding fashion,but instead they labelled her ‘irritated’,because of course,all young people hate the world and the ‘understanding’ adults that have fostered its often ageist culture.
We’re too young to be respected,yet too old to be sympathised with.
