Twitter celebrates the Time’s Person of the Year ‘silence breakers;’ mocks President Trump’s designation as ‘one of the accused’
Time magazine kicked off the morning with a surprising announcement that their anticipated “Person of the Year” would not be just one person. Instead, the magazine honored the “women and men who have broken their silence span all races, all income classes, all occupations and virtually all corners of the globe,” according to the magazine’s announcement.
The magazine dubbed the group “silence breakers,” devoting the cover to people like actress Ashley Judd, who spawned the public string of sexual harassment and assault allegations against film tycoon Harvey Weinstein. Pop star Taylor Swift is also featured on the cover, since she faced criticism and backlash when she called out her harasser earlier this year. The article also highlights Tarana Burke, who founded the #Metoo movement more than 10 years ago to highlight the stories of underprivileged, people of color affected by sexual abuse.
Early Wednesday morning, Twitter heralded those who courageously made their accounts of sexual abuse public and stood against the powerful forces that previously silenced them.
These are The Silence Breakers.
— Holly O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) December 6, 2017
Actors, tech, hospitality workers...every walk of life.
This happens in every workplace.
This video is heartbreaking and empowering. ❤️#Metoo#TimePOY#WednesdayWisdomhttps://t.co/a7Ci9plju8
Donald Trump made it into Time’s Person of the Year issue after all: As one of the accused.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) December 6, 2017
The Silence Breakers #PersonOfTheYear https://t.co/EdWLKjhVqs
So proud of everyone involved in the #MeToo and #HerToo movements.
— Holly O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) December 6, 2017
So happy to be even a tiny part of it by sharing stories of assault and abuse.
Time Magazine names "The Silence Breakers" as the Person of the Year.#TimePOY⁰#BreakTheSilence#TheSilenceBreakers pic.twitter.com/SB520zDteK
Trump isn’t Person of the Year, but TIME’s piece on The Silence Breakers calls Trump a ‘precipitating factor’ in the #metoo movement. “In this case, you had Harvey Weinstein, and before that you had Trump.” https://t.co/fYaJLcTgq6
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 6, 2017
This is a cover worth sharing. TIME #PersonOfTheYear2017 , “The Silence Breakers”. To everyone out there, women and man, girls and boys, #TellYourStory. Know that you’re heard, loved and seen. pic.twitter.com/e0ZJCnFxrJ
— Jesus Flores Diaz (@Jesus_manuel92) December 6, 2017
The Silence Breakers have won Times Person of The Year. It's time to celebrate strong women who are an inspiration to us all as they turn bad news into something good. #PersonOfTheYear #inspirational pic.twitter.com/pNMeUfJKxv
— The Good News Guys (@itsgoodnewsguys) December 6, 2017
There’s not a better Time POY than The Silence Breakers. To all who criticize people for taking too long to come forward (*Cough: @MooreSenate, @POTUS), please read this story.
— JPC (@BlackProfessor) December 6, 2017
Since those profiled in the article made mention of President Donald Trump as directly or indirectly part of the issue with sexual harassment, some responding to the announcement mocked the commander in chief as they celebrated the “silence breakers.”
#kellyanneconway reassures the Silence Breakers of Trump's respect for women. #TimePersonOfTheYear pic.twitter.com/bAdXY3dtO0
— Ward Harkavy (@WHarkavy) December 6, 2017
🐬 (@krassenstein) December 6, 2017To be fair, Donald Trump did, in a way, make it into Time’s #PersonOfTheYear issue after all... As one of the accused.
— Brian Krassenstein
Congrats to The Silence Breakers #MeToo
Not all were fans of the cover. A few condemned Time’s choice, accusing the publication of producing fake news and coming to the defense of the president. Some even threatened to boycott the magazine.
Horrible decision. What do you expect from Time magazine? @acosta is a purveyor of fake news. #acostasexualharrassment
— Twiggy Lomas (@twiggy_lomas) December 6, 2017
Boycott Time Magazine for their stupidity and fomenting hatred.
— Jana Shellman (@wishladya) December 6, 2017
Time Magazine's Person of the Year cover is FAKE NEWS!
— max albedo (@MaxAlbedo) December 6, 2017
Know how I know?
The real cover is hanging on the wall at Mar-a-Lago stupid#Trump #PersonOfTheYear @TIME #FAKENEWS pic.twitter.com/JuSjVsNlLX
The very bad #Time Magazine has decided to name LIARS as its Persons of the Year - disgraceful! No wonder sales are way down - glad I said "no way" when they begged me to be Man of the Year! @realDonaldTrump
— Donny Diapers (@DiaperDonny) December 6, 2017
I think we need to boycott Time magazine. They've lost touch! Any opportunity to bash the president.
— Cat Robinson (@actioncat1974) December 6, 2017
RELATED: #MeToo: Women share harrowing accounts of sexual assault, harassment
About the Author
Stephanie has been telling stories her whole life. Her interest in the written word started with short stories and journal entries about run-ins with classroom bullies as a child and matured to writing for her high school newspaper over the years. She has written and edited for The Tennessean, Augusta Chronicle and American City & County.
