Follow Zap2it:
Dish Rant
Bill O'Reilly: Jennifer Aniston's parenting comments are 'destructive to our society'
Twitter
Google
Oh, this should be good.In an interview to promote her summer comedy "The Switch" - which is about artificial insemination hijinks - Jennifer Aniston had the audacity to say, "Women are realizing more and more that you don't have to settle, they don't have to fiddle with a man to have that child."
Cue the angry traditional family mob, led by their fearless leader, Bill O'Reilly.
When O'Reilly brought up the comments on "The O'Reilly Factor," Fox co-anchor Gretchen Carlson says that Aniston's comments weren't because of her movie, which is about a single mother having a child through artificial insemination.
"No, this is about the fact that in her personal life, she's a 41-year-old single woman who has never been married and probably has not ruled out the chance of having a baby."
O'Reilly corrects her, citing Aniston's Angelina-thwarted marriage to Brad Pitt. (Everyone seems very impressed that he knows this super-obscure bit of pop culture knowledge, since it's so rarely invoked on the covers of every weekly celebutab.)
Fox News Analyst Margaret Hoover says that Aniston's character in "The Switch" is "suspiciously similar" to Aniston herself, because they're the same age and they're both single. Sorry to blow your minds, but this is a romantic comedy. Of course the heroine is single, and of course she's Aniston's age -- Aniston is playing her. We're not quite understanding the "suspicious" part here.
"Women can have their own kids and not have a husband or not have a partner, but why would you want to?" Hoover continues.
Because everyone knows that raising a child is completely without reward if you're doing it on your own? These comments are outrageously offensive, not only to single mothers, but to their children -- many of whom are perfectly happy and well-adjusted.
O'Reilly says he wants to "be fair about this," and then he goes on to say, "She's throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that hey, you don't need a dad! Dad, eh, you know. That's destructive to society."
Yes. God forbid that those fatherless 12-year-olds think that they'll turn out okay!
Carlson chimes in to say that Aniston's fans don't understand the difference "between a 40-year-old woman who is financially stable, and a 16-year-old girl having a child." Apparently, Jennifer Aniston and Jamie Lynn Spears are interchangeable, here. We're not sure how Aniston's relatively basic "women don't need men to have babies" statement got twisted into her encouraging teenage pregnancy.
While we agree with O'Reilly's statement that "any man who leaves their children is not a man," we don't agree that Aniston's comments are destructive. We actually think they may even be empowering to some people.
We think O'Reilly and his Fox News friends should meet up with Dan Quayle for a drink. Preferably at a bar far, far away from our favorite one. We suggest a nice pub in another country.
Follow Zap2it and @cadlymack on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Photo credit: Getty
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Featured Partners
Who cares, this flick is going to bomb.
liberal much??
Wow! Two Dan Quayle flashbacks in one day (this and his son's much-ridiculed TV ad that's making the rounds). That has to be some sort of record!
I wish Bill O'Reilly would take a long walk on a short pier that hovers over shark infested waters.
A child raised in an intact family is much more likely to become a well adjusted adult. Women who think a man in the life of a child is unnecessary are kidding themselves.
Of course her comments were wrong. Once again amercian women have de-valued the importance of men,husbands and fathers in the life of a child. Two parent families ( man and wife) bring the love,support and stability that children need. They need the love of a mom and the leadership of a dad. This is a lesson society is doomed to forget over and over. Children from single families headed by moms are at a much higher risk of crime,drugs and sex..this is a proven fact ( look around you at the crime rate of young men without a father...). Boys need a DAD to learn how to grow up to me responsible men and not gang bangers. Instead of whining about the needs of women why not start thinking about the needs of the child and what is in THEIR best interest.
Bill O'Reilly makes a point--too late, this Country is overrun with singles mothers who are raising children alone. Most, not by choice, but because these deadbeat fathers turn their backs on these kids, unless forced to support them in some way. Further, these young, women "keep" having babies! often by different fathers. WTH has any of this to do with Jennifer Anniston, who is an extremely wealthy single woman, who like Sandra Bullock could adopt if he choose, or have artificial insimulation birth, which is also very expensive. Doubt any child she would choose to have would suffer.
It's wonderfully empowering for an ultra rich woman to say she can have a baby on her own. She has the resources that the average woman does not. The author's snotty attitude towards those who disagree is uncalled for. Raising children is hard even with two parents in the best of circumstances. Down playing that is irresponsible. Like it or not Aniston is a role model and may influence others.
just over 1% of the country watches O'Rielly. the rest of us (a hair under 99% of the population) openly laugh at them.
You know I was single and had a child! She is now a dentist and doing very well! I would not have it any other way!