The Latest #MeToo Installment

What more is there to say about #MeToo revelations other than cautioning against becoming numb.

To that end, the 8/13/2019 edition of the Associated Press published an article by Jocelyn Gecker that reports on allegations from multiple accusers that Placido Domingo would “pressure women into sexual relationships by dangling jobs and then sometimes punishing the women professionally when they refused his advances.”

The extensively researched article does a good job at recounting allegations and providing information but one thing that stands out as different from previous examples is Domingo’s public response.

“The allegations from these unnamed individuals dating back as many as thirty years are deeply troubling, and as presented, inaccurate. Still, it is painful to hear that I may have upset anyone or made them feel uncomfortable — no matter how long ago and despite my best intentions. I believed that all of my interactions and relationships were always welcomed and consensual. People who know me or who have worked with me know that I am not someone who would intentionally harm, offend, or embarrass anyone. However, I recognize that the rules and standards by which we are — and should be — measured against today are very different than they were in the past. I am blessed and privileged to have had a more than 50-year career in opera and will hold myself to the highest standards.”

While it’s certainly possible he wrote this without assistance, it’s more likely he had help. If he did receive assistance, I’m genuinely interested in meeting who wrote this statement for him as it’s one of the more craftily written I’ve seen.

It leads with a softly worded denial that simultaneously plants a seed of doubt then pivots into a sympathetic tone that projects contrition without ever really admitting wrongdoing or suggesting accountability.

Whether this has any impact on broader public perception is something time will tell.