An Ex-Cheerleader Allegedly Raped A 15-Year-Old Boy, And The Press Has No Idea How To Talk About It

Sadly, it’s not just news outlets that struggle to understand that males can be rape victims. Here’s just a few examples of how Twitter responded to an ex-NFL-cheerleader being charged with the rape of a 15-year-old boy.

So what’s the big deal when it comes to making jokes about sexual assault? Well, as Felonious Munk mentioned in the video, this type of dismissive attitude toward sexual abuse has serious consequences. When you consider that 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse of some kind before age 18, these kind of “jokes” don’t seem too funny. Perpetuating the idea that boys can’t be raped or that women can’t be sexual abusers discourages victims of all genders from coming forward.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse or violence, please know that there are people you can turn to for help. Visit rainn.org or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673)