Newsweek’s #MuslimRage Backfires
Tina Brown successfully trolled the Internet yet again this morning, with a Newsweek cover bearing angry, bearded protesters and a headline of “MUSLIM RAGE.” The article was written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, wife of historian and previous Newsweek troll-bait provider Niall Ferguson.
Sensing the opportunity to troll even harder, the magazine went searching for an outrage-inducing force multiplier:
Want to discuss our latest cover? Let's hear it with the hashtag: #MuslimRage.
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 17, 2012
That’s when the Twitterverse, especially Muslim users, decided enough was enough and hijacked the hashtag.
Among the reactions:
Woke up two minutes before my alarm clock rang, still threw the phone against the wall when it did. #MuslimRage
— ندى عوف (@NadaAuf) September 17, 2012
I went to a #MuslimRage party last night. It wasn't as exciting as you'd think.
— Alex Hanna (@alexhanna) September 17, 2012
I hope "Muslim Rage" is part of series, so I can look forward to "Catholic Perversion," "Cranky Cranky Jews," and "Unitarian Guy Shrugging."
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) September 17, 2012
75% of the #MuslimRage tags are indignant remarks at @newsweek. The other 25% are hummus jokes. W2G dying old media.
— Jordan Hoffman (@JHoffman6) September 17, 2012
Not getting the cute airport security guy to give me a pat-down for my "randomly selected" search. #MuslimRage
— Fatemeh Fakhraie (@fatemehf) September 17, 2012
How about the hashtag: #ProfessionalTrolls RT @newsweek: Want to discuss our latest cover? Let's hear it with the hashtag: #MuslimRage.
— Jack Moore (@BuzzFeedJack) September 17, 2012
Welcome to the new digital age @newsweek. Your attempts to use #MuslimRage to discuss your foul cover has become funniest joke on twitter.
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) September 17, 2012
For its part, Newsweek defended the cover and its depiction of the protesters, telling Politico: “This week's Newsweek cover accurately depicts the events of the past week as violent protests have erupted in the Middle East (including Morocco where the cover image was taken)."
Islamists’ Last Stand [Newsweek]
