In a truly bizarre and uncomfortable moment of television, the woman accusing President Donald Trump of raping her in the 90s told CNN&...
In a truly bizarre and uncomfortable moment of television, the woman accusing President Donald Trump of raping her in the 90s told CNN's Anderson Cooper that she believes most people think rape is "sexy."
The exchange began when Cooper asked advice columnist E. Jean Carroll whether she felt like she was a victim. She claims in her upcoming book that the president raped her in 1995 or 1996. Carroll's answer immediately takes the conversation to an uncomfortable place.
"I was not thrown on the ground and ravaged," Carroll said. "The word 'rape' carries so many sexual connotations. It just hurt."
"I think most people think of rape as—it is a violent assault," Cooper replied.
"I think most people think of rape as being sexy," Carroll pushed back. There are several seconds of silence, then Cooper tries to bail out to commercial as Carroll emphasizes her point. "They think of the fantasies."
The normally composed Cooper seems noticeably thrown off by where the conversation went, and he can be heard stammering as he tells Carroll they're going to take a break and resume the conversation afterward. It's not clear from the clip whether it was a planned break, or whether Cooper just felt the interview needed a reset.
"You're fascinating to talk to," Carroll said.
President Trump, in an interview with The Hill, again denied the rape allegation, saying "she's not my type."
Carroll responded to that line during the interview with Cooper.
"I love that!" Carroll exclaimed. "I am so glad I'm not his type. I'm so glad. This was 20 years ago. And I probably was, at that moment, in that five minutes, the most attractive woman in Bergdorf's. In that one bit of time."
No comments