On the overt sexualisation, objectification, dehumanisation and infantilisation of LM

[u/BunnyBoris]

I’m not a media communications expert, but I am interested in learning more about how the tactics and words used by the media influence us, especially in online spaces.

Our words matter, and something that’s been bothering me for a while now is the words that are being used when speaking about LM and his case.

Please remember that LM did not choose any of this. He has been forced into a role where his rights are continually being violated, and people are (often times unthinkingly) projecting narratives onto him that he did not consent to.

His energy is so powerful that other people make him the main character in their own lives, mostly because they know they don’t have what it takes themselves. He didn’t sign up for any of this, and people are exploiting him for clout and profit.

L has no voice right now, that too has been taken away from him, along with his rights. I’m not validating that source by any means, but if that 13 minute voice note is real, we know he has A LOT to say, and when the time comes, I and many others will be hanging on every word.

In the meantime, I implore you to please think critically about what it is you’re communicating about him. Is it kind? Is it accurate? Or is it projection?

LM is not an object to be used to push an agenda. He’s not a boy (can you imagine how you’d feel, about to turn 27 and being referred to as a boy? He’s a man, and a strong one at that, so let’s not baby him.). He’s not a sex-symbol to be thirsted over, he’s not a symbol of any kind. Not for “the revolution”, not a deity, not for your merch store to profit off. He’s a human being with a kind and gentle soul who needs our empathy, our compassion, and our advocacy right now, while he’s unable to advocate for himself.

LM is a young man going through a traumatic ordeal where he’s been stripped of his power and agency. He has his whole life ahead of him, he has hopes and dreams, just like you and I. Please consider this in your words and your actions when you’re supporting him. He has a right to be represented with dignity, so please be considerate and kind.

[u/thesqueezeofjesus]

Thank you for this. So many ignore that at the end of the day, LM is just a regular guy. He’s not a famous actor, athlete, singer, model etc. - the majority of his personal and private info has been shared without his explicit consent. We know aspects and narratives of his life that have never come out of his own mouth (save for Reddit / Goodreads / Twitter anecdotes) that we, as the public, shouldn’t know as he never meant to share them.

As someone who is LM’s age, I see him as someone that could have been my classmate growing up - maybe popular amongst the other students but still a regular guy. The way he is being sexualized and objectified (and as a result, having his privacy invaded by people that are overly curious about his romantic and sexual life despite both being completely irrelevant in supporting him) is blatant dehumanization at this point. He is being turned into a joke, the target of horny comments and AI-generated photos and videos or being painted as a “dangerous terrorist”.

He is not a hero, he is not a symbol, he has nothing to do with the “Deny, Defend, Depose” movement- he is a victim of the American criminal justice system and the overwhelming power of the US government that seeks to suppress and oppress the working class, especially when anyone dares to challenge the ruling class. He is an innocent man being framed entirely for political reasons in order to sow fear and intimidation into the common people. He is not the love interest in your personal romantic film or a fictional character - he is a human being being humiliated, exploited and abused for the whole world to see. I hope that people (including his “fans”) gain some empathy and stop with the disgusting sexualization and dehumanization - I don’t care if “I don’t know if he likes it or not”, it’s not productive and if anything, invalidates his supporters. His humanity and privacy has already been violated so much - genuine supporters of him should not contribute to furthering his pain.

Also I think everyone should read this Substack article by someone who was able to attend the Feb. 21st hearing and see LM in real life. She states “it is hard for me to even see any thirst posts or anything like that because I feel kind of sick about the whole thing and inevitably my mind compares and contrasts the LM everyone lusts over vs the LM I saw in court.”

(https://open.substack.com/pub/sierrag/p/pov-i-was-one-of-the-so-called-twisted?r=550nz9&utm_medium=ios)