In the wake of the recent onslaught of sexual harassment accusations against men in power, Sunday night’s episodes of TBS’s Search Party presented their own case of sexual misconduct, but with a twist: a female senatorial candidate sexually harasses a young African-American campaign staffer.
In the first of tonight’s episodes, “Denial,” candidate Mary Ferguson (J. Smith-Cameron) calls campaign staffer Julian (Brandon Micheal Hall) to her office to discuss an article he wrote (correctly) calling into question the truth of a once-missing person’s abuse story, causing backlash both in the campaign office and online. When he leaves, she interrogates him about the size of his genitals, threatening to ruin his reputation if he doesn’t answer. Watch the uncomfortable exchange here:
Mary: Julian?
Julian: Yeah?
Mary: I just have one more question.
Julian: Yeah, what's up? I
Mary: Is it true?
Julian: Is what true?
Mary: Is it true?
Julian: I'm sorry. I'm not following.
Mary: Is it true what they say?
Julian: Oh. Um, if you're implying about a certain racial stereotype, then that would be...
Mary: Inappropriate? Unethical? An abuse of my power?
Julian: Yeah.
Mary: Well, maybe it's not that bad out there. Maybe someone else will hire you. Let's see what the Internet has to say. Oh. This person isn't as forgiving as I am. He says, "I pray to God that this woman-hater's balls get trampled on by high heels." Oops. Oh, and there's another person on here that just keeps retweeting your address over and over again. I don't know. If you care about this job and your reputation, perhaps you should just let go of your hang-ups and answer the question. Is it true?
Julian: It's true.
Mary: I know.
In the next episode, “Hysteria,” Mary sends Julian text messages containing a scandalous picture of herself wearing only underwear and suggestions to hang out. Julian storms out of the office in response. Main character Dory (Alia Shawkat) even remarks at one point in the episode about a different harassment incident, “I always choose to believe the victim.”
The liberal-leaning Julian and Dory, who once claimed that the police’s job is shooting black teens, were hired by Mary to “increase the diversity on [her] staff by 30 percent,” so I'm assuming she is a liberal politician.
Considering all the sexual harassment committed by men that has come to light, it’s an interesting choice for Search Party to air an episode with a woman preying on a man.
