The Media Loves a Cat Fight...

Hmm. Cat fight. How appropriate.

Anyhoo. I just happened to be home and watching 20/20 the other night when Madonna gave an interview to Cynthia McFadden in which she addressed a question many people have probably wondered...what does she think of Lady Gaga?

Cynthia McFadden and Madonna at the recent 20/20 interview.
CLEARLY they hate each other and must be in a big fight.
I mean, look how uncomfortable Cynthia is touching Madonna.  Hiss!

Madonna's answers were generally vague and safe. (In fact her answers to the whole interview read as fairly aloof.) However, she did say that she thinks that "Born This Way" is reductive. OMG! Let the media coverage begin! Cat fiiiiiiiiight! Am I right, guys? Meeee-ow!


Ok, I do think that the comment was a bit cold and intended for someone playing a gay best friend trope to interject "Oh snap guuuuuuuurl!!" But it's not nearly that controversial. It's certainly not worthy of being a top news story, which it is if you Google "Madonna" right now.

I think that the media encourages (or creates) "fights" and rivalries between celebrities in general, but women in specific. Angelia Jolie and Jennifer Aniston. Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez. Paris Hilton and Britney Spears (or Paris and anyone, really.) Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall.  LC and Heidi Montag. I could go on and on and on...and don't even get me started on the way reality TV sensationalizes female "drama."

And yet coverage of how wonderful female friendships can be is almost entirely nonexistent. Not only does this portray an unnecessarily negative view of female relationships in the name of ratings and page views, but it also models bullying, physical violence, exclusion, backstabbing, and hate to young girls.

It's dumb.

I don't even care if Madonna and Lady Gaga don't get along. I just don't think we need to dwell on it.