Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski revealed today that an unnamed New York Times reporter called First Lady Melania Trump “a hooker” at a recent event. Ratajkowski, who confirmed the journalist in question was male, said it was a case of “slut shaming”:

Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me "Melania is a hooker." Whatever your politics it's crucial to call this out for — Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

what it is: slut shaming. I don't care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should. — Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

In a third tweet, Ratajkowski wrote, “Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bulls**t.” This is exactly what everyone would be saying if this comment had been made about Mrs. Obama. What’s surprising here is that someone is seeking to apply the left’s rules somewhat fairly, rather than giving their own a pass. Politico contacted the New York Times about the accusation by Ratajkowsi. The Times’ response contains an admission that this did occur:

“At a party last night, a Times reporter who does not cover Washington or politics, referred to an unfounded rumor regarding Melania Trump,” a Times spokesperson said in a statement to POLITICO. “The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred. Editors have talked to the reporter in question about the lapse.”

Referring to the claim that the First Lady was a hooker as an “unfounded rumor” seems rather generous at this point. These accusations have been the subject of defamation lawsuits which Mrs. Trump filed against a U.S. based blogger and the Daily Mail for $150 million dollars. The suit against the blogger was settled for an undisclosed sum last week. The blogger also offered a full apology to the entire Trump family. The suit against the Daily Mail was dismissed by a judge in Maryland but Mrs. Trump has since refiled the lawsuit in New York.

It would be interesting to know who this reporter was but again it’s surprising that a progressive at the NY Times is getting any sort of blow back for this. Expecting them to be named and shamed is really expecting too much.