Is It “Funny” for Women to Have a Cat Fight? Let’s Talk About It

Reality TV has never looked so messy.

The hosts of ABC‘s The View including Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg, recently discussed the show everyone is buzzing about – be you in Lagos, Nigeria, or Atlanta, Georgia.

It’s the Real Housewives of Atlanta Reunion taping with the cast – NeNe Leakes, Kenya Moore, Phaedra Parks, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Stewart.

Kenya and Porsha who don’t see eye to eye, caused an internet and TV storm. Porsha dragged Kenya by her hair to the ground.

On The View, Barbara asks a very important question, why is it considered “funny” when women have a cat fight?

You have probably seen a cat fight while strolling on the streets with your friends and hearing people saying “leave them, let them fight”.

Kenya Moore’s Statement
During the taping of the Reunion Episode for the Real Housewives of Atlanta, I was violently attacked by Porsha Williams. The episode, which aired tonight, Sunday, April 20, 2014, was taped in front of an audience of over 50 people, which included cast, crew, guests and executives, who served as witnesses. I called 911 to report the incident. The Atlanta police conducted an independent investigation, which included viewing the raw footage of the incident. As a result, Porsha Williams was charged with battery. The authorities will decide her fate, not me.

There are many inflammatory statements made by cast members to and about each other particularly during the reunion tapings. Many have made untrue, denigrating, disparaging, and inflammatory statements against me in an attempt to provoke me, but I have never reacted in a violent way. My intellect and my brain are my most powerful weapons—not my fists. If people get so angry that they lose control and admittedly “black out” and resort to violence, those persons must be held responsible for their actions. Being a cast member on a reality show does not absolve people of their rights.

After being repeatedly attacked by an abusive boyfriend at the age of 17, if someone puts their hands on me, I will not just let it go. With that said, I sought self-defense training developed for the Israeli military. I’ve also been trained in weapons. I can take someone down in three moves. It took discipline for me not to respond in kind. As violent responses escalate, they can quickly result in severe injury or even death.

Being the second Black woman to be crowned Miss USA, there are little girls who look up to me. I would never want those girls, my nieces, or my future children to see me fighting anyone. That’s the lesson we should all want to send, especially to young people—that no matter how angry someone makes you feel by what they say to or about you, violence is never an option. #stoptheviolence.