Mass. Sorry for Tweeting 'Sexual Assault is Always Avoidable'
Tweet sparked anger about victim-blaming.
April 1, 2014— -- Mass. officials are in hot water after an offensive tweet about sexual assault was sent from a government Twitter account.
“Sexual assault is always avoidable,” read the tweet, posted Wednesday night by the account @MassGov.
It was later deleted.
It linked to more information about sexual assault prevention, but critics say the message was poorly worded, calling it “disgusting” and “disappointing” on social media.
Some suggested the tweet was equal to victim-blaming.
“The only person to blame for rape is the rapist,” one woman wrote on Twitter.
Officials issued an apology and explanation today.
“In this instance, the author of the sexual assault awareness tweet did not send this tweet to the editorial gatekeeper for review, and instead scheduled the tweet independently,” Geoffrey Kula, director of Mass.gov, said in a statement.
Kula said the tweet’s author had no malicious intent and will be participating in sexual assault awareness training.
The misstep came at the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, April, and as the Obama administration amps up efforts to prevent rape and sex attacks on college campuses and in the military.
