Textbook Manipulator
I just wanted to break down the interactions with Drunk Danny in the latest episode because they are such textbook emotional abuse and manipulation.
Alcohol does not CREATE a framework of behaviour like this, it exists already. I think Danny loves leaving the “Daddy Danny” role bc he craves the “Drunk Danny” freedom to say and do whatever he wants. The recovery process also gets easier and easier now that he has successfully scapegoated Janet (tale as old as time) and the cast is all so flawed he can easily round up supporters who will go to bat for him (Kristen. girl.)
The first interaction plays out like a generic article about emotional abuse. Here are all the ways he shuts down their convo:
- it’s a competition. he’s super competitive.
- he was joking
- Lala isn’t a serious enough person to say that to him (her opinion is not valid)
- “you don’t have to raise your voice” x3 (policing the tone instead of hearing the message)
- “I apologized, give me a break” (insincere and actually aggressive)
- gets up and leaves, and stops responding (stonewalling, silent treatment, etc)
Then, after grabbing another beer and aggressively smacking Zach’s fake boob (god I’ve seen that look on a man too many times when it was my boob)… she asks him to take the lashes off:
- he immediately starts with “I can’t believe you said that to me“ once alone (the punishment cycle starts again, how dare you confront me) “I would have NEVER said that to you” (this is his attempt to escalate and turn the blame on Nia.)
She then refuses to take her mic off when they’re going to bed bc it’s a form of protection, LETS BE REAL. Every single reminder that they are mic’d was her managing his reputation but also managing her own safety.
The next morning (she has been managing him like a child for almost a full day at this point) she apologizes for picking tHe wRoNg tImE to sit him down and talk.
He doubles down on it being all about competition and apologizes “sincerely” but without making ANY changes whatsoever. He does the same with LaLa and then immediately contradicts himself in confessional to say she was out of line.
I don’t have access to WWHL bc I’m in Canada and Hayu seems to be out their license… so any after show context appreciated