Melissa Etheridge Stands by Her Comments on Angelina Jolie’s Surgery

Melissa Etheridge called Angelina Jolie ?fearful? for undergoing preventative breast cancer surgery. But, says her statement has been mischaracterized by the press. Image by Getty Images

By Anne Cohen June 20, 2013

Melissa Etheridge’s comments that Angelina Jolie’s preventive mastectomy was “fearful” have brought the singer-songwriter some bad press. Nevertheless, Etheridge stands by her words.

In a statement made to ABC news, Etheridge stood by what she told the Washington Blade last week, adding that she wasn’t criticizing the actress’ choice but rather the way it has been characterized in the media.

“I don’t have any opinion of what she ‘should have’ done. All are free to choose. I only objected to the term ‘brave’ describing it,” Etheridge said in a statement to ABC News.

Etheridge, 52, herself a breast cancer survivor, told the Washington Blade that she would encourage people to consider all options before rushing into a mastectomy. “I have that gene mutation too and (preventive mastectomy) is not something I would believe in for myself,” Etheridge said. “I wouldn’t call it the brave choice. I actually think it’s the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer.”

Though Jolie has not responded to the comments, Brad Pitt, a longtime friend of Etheridge’s, was taken aback.

“Melissa’s an old friend of mine,” Pitt told US Magazine during a red carpet event in New York City on June 17. “I’m sure we’ll talk on the phone.”

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO