Millions of us get our names mispronounced every day on class rosters, before interviews, in doctors’ office waiting rooms—but imagine the whole world mispronouncing your name and not even asking if they’re getting it right.
This is the waking nightmare that Chrissy Teigen has been living for years, as she revealed through a series of tweets today. I know how you read that in your head, now try again: Chrissy Tie-gen. What?
word! gave up a long time ago. last name is tie-gen not tee-gen https://t.co/M9EvS9pTrW
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 17, 2018
But wait, haven’t I heard her say Chrissy TEE-gen before?
I know. I even correct people when they say it correctly. it’s all v effed up https://t.co/aJkweIiL7H
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 17, 2018
But why would she do this? She’s a famous, powerful, badass lady! Why wouldn’t she redirect people to say her name correctly?
I don’t correct people, ever. They can call me Janet and I won’t. Wrong order? I’ll eat it. Taxi going to the wrong airport? I’ll change my flight. https://t.co/eSZDvKRaRK
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 17, 2018
Eh, I don’t believe it. This is all a hoax. There’s no way that Chrissy Tie-gen would just live with her truth in the shadows. Besides, she’s a jokester on Twitter. I would need proof from another source, maybe someone else in her family, in order to believe it’s true.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 17, 2018
Oh. Her mom says so? Yeah, okay. I believe it.
This entire discussion comes to light after the hosts of the Kyle and Jackie O Show discovered that Ariana Grande had been allowing the world to butcher the proper pronunciation of her last name, too.
i was today years old when i found out how to actually pronounce Ariana Grande’s name 🤥 pic.twitter.com/24caB2aoiP
— Rosie (@0hkatie) September 13, 2018
Ariana GRANDY. Who would’ve thought?
I don’t know if the media and the world will actually change the way they pronounce either Ariana or Chrissy’s names. It’s easy to be set in our ways after a first impression. (Or first thousand.)
Let’s pledge to do our best to acknowledge the proper pronunciation of people’s names and not looking collectively like the substitute teacher from that one Key and Peele sketch.