Daily Show’s Jessica Williams: Stop Telling Me to Lean In

Daily Show correspondent Jessica Williams doesn’t need anybody else telling her what is right for her and she wants to make it clear she most certainly does not have “imposter syndrome.” 

When fans suggested Williams replace Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, she responded by saying she was “under-qualified” and “super not right” for the job. Then, a Billfold writer wrote an article claiming Williams was “the latest high-profile victim of imposter syndrome.”

The writer defines imposter syndrome as a “well-documented phenomenon in which men look at their abilities vs the requirements of a job posting and round up, whereas women do the same and round down, calling themselves ‘unqualified.'” She suggested Williams has a “total lack of understanding of her own self-worth” and just needed a “pep talk.”

Williams responded:

@shorterstory @TheBillfold This is incredibly insulting.— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory @TheBillfold Because of my choice, you have diagnosed me with something without knowing me at all. For the world to see.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory @TheBillfold Because you have personally decided, that I DON’T know myself- as a WOMAN you are saying that I need to lean in.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory @TheBillfold Are you unaware, how insulting that can be for a fully functioning person to hear that her choices are invalid?

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory If I wanted my personal choices for myself deemed invalid, I’d go to a mysoginist. This, quite honestly, hurt my feelings.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory @TheBillfold Also don’t call me a “victim”? How can you call me a “victim” for making a choice for myself. I’m sorry but how?

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory Is it possible that I know &love myself enough to admit what Im not ready for?W/out regard to what other people want me to be?

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

@shorterstory I am a black woman and I am a feminist and I am so many things. I’m truly honored that people love my work.But I am not yours.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

No offense, but Lean the Fuck away from me for the next couple of days. I need a minute.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

The Billfold article now has an addendum and apology from the writer at the bottom:

“I apologize for being insensitive here. I should have underlined that of course the choice belongs only to Williams. If she had said, ‘I don’t want the job,’ I would have left it there. Her saying ‘I’m not qualified’ is what intrigued me, especially since I’ve read so much about Impostor Syndrome lately and that’s so often the language women use,” wrote Ester Bloom.

When Time magazine wrote about Williams’ interaction on Twitter, the article’s headline suggested her tweets were intended toward her fans. “Jessica Williams fires back at fans who want her to replace Jon Stewart,” read the headline.

@tcberenson @TIMECulture I love Time. But this was not at “fans.” This is out of context and of a much of a larger issue in feminism.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015

Time has since changed the headline of the article to “Jessica Williams Says She’s ‘Underqualified’ to Host The Daily Show.” Williams has pinned her “I am not yours” tweet to the top of her Twitter page.

I am a black woman and I am a feminist and I am so many things. I am truly honored that people love my work. But I am not yours.

— Jessica R. Williams (@msjwilly) February 17, 2015