A pejorative term for calling out hypocrisy, used by people who believe their own actions should be immune to criticism. Chiefly (though not exclusively) used by Americans to stave off criticism of their country's domestic human or civil rights abuses, or aggression against other countries.
American: Russia must be severely punished for its crimes against Ukraine.
Russian: why should Russia be punished when America has been doing far worse in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria with impunity for decades?
American: That's whataboutism!
Russian: why should Russia be punished when America has been doing far worse in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria with impunity for decades?
American: That's whataboutism!
by Thorstein Shiver March 9, 2022
A term created by hypocrites in a pathetic attempt to dismiss/ discredit anyone who calls them out for their bullshit.
US Government: The actions of the Russian military in Ukraine are despicable and in violation of international law and basic human rights!
Rational person: But these are the same war crimes that the US military has been committing in the middle east for the last 30 years. Why didn't you care about international law and basic human rights when Uncle Sam was killing 380, 000 civilians during his war on terror?
US Government: That's whataboutism!
Rational person: But these are the same war crimes that the US military has been committing in the middle east for the last 30 years. Why didn't you care about international law and basic human rights when Uncle Sam was killing 380, 000 civilians during his war on terror?
US Government: That's whataboutism!
by Plonker69 August 10, 2022
Intelligent person: "Why do black people get away with racism and white people don't?, The media goes on a tizzy whenever a white person is racist to a black person, but not vise versa?"
Libtard- Nice whataboutism
Intelligent person: Why do women get away with hitting men, but when men hit women, the media and the public go crazy?"
Libtard: Very nice whataboutism.
Libtard- Nice whataboutism
Intelligent person: Why do women get away with hitting men, but when men hit women, the media and the public go crazy?"
Libtard: Very nice whataboutism.
by Rotten Turkey March 8, 2021
1.) An Individual who engages in Whataboutery: A propaganda technique where criticisms are deflected by raising corresponding criticisms of the opposite side.
2.) An individual who tries a "back door" defense of one's bad actions by framing a similar situation as alleged proof of a double-standard. With this they are attempting to provide a defense of the individual while at the same time, avoiding association with said bad action.
2.) An individual who tries a "back door" defense of one's bad actions by framing a similar situation as alleged proof of a double-standard. With this they are attempting to provide a defense of the individual while at the same time, avoiding association with said bad action.
Mike: I can't believe "Roseanne" was canceled for making racist statements while "The View" is still on the air. After all, they've said worse about Trump.
Dan: Stop being a Whatabouter.
Mike: But what about Whoopi!!?!?!?
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Judge: Mr. Ramapovich, this court having found you guilty of 1st degree murder of your ex-wife Suzanne, I hereby sentenced you to the term of Life in Prison without the possibility of parole . . .
Defendant: BUT WHAT ABOUT OJ!?????????
Dan: Stop being a Whatabouter.
Mike: But what about Whoopi!!?!?!?
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Judge: Mr. Ramapovich, this court having found you guilty of 1st degree murder of your ex-wife Suzanne, I hereby sentenced you to the term of Life in Prison without the possibility of parole . . .
Defendant: BUT WHAT ABOUT OJ!?????????
by nerdodamus June 14, 2018
Whataboutism- a made up word used to try to excuse democrats for any-and-everything negative that they have done in an attempt not to take any responsibility for their blatant hypocrisy while simultaneously attack their political opponents for lesser crimes in order clutch pearls in a fit of fake outrage.
ex
Rational Individual: "Hey man why are you so upset about Jan 6 when trump supporters only walked into a building waved American flags and broke a bench but BLM did 2 billion dollars of damages over 200 days and Kamala Harris encouraged them and Bailed out rioters ?
Brainwashed CNN Zombie: "That's whataboutism, we had to make up a fictional word to conceal and ignore and excuse our hypocrisy.
Rational Individual: " Oh I get it , you had to do this because there is no word that in the English language that exists that severs this function, as there shouldn't be!"
white privilege
Rational Individual: "Hey man why are you so upset about Jan 6 when trump supporters only walked into a building waved American flags and broke a bench but BLM did 2 billion dollars of damages over 200 days and Kamala Harris encouraged them and Bailed out rioters ?
Brainwashed CNN Zombie: "That's whataboutism, we had to make up a fictional word to conceal and ignore and excuse our hypocrisy.
Rational Individual: " Oh I get it , you had to do this because there is no word that in the English language that exists that severs this function, as there shouldn't be!"
white privilege
by Kid Gruesome October 30, 2021
When you deflect criticism by pointing out deficiencies in your critics, specifically using the phrase "what about x?"
Dad: "Your room is messy. Please clean it up."
You: "You've always been criticizing my room! What about YOUR room? Or what about mom? Shouldn't YOU be the one cleaning up you life?"
Dad: "Just clean your damn room. Damn whataboutism."
You: "You've always been criticizing my room! What about YOUR room? Or what about mom? Shouldn't YOU be the one cleaning up you life?"
Dad: "Just clean your damn room. Damn whataboutism."
by JohnW22 April 29, 2016
Person 1 (Citizen of Country 3) : Country 1 shouldn't invade Country 2.
Person 2: Country 3 (your country) has been doing it for years. In fact, it's the sole reason for it's entire existence.
Person 1: Whataboutism.
Person 2: Country 3 (your country) has been doing it for years. In fact, it's the sole reason for it's entire existence.
Person 1: Whataboutism.
by IG: 1dbtheplug April 1, 2022