Serena Williams apologises after comment

[ismnotwasm]

Serena Williams apologises after comment that rape victim 'shouldn't have put herself in that position'


Williams, 31, whose multi-million dollar endorsement deals with brand such as Nike could have been threatened by the PR disaster, faced an immediate backlash from fans on Twitter.

The responses included: "@serenawilliams you lost many fans with you nasty comments about a young lady who was raped. Shame"

Williams, who was awarded the top seeding at Wimbledon on Wednesday, released a statement on her apologising for the controversial comments. "What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me," she said. "I was deeply saddened.

"For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved - that of the rape victim and of the accused.

"I am currently reaching out to the girl's family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written - what I supposedly said - is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame."

Williams added: "I have fought all of my career for women's equality, women's equal rights, respect in their fields - anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen-year-old child."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/serena-williams-apologises-after-comment-that-rape-victim-shouldnt-have-put-herself-in-that-position-8664998.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Damn, Serena...

She's not stupid, but, man that was a DUMB thing to say.

[arcane1]

2. "what I supposedly said"?

[ismnotwasm]

3. Yeah, she fucked up

The article implies she could lose endorsements, so she's back-pedaling. What concerns me, is her concern for those rapists and none, apparently, for the girl in her original comments. And what's being a virgin have to do with anything?

[Sheldon Cooper]

4. Wow, that thread in GD. What a sickening thing to behold.

I got the link to it from another thread, because I have that particular OP on ignore. I can't believe my eyes sometimes.

[ismnotwasm]

5. I didn't even open it

In fact I think I trashed it the moment I saw it.

[Sheldon Cooper]

6. Smart move.

[ismnotwasm]

7. Another bloggers comments

Serena Williams’ Comments Hurt Me But Don’t Surprise Me; And That Hurts Even More

Like so many people, especially Black women that I talk to, I am devastated and disgusted by Serena Williams’ comments regarding the Steubenville rapists and the victim blaming she engaged in towards the survivor. I just finished celebrating her glorious win and 16th Grand Slam title and her many accomplishments throughout her lifetime and to hear this news made me literally physically sick. My stomach and chest started to ache yesterday. They still do. Here is what she said:

Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don’t know. I’m not blaming the girl, but if you’re a 16-year-old and you’re drunk like that, your parents should teach you: don’t take drinks from other people. She’s 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn’t remember? It could have been much worse. She’s lucky. Obviously I don’t know, maybe she wasn’t a virgin, but she shouldn’t have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that’s different.

Because rape culture is endemic to our society, both men and women blame women, not the rapists, for rape. (When men are victims, people also blame the men or make jokes as well. For men, it is suggested that they were not “man enough” to fight off the rapist [patriarchy is the culprit here]; for women, our very character and worthiness as human beings goes on trial by the public and in the courts.) People laugh at rape jokes, defend rapists, blame victims and compared to any other crime, do not take this one seriously. Most people still do not understand what rape culture is, and immediately retreat to wardrobe and behavior critiques of the survivor in order to exonerate the rapist.

However, Serena’s comment goes beyond the “what was she wearing” blame that is common. She used the word “lucky.” Lucky? Under what circumstance is rape now luck simply because “it could have been worse?” Who are we to decide what is “worse?” Many women are raped and the rapists are not extremely physically violent nor leave physical bruises. The women are still rape survivors. They still were violated. First street harassment is a “compliment,” domestic violence is just “putting a woman in her place” and now rape is a “gift?” Luck? To even suggest so is rape culture.

http://www.gradientlair.com/post/53365334739/serena-williams-outrageous-victim-blaming

[geek tragedy]

8. Given Williams's bullying of line judges--including at least one threat of violence--

I can't say I was surprised to hear her say this. Bullies stick together.

[nomorenomore08]

9. What the hell is people's problem? Why can't we just say it's WRONG - period - and leave it at that?

I can, and I'm certainly nobody special. But people just have endless rationalizations for this shit - maybe some simply want to believe that it can't happen to them, or to somebody they care about.

And calling the victim an "innocent child" just makes it even worse. Almost as if implying that, if she weren't "innocent," then she got what she deserved.

[ismnotwasm]

10. That's a good point

I was talking about this with my husband, and he certainly wasn't blaming her, but thought she 'might have a drinking problem because people don't understand alcoholism'' thinking she might need help in that area and in response to Williams comments.

No, she had a getting raped problem. Anything, and I mean anything else is a distant second.

He understands what I mean and agrees, but it's was interesting how even his mind went sideways on this issue, and he's a woman loving and a woman respecting man. One of the reasons why I fell I love with him and have 21 years going strong with him.