Sports aren’t that complicated Simone…

A few Public Relations teams are running around putting fires out this week, huh? Everyone and their mother is aware of the back-and-forth between former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines and former Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. In the words of every child, she started it! Wait, that doesn’t really clarify anything. Factually, Simone started it then Riley jumped in to defend herself. The most recent thing I read was from Simone where she said these are “sensitive, complicated issues.” Umm. OK? A lot of people are seeing right through her PR-prepared statement and disagree about the complexity of the situation. In men’s sports, men play. In women’s sports, women play. There. Now it’s all untangled.

Simone was once a beloved figure of the American work ethic, a championing voice for women and sports but her image cracked a little last year when she publicly called on Biden to “make some things shake” as he prepared to leave office. *Eye roll* She exposed herself as someone who has a lot of muscle but not a lot of original ideas. Now with the unprovoked blasting of Riley Gaines, Simone is turning into a villain. From being body-shamed to body-shaming. I guess we can say we’ve lived long enough to see the hero become the villain.

The people on her PR team are about to earn every dollar they make.

And then there’s Michael Tait, the guy from Newsboys and DCTalk. He recently confessed (after being found out) to some unsavory behavior– to put it lightly. His public image will never be what it once was. His hidden activities coming to light reminds me of a couple of other people: Comedian John Crist and also Elvis Presley. John’s character trajectory is kind of like Michael Tait’s. A big story coming out, he apologizes, gets help, etc. John is further along in the recovery stage, of course, since his dark side was exposed a couple of years ago. Both accusations of John and Michael are terrible, I want to start there. Nothing they did was beneficial to really anyone involved, and a lot of people close to the stories were hurt (or so I assume). But because both guys are Christians, there is an almost unspoken belief that they’re living “above reproach.” Had any other person not known for being a Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, etc, done what these guys have confessed to, it would be called… Tuesday. In fact, I’d say most people in the entertainment industry partake in the same thing, probably even today while I was writing this post!

Obviously, there is a need to comfort the victims who didn’t consent to what went on behind closed doors, do our best to help them recover and regain a zest for life, as well as love (which covers a multitude of sins) the sinner. After all, are any of us really good anyway?

Elvis. He was on drugs, sleeping around, and doing who knows what with who knows who. I wasn’t alive back then but I imagine if the culture was anything like it is right now, he’d have to go on a big apology tour, admit he’s a terrible human being, and withdraw into the shadows of society never to be seen again. Wait, maybe that’s what he did. People do claim they see him around. #ElvisSightings

We need to show each other grace. Justice when it’s needed, of course, but remember we’re all in this together. You have your background and opinion on things, as does the person next to you. They may agree with you, they may not. You may love what I wrote today or you may hate it. Actually, if you loved it chip in $2 and if it ticked you off, donate just $1. I’ll use this as an unofficial poll. 🙂

-Out of the Wilderness