"In the west, adultery isn't punished by stoning. Instead, the press will kick you until you beg for forgiveness."
The Guardian report makes an interesting point, with the above headline.
Our media appears to be nothing short of delighted when a "celebrity" transgresses what the media decides is the law of morality that should apply. Take the examples of:
John Terry: it appears there was a clear apology
Tiger Woods: a public (why public?) apology
Vernon Kay (who is he, by the way?): he apologised for sending a flirty text message to a Page 3 girl.
Adultery can cause some very unpleasant side effects:
1. A divorce on the grounds of adultery, the divorce settlement and the legal costs that come with it
2. If you are Vernon Kay, a possible divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaiour
3. The West's version of a public stoning; a public humiliation. In that respect I will leave the final wording to the Guardian:
Terry paid the price for that daft super-injunction: he was publicly tarred and feathered. As was Woods. As was Kay. In the west, adultery isn't punishable by stoning. Instead, if you're famous (and even if you've only committed virtual adultery by text) it's punishable by kicking. Step out of line and the press will encircle and kick you. And kick you and kick you and kick you until you beg for forgiveness. At which point, if you're lucky, they'll chortle and sneer and move on. They must be frightfully proud.
(Charlie Brooker, The Guardian 22/2/10)
Can those involved please resolve these issues without the rest of us having to be told the details when we've just had our breakfast?!
Andrew Woolley
Divorce Solicitor