I haven’t really been paying much attention to the media lately, however this morning on my way out the door for an early swim I was captivated by the Kobe Bryant story. The extra-marital whatever and the rape charge did not interest me as much as the “leak” regarding the accuser’s name. Some radio guy what they call a ‘shock jock’ announced the woman’s name across the airwaves. I smell a civil suit coming on …
Those of you who have called before or just like to visit the site (you really should call …I won’t bite unless…) know that I am really into the privacy thing. What we do together on a telephone call is between you and me. No one else.
Even though this rape accusation involves a celebrity it is a private affair. The accused and the accuser will have their day in court. And if he’s guilty it will be all over the media, and if he’s not guilty if will be on page 32 in the Times. No one will care and the Kobster will always be remembered as the guy who was accused of rape.
Was the radio guy wrong for broadcasting the alleged victim’s name? Probably. Should the victim have a right to privacy? Maybe. But let’s not kid ourselves. Even though the newspapers and television stations have a no-name policy regarding alleged rape victims, as soon as the woman walked out of the police station everyone knew her name. Because she was allegedly raped? No. Because the alleged rapist is Kobe Bryant!
If she expected an inkling of privacy, then I would like some of what she’s drinking… wait she’s too young to drink… I would like some of those prescription drugs I read about (anti-depressants?) because keeping a story like this private would only be possible in Never Never Land. What I find disturbing is that rape is a serious crime. I know women who have been raped by family members, friends, ex-lovers, acquaintances and strangers. It is an event that is rarely forgotten and can only be survived with the help of a loving and caring support system of professionals and family members. Airing the crime in the public arena does far more damage than good. If the radio guy knew this then perhaps he would not have broadcasted the individual’s name coast to coast.
I doubt if we will ever know what really happened. Whether Kobe legally raped her remains to be seen. One thing is certain, she felt as if she had been violated. Her feelings were so strong that she filed a charge.
Whether the rape happened or not, Kobe Bryant was wrong for engaging in an extra-marital affair with a 19-year old teenager. This teen was wrong for allowing herself to be left alone with a strange man and not exercising better judgment. These are hard lessons to be learned.
Kobe will probably never be a superstar again and the girl has forever lost her innocence. I mentioned three wrongs. The radio guy …he better hope that the girl is a glory seeker as some have claimed because when the Kobe thing has been resolved someone is going to come after him and his station for violating the long-established no-name policy. Believe me, if I know these victim’s rights organizations this guy will be made an example of in case some other shock jock gets an idea to boost his ratings. Either way, the girl will have a fat check to comfort her through this ordeal.
Now let’s get back to the fun – Cheap Phone Sex with me, Cheryl
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