The past week has featured a bevy of big names behaving badly. Let’s review:
Rep. Joe Wilson screams “You Lie!” at President Barack Obama as the president outlines his plans for health care reform.
Result:
The House of Representatives votes to formally rebuke Wilson’s outburst, but the vote is split along party lines. The GOP dismisses the formal rebuke as a partisan ploy and Wilson refuses to apologize for the incident any further.
Serena Williams screamed profanities and threatened the line judge at the U.S. Open semi-final after the judge called a foot fault on Serena during a match against Kim Clijsters. Clijsters would go on to win the match on the penalty point Williams received after her outburst.
Result:
After losing the match, Serena seemed less than contrite in her first interview immediately following. But later, Williams insisted that she was sorry and that she never threatened the line judge. The situation is pending further review.
After country singer Taylor Swift wins the MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video, rapper Kanye West hijacks her acceptance speech—grabbing the microphone from the stunned 19-year-old and screaming that “Beyoncé [who was also nominated in the same category] had one of the greatest videos of all time!” West had been drinking heavily throughout the night and was subsequently asked to exit the premises.
Result:
The backlash against West was swift. Fellow artists such as Pink and Katy Perry took turns criticizing the rapper, his Twitter page was flooded with angry (and racist) postings and even President Obama was caught calling West a “jackass.” Kanye promptly apologized to Swift on his blog and on Jay Leno’s talk show, blaming the outburst on his still unresolved emotional issues following his mother’s untimely passing last year.
NBA legend Michael Jordan, upon his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, turned his acceptance speech into a diatribe against everyone that he perceived had slighted him throughout his long and illustrious career. He blasted former teammates, coaches, rivals, executives, sports reports, friends and foes — even the guy who was picked ahead of him for the varsity basketball team when Jordan was a high school sophomore. Jordan even flew the guy up for the ceremony, just so he could roast him.
Result:
The most immediate effect was the realization by the media and fans that behind the likeable persona was a truly petty and vindictive man. Granted, that type of personality is what drove him to greatness, but it also drives home how small the biggest star in basketball can be.
The flurry of loose lips raises the question: Is civility dead? We should be allowed to voice our opinions — that is free speech after all. But having the freedom to say what you want doesn’t mean one can speak without repercussions. The speech may be free, but the consequences can be verycostly. –todd williams
