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Words. It has the power to manipulate the way an issue is portrayed. Words can determine whether a person is in an entanglement or a relationship. So what is it that determines the words we use when writing about an issue?
Recently, Ryan Giggs, manager of the Wales football team, was arrested under the suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, Kate Greville, of three years, and while this man has indeed been caught for his act of crime, recent reports seem to be more focused on ensuring that the public remembers his greatness.
The media is careful to put “Wales manager and Manchester United great” in front of Giggs’ name; and amidst the reports of his action, his legacy is not left behind. Readers are made aware of his RM9 million mansion, his co-ownership of Hotel Football, his romantic gesture of “whisking” Greville to Italy just eight months since their courtship and not to forget his “stellar playing career.”
One can wonder whether his heinous action has been downplayed behind all the ‘greatness’ the media is packing in.
For someone who is unfamiliar with Ryan Giggs, it is easy to dismiss this crime as a potential slip-up, considering all the wonderful achievement he has accomplished which has been highlighted. Yet, it has not been mentioned that this is Giggs’ second strike with a scandal, with the first being the affair he had with his brother’s wife ten years ago.
One could say that it is not fair to bring up Giggs’ the past as he has already apologized and worked things out with the involved party. However, we have seen the effects of the media if the scandal was by a woman in her industry.
Not too long ago, Jada Pinkett Smith opened up to her husband on her talk show Red Table Talk about her relationship with singer August Alsina while she and Smith were separated. Rest assured that the media was not concerned about Jada’s success.
While the couple has mentioned countless of times that their relationship has only grown within this issue, most articles were still focusing in on how much she “didn’t want to marry Will in the first place”, that she was going through “a hard time with the marriage”, that the couple “no longer wishes to be called husband and wife”, and most importantly, how good Will Smith is for being extremely accepting. Note that none of what has been said paints a positive picture for Jada.
So what is it that makes Ryan Giggs’ scandal any different from Jada Smith’s? Why do we use words that are uplifting for Giggs, but subduing for Jada?
Both extremely successful individuals in their respective fields, both involved in a scandal. So why the different perspectives?
