I don’t know much about Candice Falzon apart from what has appeared in the press especially regrading the infamous incident with Sonny Bill Williams last year (Google will turn up more than enough stories on this). But on Australian Story last night, the picture of Candice was far from the man-hunting, floozy that some sections of the media, notably the Daily Telecrap make her out to be.
Falzon has obviously made some dumb choices, not unlike many of us may have made flush with the folly of youth and excess alcohol. Luckily for us, we don’t promenade at A-list functions hence the cult of celebrity does not seem our indiscretions fit for tabloid fodder. Unfortunately, the excessive and skewed nature of the coverage (read some of the recent Telecrap stories on Falzon if you don’t believe me) illustrates an unfortunate double standard.
Falzon is not the only sporting star that does modelling to pay the bills. Titans back-rower, Daniel Conn has done some gigs on the side. Like Falzon, Conn has also had some high-profile dalliances. Yet, while Falzon is painted as a man-stealing lush, a media article on Conn mentions his adventures with admiration:
He is a football socialite, the modelling gigs making him an occasional part of the A List scene. But he says if he had a choice he would rather be heading bush in a ute with his mates from Dubbo.
He won’t deny the rumours involving Hollywood starlet Tara Reid and the even more curvaceous actress Gina Lynn. (What young bloke would.)
The sexual prowess of the male athlete gets a free ride and a wink-wink-nudge-nudge approval yet the same traits in a female athlete is met with outrage and continued and disproportionate character attacks in the media. David Penberthy’s (the editor of the Telecrap) disingenuous justifications for reporting on Falzon’s life was some of the slimiest excuses I have ever witnessed.
It is obvious that sections of the media to persue agendas, often beyond the point of rationality. Falzon is not a saint, but the attacks on her in the media and the derogatory comments left in comments on such stories beggar belief. It is an illustration of the double standards that women sporting identities still need to cope with if they excel in their sports.
7 responses so far ↓
gilmae // Jun 10, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Wayne Carey
Shaun // Jun 10, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I don’t buy the analogy. Carey shows there is tipping point but this is the result of a number of years of terrible and escalating bad behavior.
gilmae // Jun 11, 2008 at 9:54 am
I don’t think I buy the Daniel Conn analogy either. I think the difference between Conn and Falzon is that with Falzon there was a wronged woman for the media to hang sympathy on. Same again with Carey, and same again with Lara Bingle and…that other footballer whose name escapes me.
Anyway, Falzon and Williams getting caught out having their adventure in a pub toilet was what really allowed the press to paint it as sordid.
Shaun // Jun 11, 2008 at 10:10 am
The larger picture is the media’s (well basically the Daily Telecrap’s) portrayal of Falzon as well as public comments. yes, she does get to play the “wronged woman” but she has a fair grievance.
Conn’s adventures have been mentioned regularly (Danny Weilder espcially in his Sunday SMH column) in a totally different light than Falzon’s string of high profile boyfriends. Conn is portrayed as a stud, Flazon is regarded as a slut.
Carey is a totally different story. We aren’t talking about persistent bad behaviour, drug use and violence.
The topic on Insight last night was about whether the behaviour of sporting stars matters off the field. Some of the arguments do intersect with the who Falzon story but there is another angle, re social mores, I’m concerned with.
gilmae // Jun 11, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I actually meant Carey when his extra-marital affair first came to light; although, I’ll allow that just because I had never heard much about him before that doesn’t mean nobody else had.
Anyway, what are you going to do tonight after NSW has been held scoreless?
Shaun // Jun 11, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I had not idea who Carey was either. I wonder what Victorians knew about him before the affair came to light.
I think you have a typo in the last sentence. I’m sure you meant QLD.
Francis Xavier Holden // Jun 11, 2008 at 11:53 pm
If it helps I’d never heard of Carey until he was caught cutting a mate’s lunch. I haven’t heard of any of those you mention above until now.
And I wonder how ever I got to a sport site. I’ll go and have a shower.