Serena Williams, Colin Kaepernick + 3 More Sports Star Scandals That Kind of Spoiled Their Reputation
Sports stars are also celebrities, that’s why they are unable to avoid the loud scandals. Some of them related to misunderstanding, love affairs, or politics.
See more on Nexter.org.
Serena Williams
On September 8, 36-year-old Williams could win US Open final, but she received a fine for the rude talk with the coach, then she began to argue with the judge and broke the tennis racket. Consequently, Naomi Osaka won the match and Serena Williams accused the judge of sexism.
Artist Mark Knight published a cartoon of Serena Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos at the US Open final in Australian newspaper The Herald Sun. It intended to be a funny image of a series tennis player who behaved inappropriately, but people started calling it racist and sexist.
“This is what Australia does,” said Shareena Clanton, an Aboriginal Australian actress and activist. “This is what it has always done to people of color and, in particular, black women who reach the top.”
“This whole cartoon is vile,” she added. “The fact that it was printed and passed the editor’s room speaks even more volumes about the landscape of our media here in Australia.”
Colin Kaepernick
The unsigned quarterback who took a knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality is the star of Nike’s new campaign.
He shared an image on his Twitter Monday of a close-up of his face with the words: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Nike’s Twitter account later retweeted his post.
Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018
Nike announced on Monday that American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the star of its 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign.
Kaepernick, 30, who took a knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality last played in the NFL in 2016.
Kaepernick’s protest sparked other athletes to follow suit and outrage from NFL owners, sports fans, and from President Trump. During a rally in Alabama in 2017, Trump told supporters he’d love to see an NFL owner say, “get that son of a bitch off the field right now” and fire any player who refuses to stand during the national anthem.
Source: John Bazemore / AP
And while Nike’s decision to feature Kaepernick in its latest campaign was celebrated by many, others were outraged, posting videos and photos on social media of Nike products being cut up, burned, or destroyed.
First the @NFL forces me to choose between my favorite sport and my country. I chose country. Then @Nike forces me to choose between my favorite shoes and my country. Since when did the American Flag and the National Anthem become offensive? pic.twitter.com/4CVQdTHUH4
— Sean Clancy (@sclancy79) September 3, 2018
Tiger Woods
The golf star Tiger Woods reportedly had a mistress, a nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel, in November 2009. He accidentally left a message to the mistress which was soon revealed.
After this, a lot of other women claimed they had an affair with Tiger Woods. This led to a divorce with his wife Elin Nordegren in August 2010.
Source: NY Daily News
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona is an Argentine retired professional footballer and is widely recognized around the world. However, it was his addiction to cocaine which ruined his career.
Maradona even underwent some health problems at a young age and rehabilitation.
Source: Hindustan Times
Wayne Rooney
Former England football player, Wayne Rooney, reportedly paid $1500 to prostitute Jenny Thompson during the time his wife Coleen Rooney was pregnant.
It became one of the loudest scandals among the Manchester United players.
Source: Daily Star
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