Graeme Smith – fresh meat for the media beast

 

GS

Prevailing wisdom dictates that if you’re in the public eye, you’re fair game for whatever mud the media might throw at you.

It’s based on the false premise that because you live a public life, whether willingly or not, you somehow waive your rights to privacy. We’re all invited in, whether you like it or not.

This is hogwash and the latest Graeme Smith headlines go to the heart of it.

One line in Smith’s media release, issued in defence of accusations by his estranged wife Morgan Deane, captures the very dilemma he finds himself in.

“While many in the media may consider this to be a form of entertainment for their readers, I would like to assure the South African public that I consider this to be in supremely bad taste,” said Smith on Monday.

South Africa’s strict laws on reporting on divorces – the SA Divorce Act prohibits the media from publishing the names of the parties involved in divorce proceedings – are moot in this particular case. As a sports attorney pointed out, Deane made the issue public in newspapers and via social media.

The media, ever hungry for scandal, lapped it up. Famous cricketer + aspirant pop star + wild allegations = newspaper sales. Fresh meat for the media beast.

I won’t comment on the merits of Deane’s accusations, or Smith’s defence, except to say that there’s something unseemly and distasteful about the media’s prurient obsession with the pending divorce.

He’s a big boy and can handle the slings and arrows that come his way when he steps out of line, but he shouldn’t have to defend to any of us his qualities as a father and provider – even if Deane put it out there.

He has broad shoulders and years of dealing with the media and public equipped him with a thick skin.

Even so, I’m sure Smith is torn by recent events. Divorce is hell, particularly when children are involved, but to endure it through the prism of South Africa’s tabloid mentality and obsession with celebrity makes it worse.

It’s small consolation to Smith that the media train will soon move along in pursuit of its next quarry.

He’ll be on his own picking up the pieces.

 

One thought on “Graeme Smith – fresh meat for the media beast

  1. While Morgan’s feeling may be valid especially if heraccusations are true I agree that social media is not the platform to address this. The courts are at your disposal… Use them! However to paint Smith in the light of some victim at the hands of the media when he openly shared his his relationship with Deane and the births of their children in print and social media is is ridiculous. If you truly value your privacy you behavior should be consistent with that.

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