Serena Williams apologized
Wednesday for her controversial
comments to Rolling Stone about a
highly publicized rape case in
Steubenville, Ohio.
"What happened in Steubenville was
a real shock for me," Williams said in
a statement released on her
website. "I was deeply saddened. For
someone to be raped, and at only
sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy!
For both families involved — that of
the rape victim and of the accused. I
am currently reaching out to the
girl's family to let her know that I am
deeply sorry for what was written in
the Rolling Stone article.
What was written — what I supposedly said — is insensitive and
hurtful, and I by no
means would say or insinuate that
she was at all to blame.
"I have fought all of my career for
women's equality, women's equal
rights, respect in their fields —
anything I could do to support
women I have done. My prayers and
support always goes out to the rape
victim. In this case, most especially,
to an innocent sixteen year old child."
In March, two Steubenville High
School football players were
convicted of raping a drunken 16- year-old girl.
One defendant was
sentenced to at least one year in juvenile detention and the other
received at least two years. In a profile in the July 4 issue of
Rolling
Stone, Williams questioned the
victim's judgment in allowing
herself to be put in such a dangerous
situation. From Stephen Rodrick's
story, which came from shadowing
Williams for a day in Florida three months ago:
We watch the news for a while, and the infamous Steubenville
rape case flashes on the TV –
two high school football players
raped a drunk 16-year-old,
while other students watched
and texted details of the crime. Serena just shakes her head.
"Do you think it was fair, what
they got? They did something
stupid, but I don't know. I'm not
blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like
that, your parents should teach you: Don't take drinks from other
people. She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember?
It could
have been much worse.
She's lucky. Obviously, I don't know,
maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself
in that position, unless they
slipped her something, then
that's different."
The 16-time Grand Slam champion also talks to the magazine about her
career ("When I stop playing, it's not
going to be because I'm sick of
playing. It's going to be because I'm sick of practicing") and Sloane
Stephens ("I don't know where all that mentor stuff came from. I am
definitely not that girl's mentor") and takes what the author presumes
is a veiled shot at Maria Sharapova
("There are people who live, breathe and dress tennis. I mean seriously,
give it a rest.").
But Williams' Steubenville comments have generated the most attention,
sparking a social-media firestorm
after Deadspin first published
excerpts of the story Tuesday.
Williams is the defending champion
at Wimbledon, which begins
Monday.
I think I know what Serena was trying to say and it makes perfect
sense, why was a 16 year old drinking in the 1st place? Not to say she
is to blame for being raped.
Her parents should blame themselves for not teaching her about the
danger's of alcohol. Serena's commemt could help a lot of other young
girls who drink to the point where they can't remember their names.
She probably consented and does even know it. I do feel sorry for her
but at the same time I just want to like ask her some really tough
questions.
Hopefully people learn from this.
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