Serena Williams got caught up talking about a subject that you can only have one type of public opinion on. She's quoted saying the victim in the Steubenville rape case "shouldn't have put herself in that position," while also saying she wasn't "blaming the girl," which led to her issuing a statement to backtrack those comments attributed to her in a recent Rolling Stone article.
Here's the thing. It's impossible to dispute her point that a 16-year-old girl shouldn't be in a position of being incoherently drunk to where she can't remember things that happen. Actually, nobody should, even if that type of experience is romanticized in some circles.
But you can't be possibly the greatest female athlete in the world (and of the generation), and come off as critical of a high-profile rape victim. Everything is political now. Nevermind if Serena has a point and qualifies her statement by saying "I'm not blaming the girl." That's an unacceptable opinion when it's transcribed into the cyberspace.
Here's Serena's statement, via ESPN.com:
"What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only 16, 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 16-year-old child."
Still, with Father's Day and Mother's Day just barely past us, parents could stand to deliver a similar message, both to the potential rape victim and offender. If you're out with your friends having a good time, do that. But don't find yourself in that situation. After all we saw from the Steubenville trial, only a politically motivated narrative could diminish that point.
