espn - Jezebel

posts about #espn more →
Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Juggling Pregnancy & Career Without Dropping The Ball
Attendees At The ESPY Awards Play Ball With The Ugly
New DKNY Designer Rachel Bilson Can Neither Sketch Nor Sew
What If There Was An ESPN For Girls?
Ann Coulter Finally Explains What's Behind That Adam's Apple

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
07/26/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
"most girls would feel lucky to get to have sex with someone like Ben Roethlisberger."

Is this line or a variation thereof ever *not* used when anyone but a homeless elephant man is accused of rape? The expression 'rape isn't about sex' gets thrown around a lot, and it's true to some degree, but especially with this sort of case. Saying 'But he could have sex with anyone!' doesn't mean jack shit when he's not looking for sex, he's looking to dominate.
Reply

Pizza!Pizza!Pizza! was starred

whynotshesaid
07/25/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Looking at that picture, all I can say is that "lucky" is not the word I would describe myself as feeling after having sex with Roethlisberger. "Contaminated," yes, but "lucky," no.

That said, I am dreading the inevitable fallout from this, which will mostly consist of millions of rape-apologists screaming that this proves all women who say they are raped are really just lying sluts.
Reply

whynotshesaid was starred whynotshesaid was unstarred

suzannelb
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
"Most girls would feel lucky to get to have sex with someone like Ben Roethlisberger."

I'll pass*, thanks.

* -- poor attempt at QB-related humor
Reply

queenieinmanhattan promoted this comment suzannelb was starred suzannelb was unstarred

kookla
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
I think in retaliation, McNulty should release a statement saying she didn't expect to be sexually assaulted, especially by someone as fat and unattractive as Roethlisberger.
Reply

kookla was starred kookla was unstarred

embarcadero13
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
If he was a big scary Black man, and she was a lil' fragile white woman, I'm pretty sure I would have seen this covered on all news stations, even if ESPN did not.
Reply

JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing! promoted this comment embarcadero13 was starred embarcadero13 was unstarred

labeled
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Why would a hostess be called to fix a television? I really am just curious.

ETA: Would the casino host/ess just be the first line of CS for VIP's? It's my guess, but, I mean.. what in the hell is she going to do, and why would protocol have her going up there alone anyway?
Reply

Edited by labeled at 07/24/09 6:17 PM labeled was starred labeled was unstarred

formergr
07/24/09

@labeled: I read a more expanded description of what McNulty described as happening, and it said that Roethlingsberger earlier in the evening had met her at the front desk, and hit on her. Later, he called to ask for his tv to be fixed specifically by her.

The tech wasn't around, and her boss told her to take care of it because Roethlingsberger was his friend and a high-profile guest who should get special attention.
Reply

formergr was starred formergr was unstarred

labeled
07/24/09

@formergr: the FUCK?! That, I mean THAT is rape culture.
Reply

labeled was starred labeled was unstarred

LostTurntable
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Does she have any proof at all? Any? If she doesn't then this is another he-said she-said BS case that will get thrown out, make feminists look stupid, football fans look stupid and everyone else feel dirty.

If she can file a civil suit then she can also press for criminal charges. By going the civil route she looks like a cash grabber.
Reply

LostTurntable was starred LostTurntable was unstarred

stonebiscuit rolled a 1 on initiative
07/24/09

@LostTurntable: As I understand it, burden of proof is lessened in civil cases rather than criminal cases. I could be wrong, as INAL.

What proof would you have her offer, exactly?
Reply

Penny_Esq promoted this comment

Penny_Esq
07/24/09

@stonebiscuit is a ΓΔΙ: You're right. The burden of proof in a criminal case is "beyond a reasonable doubt," while in a civil case it's "preponderance of the evidence." The latter means the jury decides it's more than 50% likely the plaintiff's allegations are true. andBegorrah posted this downthread, but this link is a good one for explaining the differences between a criminal and a civil case, and why a rape victim might choose to pursue the latter.

http://yesmeansyesblog.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/why-the-charges-are-civil-and-why-that-doesnt-mean-shes-a-lying-golddigger/#more-609
Reply

Penny_Esq was starred Penny_Esq was unstarred

stonebiscuit rolled a 1 on initiative
07/26/09

@Penny_Esq: That's super helpful, thanks!
Reply

Sputnik_Sweetheart
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Am I reading that correctly and she was hospitalized for depression? Great. So now not only is her sexual history going to be scrutinized, but her medical history too. I can just hear it now: she's making it up because she's crazy!!!!! She was committed!!!!!

Ug.
Reply

Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred

kookla
07/24/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: They've been dragging her medical and dating history through the mud since this story broke.
Reply

kookla was starred kookla was unstarred

clevernamehere
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
I couldn't care less about ESPN covering this. They are supposed to cover sports, not crime or gossip. But it is pretty fishy that they're not covering it when they've covered similar cases.

I think both the accused and the accuser need to be protected by rape shield laws. Not because I think this guy's career is going to be seriously effected by this case (look at Kobe after all), but because it would tone down the crazy. Way to many men get all pissy about rape shield laws (never thinking their mom or sister could have been raped) and then photos of the accuser end up online in the interest of "fairness".

When Kobe Bryant was accused of rape, they didn't just post her picture online, people threatened to kill her (which is why she refused to cooperate with the criminal trial). Its really easy to throw stones and say this woman should go the criminal route, but once a few days have passed, its almost impossible. The civil route stays open and the burden of proof isn't as high. Plus, people are way less likely to try to kill you since the guy can't go to jail.
Reply

clevernamehere was starred clevernamehere was unstarred

whynotshesaid
07/25/09

@clevernamehere: Dude, the shit that happens in criminal rape trials is insane. We have a case here about a 13-year-old kid who was raped by four classmates in their middle-school locker room, and the defense attorneys are already telling the press they have no proof the rape ever happened and hence, that the boy must be lying to get revenge on the suspects. It's repulsive.
Reply

whynotshesaid was starred whynotshesaid was unstarred

rednrowdy
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone; especially Andrea McNulty.

aaaah. say no more. the girl must not be playboy centerfold/maxim covergirl hot, ergo of course ben wouldn't sexually assault her.

*headdesk*
Reply

rednrowdy was starred rednrowdy was unstarred

I, Zombie Normal
07/24/09

@rednrowdy: That argument is so vile. Remember Bob Packwood, from Oregon, I think a senator, whom was sued for sexual harassment in the 90's? His defenders openly claimed Packwood was innocent because all those women were "ugly," or overweight, and therefore no one in their right mind would sexualyl harass them. That just killed me. As if it's not about power, but about sexiness. Gah.
Reply

I, Zombie Normal was starred I, Zombie Normal was unstarred

emilyjbean
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
I guess my BIG problem with the whole thing is that she didn't (and still hasn't) pressed CRIMINAL charges.
Why not? Same media scrutiny.
Reply

clevernamehere promoted this comment emilyjbean was starred emilyjbean was unstarred

clevernamehere
07/24/09

@emilyjbean: The accuser can't press criminal charges, that's up the the DA.

She didn't go to the police in the first few days (at the advice of her employers). Bruises fade in a few days and physical evidence would be washed away in a single shower. There is no way she could have charges pressed this much later. The burden of proof and media scrutiny are much less for civil suits.
Reply

clevernamehere was starred clevernamehere was unstarred

Penny_Esq
07/24/09

@clevernamehere: See, e.g., OJ Simpson.
Reply

Penny_Esq was starred Penny_Esq was unstarred

cantankasaurus rex
07/24/09

@emilyjbean: well first of all, as someone else mentioned, that option is only available for a brief period of time. and the trauma of being raped, not to mention the shame, deter a large percentage of women from ever reporting their rapes.

more importantly, pressing criminal charges is often just an awful experience. most rapes are "he said/she said", even with dna evidence, because our society doesn't *really* view it as rape unless the woman has the physical appearance of having been beaten to within an inch of her life. and rape cases are notoriously hard to prosecute and win: the conviction rate is ridiculously low.
Reply

cate3710 promoted this comment cantankasaurus rex was starred

emilyjbean
07/24/09

Not true.

"Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Teresa Duffy said the accuser would have to file a criminal complaint to trigger an investigation into the incident the woman says occurred during a celebrity golf tournament last July while she was working as an executive VIP casino host at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

"The victim is the only one who can do that," Duffy told The Associated Press. "Unless there was a third party that actually witnessed the incident, which according to the civil case, was not the case here."
Reply

emilyjbean was starred emilyjbean was unstarred

bluebears
07/24/09

@emilyjbean: she can file a complaint all she wants, doesn't mean charges will ever be brought in a court of law.
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Penny
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
"Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone; especially Andrea McNulty."

That's just the grown up, violent equivalent of the boy on the schoolyard who kicks you and tells you you're ugly when you won't kiss him.
Reply

Penny was starred Penny was unstarred

CloudsInMyCoffee
07/24/09

@Penny: Ha! So true. Apparently the id never matures.
Reply

CloudsInMyCoffee was starred CloudsInMyCoffee was unstarred

badmutha
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Back this shit up. Her PARENTS gave a dude unrelated to her the keys to her house while she was in the hospital? Wha??? This is all messed up, from beginning to end and top to bottom.
Reply

badmutha was starred badmutha was unstarred

lilbobbytables
07/24/09

@badmutha: I agree that it is superduper effed up - but in defense of her parents, I can see that they would trust the security chief at her job, or at least believe that he had a valid reason to need access to her apartment. Still effed up, but I like to think that her parents at least had good intentions.
Reply

lilbobbytables was starred lilbobbytables was unstarred

bluebears
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
In the ESPN sucks vein, its now being suggested that the Erin Andrews tape might have been done by a fellow ESPN employee since they are the ones who have her itinerary and know where she's staying while on the road. Maybe its true maybe not, but an interesting theory with some weight to it.
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Pittsburghenne
07/24/09

In reply to Roethlisberger Accused Of Rape, ESPN Says Nothing: "That's Rape Culture"
Caveat: I'm one of those "rabid" Steelers fans to which you refer. Something else I am is curious as to why you seem to assume that McNulty is telling the truth and that Roethlisberger is guilty.

I find it just a mite suspicious that she didn't want to lose her job or bring attention to herself by reporting the alleged assault to the police (who have the sole ability to hold Roethlisberger criminally accountable), but she has no problem suing him and her employer for money damages.
Reply

ElleL promoted this comment Pittsburghenne was starred Pittsburghenne was unstarred

keldo
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: What intrigues me is the security chief breaking into her home and deleting files. THAT brings this to a whole other level. Somebody on his side of the story believes her claims.
Reply

keldo was starred keldo was unstarred

remedios
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: Where did they say they assumed that McNulty is telling the truth? This read more as a commentary on the culture than on the truth or falsity of the given case.
Reply

cate3710 promoted this comment remedios was starred remedios was unstarred

BrutallyHonestBabes (aka Mrs. Sarah.of.a.Lesser.Hobbit)
07/24/09

@keldo: Bingo. Plus, the criminal justice system is anything but most of the time regarding victims of rape.
Reply

Pittsburghenne
07/24/09

@keldo: That is an allegation in her complaint, not something that's been proven.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying I don't believe this happened, I just think it's fishy that she'd accept national attention attendant to the civil lawsuit but she didn't and still hasn't -the statute of limitations hasn't run - made a complaint to the police.
Reply

Pittsburghenne was starred Pittsburghenne was unstarred

precipice
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: I tend to believe women who accuse celebrity men of sexual assault because if they know that they'll be dragged through the mud and disparaged in the media and still go through with an accusation, there's probably some truth to the matter. Also, after working for an attorney who worked with athletes and on sexual assault cases, he told me that it's common for famous athletes to have a mentality of being able to do whatever they want, feeling like all women want them, and thinking they'll get away with stuff.
Reply

cate3710 promoted this comment precipice was starred precipice was unstarred

bluebears
07/24/09

@precipice: I feel like in our culture there's a lot of acceptance in theory for the, athletes act like entitled king shits when it comes to women way of thinking, and yet when an allegation like this comes out everyones all, "he could NEVER!" Its a logic disconnect.
Reply

Edited by bluebears at 07/24/09 5:27 PM bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Spacegirl goes home
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: I read somewhere that the amount she is suing for is supposed to "prevent an incident of this type from happening again."

As to not pressing charges, she approached the head of security who very pointedly did not believe her. I'm not speaking for her, but if that were me that would have absolutely crushed me. If my boss doesn't believe me, would the police? I never pressed charges for my own assault because the lawyer I consulted (very sympathetically) told me that I would be completely dragged through the mud, would not win my case, and would be better off filing civil charges.
Reply

CloudsInMyCoffee promoted this comment

Penny_Esq
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: You might take a look at some of the Jez articles exploring the reasons women decline to press charges/report their rapes to the police. This article might be a good starting place.

ETA: dammit, my link keeps disappearing.

http://jezebel.com/5022019/my-sexual-assault-is-not-your-political-issue
Reply

Edited by Penny_Esq at 07/24/09 5:36 PM Penny_Esq was starred Penny_Esq was unstarred

precipice
07/24/09

@bluebears: Yes. The attorney also told me that part and parcel of this type of behavior (doing whatever they want and getting away with it) is the fact that so many athletes cheat on their wives with groupies. Unfortunately, all my friends who nannied for baseball players confirmed this as well. It's almost expected, with procedures in place for making sure the athletes don't get caught/are protected.
Reply

precipice was starred precipice was unstarred

Pittsburghenne
07/24/09

@Penny_Esq: So your implication is, because I clearly stated that I don't know whether or not to believe this based solely on the allegations McNulty made in a civil complaint, I need to educate myself about the prevalence of sexual assault? Is it now antifeminist to ever doubt or even question a woman who says she was sexually assault?
Reply

Pittsburghenne was starred Pittsburghenne was unstarred

bluebears
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: you stated that you found it suspicious that she hadn't filed a police report, there are many reasons why women don't file police reports after they've been the victim of a rape.
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Penny_Esq
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: The idea that not reporting a sexual assault is "suspicious" is one that deserves a little more scrutiny, is what I'm saying. There are myriad reasons women who've been assaulted choose not to report their assaults to the police.

It's not necessarily "antifeminist" to question or doubt whether a woman was assaulted as she alleges she was. But it is worth considering that there are a gazillion reasons that have nothing to do with money or fame for women to avoid the "system" in the aftermath of a rape. If that's something you're already aware of, by all means, don't read Megan's insightful article on the reasons she didn't report her own assault, and on what happened (and didn't happen) when she reported the second assault she suffered several years later. It's not really about the "prevalence" of sexual assault so much as it's about casting aspersions on a woman's motivations to sue or not to sue, and to report or not to report.

Maybe this woman is totally lying. It's possible. But I don't think her failure to report her rape to the police undermines her claims, and the reasons I don't think that are articulated with much more precision by Megan and other women who've suffered both with assault and with the decision of what to do about it.
Reply

Penny_Esq was starred Penny_Esq was unstarred

andBegorrah
07/24/09

@Pittsburghenne: Yes Means Yes just posted a follow-up on that very topic: http://yesmeansyesblog.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/why-the-charges-are-civil-and-why-that-doesnt-mean-shes-a-lying-golddigger/#more-609
Reply

andBegorrah was starred andBegorrah was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

SUBSCRIBE TO Jezebel

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment