In truth, heβs the one being picked out, the one being shamed, because of his own history of toilet trysts. Yep, weβve all seen this plot starring the mighty Duck before. Back in 2002 when a bathroom hook-up with his mateβs wife destroyed friendships, marriages, careers. That form is why Carey again allegedly in a toilet with a woman is news.
But. Whether it should be is another thing. The current viral video? What exactly is the big deal? Two adults in a room together? Even having sex, although Carey denied that? Last I checked, none of these things were illegal. The woman doesnβt appear distressed. Nothing you could run past HR.
Letβs not pretend this is about morality. If a female public figure was filmed leaving a bathroom with a man, weβd have a million think pieces about the invasion of her privacy, the policing of her choices, the slut-shaming. Rightly so.
Sure, I hear you reaching for the popcorn. βBut itβs Wayne Carey.β Stop. If we only believe in boundaries for people we like or respect then we donβt actually believe in boundaries.
And even if you want to go down the βheβs a public figure, itβs in the public interestβ path β give us a spell. Carey hasnβt been relevant in media for years. Heβs not representing anyone, heβs not taking taxpayer money, heβs not in a position of trust or authority.
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You know who is, though? NSW MP Mark Latham.
That king of grubs, sitting in the parliamentary chamber sending sordid WhatsApp messages while drawing a salary from taxpayers. The political cockroach now facing allegations by his former partner that he pressured her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts, and drove his car at her. And also secretly took photos of female colleagues.
This isnβt an ex-AFL star being filmed walking out of a bathroom. This is serious, disturbing behaviour from someone elected to serve the public.
Yes, the outrage is building. Yes! But Latham has made a career of refusing accountability. Even if he resigns or is booted, the new mayor of Grub Island will go down as the patron saint of shamelessness, a serial denier that heβs a pig. Busy man.
Carey is from the same mould. But this time, he gets a pass.
Mark it in the calendar. Wayne Carey is right. This once. His girlfriend might not be so sympathetic, but that also is their business.
Right. Iβm whizzing off to have a seven-hour hot shower and pray to the god of wayward suburban matrons just for typing all of that.
Kate Halfpenny is founder of Bad Mother Media. Her new book, Boogie Wonderland, is out now. Subscribers can buy a copy from Booktopia for the discounted price of $24.26 plus postage with the code WONDERLAND10. This offer is available until August 31.
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