Let’s just look at this timeline of events for a moment, yeah? Because it forms a very neat little arc.
- Chris Gayle, West Indian cricketer and opening batsman for the Melbourne Renegades, made some unprofessional and wildly inappropriate comments to Channel Ten presenter Mel McLaughlin live on air.
- Channel Ten made a shortsighted social media post about the incident, but hastily backtracked after McLaughlin told company management the incident made her angry and uncomfortable.
- Gayle subsequently made a half-hearted non-apology to McLaughlin, and cut short a very terse media conference.
- A whole bunch of very smart people articulated exactly why Gayle’s behaviour was absolutely not on, and that the cries of “double standards” and “PC culture” from the (largely male) public were not even remotely correct.
- Gayle was subsequently fined $10,000 by the Melbourne Renegades.
- McLaughlin forgave Gayle and insisted she just wanted to get back to her job – one that’s she’s very, very good at.
- Gayle then made a fairly blasé joke about the fine on social media.
Fans who took #StandbyGayle signs to the MCG in support of the cricketer under fire for his… https://t.co/FCgBeQ2az3 pic.twitter.com/YXNoUfBbaB
— tech9 (@Tech9Ga) January 7, 2016
And here’s the crowd chanting their support for #standbygayle pic.twitter.com/knD1JnuShh
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) January 7, 2016
Video of security staff at the MCG telling a group with #standbygayle signs to take them down. pic.twitter.com/UobCSVK0t3
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) January 7, 2016
And today, the subsequent hashtag has attracted the attention of Internet users writ large.
This is beyond ridiculous, when its a female saying something 2 a male no one bats an eyelid #equality #standbygayle pic.twitter.com/BiIoqhBoic
— Tim Morrow (@TimMorrow1988) January 7, 2016
#standbygayle #BBL05 Mob mentality leave him alone, the media are licking their chops, write about some real issues pic.twitter.com/DLjmpGG5An
— Michael Delapena (@Reversekanga77) January 7, 2016
#StandByGayle @henrygayle!! Leave the great man alone and report about actual news u hacks! pic.twitter.com/y4KMLLZk7Y
— Shar (@sharmanda111) January 7, 2016
Good onya boys #standbygayle it’s about time. Rise up against the Feminazi https://t.co/YIM5jSeyrh
— Len Philp (@ZSRenn) January 7, 2016
#standbygayle Our society has become to precious!! Get over it!!
— Mark De Benetti (@markdibs) January 7, 2016
Political correctness really has gone mad in this country. #standbyGayle
— Jonathan Geraghty (@JG1992_) January 7, 2016
I dont suppose cowards @tensporttv showed a guy getting his #standbygayle sign taken away by security? Disgusting. Freedom of speech? #BBL05
— Ro0STA’s #Ro0view (@Ro0STA) January 6, 2016
#standbygayle @CAComms You ban him people will boycott. What a joke, you want to ban him yet when male athletes get hit on its normal..
— Ali Chahrour (@alichahrour123) January 6, 2016
Gayle is the boss, Mel should be bowing down to the legend.
#haveadrink #standbygayle
— Dylan Humphries (@dylanph22) January 4, 2016
Look, you get the picture.
‘How do I know? Because I’ve objectified women as a young male, and so have you.’
I love you @fullgut. x pic.twitter.com/94u8mYpzhF
— Marieke Hardy (@mariekehardy) January 6, 2016
That right there? That’s your bottom line, folks. Stop being dicks.