“The Lions could receive a visit from the SPCA after raping the Bulls in public in Johannesburg on Saturday evening,” was the opening line of a match report on the popular SupaRugby Facebook page last night.
Within minutes the post was flooded with comments from almost entirely male voices calling out the author for his/her use of the word ‘rape’ to describe the defeat (the gender of the author is yet to be established).
Fans made it clear that, in light of the recent #menaretrash conversations, the use of a rape analogy was not only extremely distasteful and insensitive – but it also highlights the issue of how acceptable sexual violence has become in South Africa today. An unfortunate consequence of the post is that it entrenches the perception of rugby being a misogynist sport completely ignorant of – and unwilling to consider – female fans, staff and sponsors.
“Raping the bulls in public!!?? You said raping as a metaphor for a heavy defeat in a game!!?? Raping!!”
“Rape as a metaphor. A new low point in journalism.”
Unfortunately, although the majority of comments strongly condemned the metaphor, a number of users found it amusing.
Minutes later it was discovered that the article had been shared to the official Golden Lions Rugby Union (GRU) page where the reaction was equally swift and clear: using rape as a metaphor for anything is unacceptable and the public will no longer stand for it.
The post remained up for approximately one hour on the GRU page before it was deleted, while the post on the SupaRugby page was edited and all the comments calling out the use of ‘rape’ in the article were deleted.
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The GoodThingsGuy team is made of South African men & women who care about our country. Our aim is change the national conversation. To educate, inspire and report on good news. Rape culture is not good news, but South Africans standing up against it and publicly pointing out the people, brands and institutions that propagate it… is. We will hopefully update this story when either Facebook pages issue an official apology.
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Most of the blowback was likely opposition to misogyinist stupidity.
But you can be sure a few if them were exhibiting toxic masculinity, objecting to the implication that males were raped…but likely wouldn’t say anything if raping women were the implication.
Used so lightly, like a fun phrase or word that is light hearted and funny.
it is a new low point of journalism. what happening to SA rugby fans?