Yeah, it doesn’t work very well coming from him, does it?
I will point out that “we” tend to gloss over things that so many people are guilty of. The estimated rate of infidelity is over 50%
I was trying to think of other celebrities who paid a public price for infidelity. I guess Tiger Woods did. I don’t think many entertainers do, though.
Politicians, not so much.
I can’t figure it out with politicians. Some of them go down in flames, and others survive. Neither party affiliation nor the offense seems to determine which it will be.
Unfortunately it hasn’t been that long ago, that our society has come to realize that acquaintance rape, and marital rape even exists, marital rape has only been on the books as a crime nationally since 1993, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that some think that a serial rapist is in the same category as garden variety infidelity.
Who thinks that, emeraldkity4?
Apparently those on this thread who keep bringing up infidelity with public figures, as if it was relevant.
I’ll just note that my comment was saying that Cosby’s repeated infidelity alone, even without the much worse things that he did, should be enough to wreck his pretense of being a role model who thinks he can lecture others on their behavior. Does that make it clearer? Or are you meaning to defend celebrities who are unfaithful to their spouses, but who aren’t rapists?
Maybe it is just me, but infidelity seems like the least of Bill Cosby’s failings.
Im not defending anyone, but I feel even celebrity marriages deserve a modicom of privacy, and as being unfaithful is not a crime, I didn’t understand your point.
I thought lecturing African American families, especially men, the way that Cosby has, from his position as a wealthy celebrity was bad enough.
Now of course, it makes him one of the biggest hypocrits in recent memory.
“I can’t figure it out with politicians. Some of them go down in flames, and others survive. Neither party affiliation nor the offense seems to determine which it will be.”
It does tend to be worse if the infidelity comes with a member of the same sex, particularly if the politician was an advocate of “:family values” and Defender of Traditional Marriage.
“thought lecturing African American families, especially men, the way that Cosby has, from his position as a wealthy celebrity was bad enough.”
I didn’t. Before this was all revealed, I thought it was great that he was modeling an upscale, educated Afr Am family on his show. I thought it was great that he wore college sweatshirts on the show to increase viewers’awareness of college options. I thought it was great that he exhorted young black men to pull up their pants and stay in school. He had extremely positive messages that are too often lacking in that community. It’s a shame he turned out to be a hypocrite and wrongdoer, but he said things that needed to be said.
:::::::;;;;;brb getting popcorn:::::::::;;
I am not sure it matters whether the relationship/cheating outside the marriage is with the person’s same sex or opposite sex- but if someone (politician, clergy, etc) is a big proponent of “family values” and is egregiously hypocritical, or dishonest, or have an affair with your kids’ nanny, that usually is the kiss of death for them, ir at least causes a significant blow/setback to their career. Maybe its the “ick” factor.Some that are jerks in more than one category (unfaithful and saying outrageous things, ie Mel Gibson) deserve the one-two punch to their career, IMO.
Usually, @jym626 , but look at David Vitter. Big family valets guy. Unfaithful with a prostitue (so he did break the law). And there he still is in the Senate. And running for governor.
Why are you getting popcorn, ek? Before Bill Cosby’s failings were revealed, what was wrong with the messages he sought to impart to the black community regarding education, respect for the law, etc? Just because he himself turned out to be a disappointment (to say the least) doesn’t change the validity of those messages.
It’s a common tactic. If someone’s message makes you uncomfortable, you just label them a hypocrite which then takes away the mojo.
What? When people espouse “family values”, honesty, loyalty, faithfulness, etc, while simultaneously cheating on their spouse, the IRS or whatever, that is not uncomfortable, its disgusting.
I think the issue is that those messages lose credibility when someone who is supposed to be a role model doesn’t uphold his own teachings, @Pizzagirl.
It’s like Bristol Pailin and her abstinence lectures. When you have two kids out of wedlock, it’s pretty hard to take you seriously when you preach abstinence-only. Systematically breaking every standard you set is a good way to erode whatever credibility your teachings have. Actions do speak far louder than words. Why should anyone follow his advice if he was successful without taking his own advice?
Because people are known to be imperfect? It doesn’t mean the message has less value.
Interestingly enough, I think this is connected to the often voiced, but incorrect notion that some students are “perfect”.