The WTA seemingly addressed the Paula Badosa controversy in silence as gamers acquired an e-mail by which they had been warned about “distasteful” social media posts and that it “won’t be tolerated.”
In late September and early November, the Spanish tennis star competed on the WTA 1000 event in Beijing, the place she made the semifinal earlier than shedding to Coco Gauff. After her marketing campaign got here to an finish, technical coach Pol Toledo Blanco posted some images on Instagram and in a single the world No. 12 could possibly be seen utilizing chopstics to tug her eyes in a selfie.
It did not take lengthy earlier than Badosa began receiving criticism and backlash as some followers accused her of “racism” towards Asian individuals. The picture – which was later deleted – drew a number of unfavorable consideration on the four-time WTA champion.
Then, got here the Magda Linette case and the Pole posting an image from Wuhan – the place the place the COVID outbreak began – and captioning the submit: “The virus database has been up to date.” The general public response was the identical as within the Badosa case.
In response to a report, WTA CEO Portia Archer despatched an e-mail to gamers, by which the related made it clear that they do not need athletes to be posting something that could possibly be interpreted in a approach that negatively impacts the picture of the WTA model. Within the e-mail obtained by a British paper, no participant was straight talked about however it positively appeared like a response to a few of the controversial state of affairs that these days occurred.
“Tournaments and international locations host us as their friends at appreciable effort and expense, and it’s of absolute significance to respect the native tradition of the areas we compete in, all of which make our world Tour successful. Distasteful content material of any sort (resembling pictures, references, textual content, video) referring to the tradition, historical past, or hurtful stereotypes of a gaggle of individuals or a area is inconsistent with the values the WTA represents and won’t be tolerated,” Archer stated within the e-mail, through British paper i.
“Not solely do such dangerous actions generate unfavorable protection and mirror poorly for the athlete, however in addition they influence ladies’s skilled tennis as an entire, together with having unfavorable results on the hard-working staff and workers that arrange WTA occasions. These actions also can pose a threat across the whole event, with safety, transport, and different areas all put in potential jeopardy. There isn’t a place for this within the WTA.”
How Badosa responded to the criticism?
After followers seen the submit in query and accused the previous world No. 2 of racism, she insisted that it wasn’t her intention to mimic the Asians, mock them, or something like that.
“Oh no, please do not get it that approach. By no means thought it could get interpreted this fashion, we weren’t even imitating Asian individuals. I used to be enjoying round with my face and wrinkles. I really like Asia it is one among my favourite individuals and have loads of Asian mates. They’re the kindest,” Badosa wrote on Instagram on the time.
Sadly for the Spaniard, her preliminary rationalization wasn’t actually accepted. Finally, the 27-year-old admitted that taking a selfie in that approach wasn’t proper however remained adamant that she did not imply to be racist.
“Hey guys! Actually sorry didn’t know this was offensive in direction of racism. My mistake. I take full duty. This errors will make me be taught for subsequent time. Hope you perceive…. I really like you all,” she stated in one other submit on the time.
Nonetheless, the criticism and backlash did not finish there and it saved going. That led to Badosa accusing a sure group of individuals of “bullying” her.
“As a result of all this bullying is insane and it’s ridiculous. The story was end after I got here out and apologize and took all the duty of it. Transfer on. Jesus. It’s actually tiring to see consistently hate and criticism on this social media. I had a problem, YES. However after that folks and followers in China handled me wonderful. As a result of they UNDERSTAND individuals may be flawed, acknowledge it and proper to be higher subsequent time and have one other likelihood. However I nonetheless don’t perceive what’s your level. You possibly can consistently offend and bully individuals on social media and that’s okay? This must STOP. Bye,” she wrote in a since-deleted submit on X in late October.
Even when Badosa’s intention wasn’t to poke enjoyable at anybody, she realized the exhausting approach that posting issues that could possibly be interpreted in a number of methods is not the very best factor to do. And he or she will definitely be extra cautious when making posts sooner or later.
