Since Judy Finnigan went on Loose Women earlier this week and waded into the debate about whether convicted rapist footballer Ched Evans should be allowed to return to his job at Sheffield United in a way that certainly sounded like that much-trotted-out but ill-advised argument ‘there are different severities of rape’, it’s become apparent that we still have a seriously messed up attitude towards sexual assault – and the way in which it’s discussed.
Judy has since apologised for her comments, which, fyi, went like this: ‘He’s served his time. The rape – and I am not, please, by any means minimising any kind of rape – but the rape was not violent. He didn’t cause any bodily harm to the person. It was unpleasant, in a hotel room, I believe, and she was – she had far too much to drink. And you know, that is reprehensible, but he has been convicted and he has served his time.’
She’s clearly listened to the criticism from rape charities pointing out that any sex without consent is rape and, as such, rape is always a violent act of intrusion – and insisted that she ‘was in no way attempting to minimise the terrible ordeal that any woman suffers as a result.’
READ MORE: Judy Finnigan Clearly Needs Reminding That All Rapes Are Violent
But instead of the conversation moving on from there about whether said footballer under question should be allowed to play again, instead the story has taken a dark twist: now Judy’s daughter Chloe Madeley, 27, has been dragged into the affair by being trolled online with death and rape threats. Grim, right?
Chloe has written a piece today in The Daily Mail about how anonymous trollers have contacted her with such gross comments as: ‘Judy’s given me her blessing to rape you. Naturally, I have to acquire a paper bag first. It’s not to suffocate you with or to hide one’s identity, it’s to cover up your rat-like face with the humongous nose.’
And apparently her decision to speak out about the fact that it’s messed up that her mother’s misguided statements on rape have led to these, she’s now being criticised for daring to stick her head above the parapet, too. ‘Chloe Madeley Turns Another Woman’s Rape Into A Daily Mail Article,’ reads one headline in response to her piece this morning.
But while it goes without saying that Chloe should have nothing to do with her mum’s on-air remarks, what’s really fucked up about this entire situation is that it’s taken a high-profile woman making erroneous comments about sexual assault to even get Ched Evan’s rape on the national news agenda.
Over six months ago online activist Jean Hatchet launched a petition to ask the owners of Sheffield United to refuse to allow Evans to return to his £18,000 a week contract with the club. Rape charities got behind her cause, saying: ‘We would urge Sheffield United to think very carefully about the message that they send when they immediately re-employ someone who’s been convicted of such a very serious crime.’ Over 140,000 people have since signed the petition.
But despite this swell of criticism, has the Sheffield United board said anything? (Not yet, FYI... manager Nigel Clough told The Guardian the decision’s out of his hands and he’s waiting to hear what the owners decide.) Has the FA? Has any sports reporter questioned the ethics of allowing a footballer – someone who is literally applauded by young kids attending games – to return to playing after being convicted of rape? Sadly not.
And really, shouldn’t those be the questions we’re debating as Evans trains with his olde team, rather than threatening the daughter of a TV presenter who expressed an opinion about the case?
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.