Josh Giddey continues to be a topic of discussion in NBA as allegations that he slept with a 16-year-old girl continue to rage, with some now believing the media coverage is racially rather than morally motivated, e.g. Dez Bryant.
The Oklahoma City Thunder goalie’s life turned chaotic when a shirtless photo of him and a young blonde girl appeared on Snapchat with the caption “I just fucked Josh Giddey.”
It didn’t take long for fans to investigate the girl’s age, with some establishing that she is 16 and others claiming that she is only 15, although both were only not yet proven as police and the NBA investigate the matter.
But ESPN’s coverage, particularly that of Malika Andrewshas been accused of having racist bias, with people saying they don’t pick on him as much as black athletes because of his whiteness, like Bryant who played for the national team. Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.
“You did everything in your power to crucify (Charlotte Hornets guard) Brandon Miller on draft day for something he didn’t even do,” Dez Bryant wrote on X.com, formerly Twitter, addressing Andrews in quotes from “The Guardian.” . “Why didn’t you say anything about Josh Giddey?
“Your parents raised you really badly. You’re just a puppet. I don’t know how a former or current NBA player could sit across from you and look at you with any sort of respect.”
Bryant later apologized and Andrews delivered a report, but that didn’t stop trolls from mocking her online by producing memes on the former receiver’s topic.
The age of consent and its gray areas
The age of consent in the Thunder’s home state is 16, but California, where the girl is from or lives, is different. In California, the age is 18, but there are some exemptions for marriage with court approval.
This varies and differs from state to state, nation to nation, with even clauses such as “Romeo and Juliet” laws for those under 18, which is not the case by Giddey.
The claim that they met at a 21-and-over nightclub, with her entering via a fake ID, muddies the water in her case even more. So if it was a one night stand, many would say he’s not to blame.
Sexual assault cases are incredibly sensitive topics and all details must be reported correctly in order to protect a journalist and the organization they represent, which some have used to justify why Andrews has remained quieter than before.
“Because we don’t know the facts and we represent a network, we have to make sure the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed,” said Stephen A Smith, also of ESPN, with quotes from the Guardian . “It’s not about protecting Malika Andrews. It’s about protecting the industry. It’s about understanding and making you understand what comes with this job.”
