Except he didn't even say it was a joke at first. I'll translate it into old world imagery for you: during a press conference he says: "I hope you'll respect me; I'm gay" in a serious tone. One of his colleagues also seems to support him. Journos pick it up as real, tons of indignant angry people publicly shout homophobic slurs at the news, a small percentage thinks he has some guts to be the first big name to admit it and maybe the environment will become a little more accepting, as it did over the years with tackling racism. Then after a bit he sends out a dispatch saying it was just a big hilarious joke he made because he was annoyed about the media gossiping around who his girlfriend is. The people who shouted homophobic slurs at him rejoice and double down on the ones who were proud of his (seemingly serious) announcement, and a big footballer coming out is once again considered possible only as a joke, not as something that could really happen.This world changed so much in 10 years. You have to be careful with every word you say. He made a joke he was being sarcastic. Big deal lol.
I'm not particularly angry, just disappointed at how idiotic he was in not considering that writing those words without context would have some PR consequences.
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