The Daily Mail has come under fire once again following their reporting of the Olympic diving events.
Reporting on Chris Mears and Jack Laugher’s gold medal victory in the synchronised 3m springboard event on Thursday, the newspaper drew ire for its decision to focus on the manner of the Team GB divers’ celebration, rather than their momentous victory.
Apparently hugging is not very 'manly'. This backward view of gender behaviour and casual homophobia has to stop. pic.twitter.com/nuJl1RCMxd
— WayneDavid (@WayneDavid81) August 11, 2016
Contrasting Chris and Jack’s celebratory hug with the more muted reaction of the third-placed Chinese divers, the Mail ran a story asking for the British divers to “steady on” with their behaviour.
The choice in reporting, to call the Chinese decision to pat each other on the back “manly”, while viewing the British boys joyous outburst as something less preferable drew criticism from many people, with a number saying it had thinly-veiled homophobic undertones.
The Daily Mail has angered me even more than usual today! Boys are allowed to hug. It's not unmanly. 😠 pic.twitter.com/PYykcscoXe
— Alice Pope (@Alice_Pope) August 11, 2016
A number of users also decried the paper for viewing men hugging as not masculine.
Jack Laugher & Chris Mears won a gold Olympic medal & the daily mail run a headline criticising their masculinity for hugging to celebrate 🙄
— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) August 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/TEHayward/status/763626436708208640
Chris Mears and Jack Laugher’s victory was a momentous occasion for British diving.
In 2009, Mears was left with a 5 per cent chance of survival after rupturing his spleen. The pair have worked relentlessly for a medal position, so to come away with Gold in Rio and be crowned world champions, we think the boys can celebrate however they wish.
Good on you boys.
When you win the Olympic games… 😮 @JackLaugher pic.twitter.com/uLLukLq3Dw
— MEARSY (@ChrisMears93) August 10, 2016
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!!! @ChrisMears93 WE DID IT MAN!!!! pic.twitter.com/WNksl8yTLp
— Jack Laugher (@JackLaugher) August 10, 2016
