Serena Williams' husband blows up over 'misleading' article
Alexis Ohanian Sr has come to his wife’s defence again over statistics that seemed to smash Serena’s claims of sexism in tennis.
A new set of figures published by the New York Times last week showed that men have received almost three times as many code violations as women in the past 20 years of grand-slam events.
SEXISM SMASHED? Carlos Ramos issues code violation to male player
NOT BACKING DOWN: Serena’s defiant response to US Open controversy
Serena accused umpire Carlos Ramos of sexism when she was docked a whole game in her infamous US Open final loss to Naomi Osaka.
But her claims were soon undermined by statistics showing that there were 86 code violations handed out to male players at the US Open, and only 22 to women.
Male players were also slapped with 1,517 fines compared to 535 fines for females according to data compiled by officials at Grand Slam tournaments for the period covering 1998 to 2018.
2/ Now, NYT just released a study of the actual data: contrary to that narrative, male tennis players are punished at far greater rates for misbehavior, especially the ones relevant to that controversy: verbal abuse, obscenity, and unsportsmanlike conduct https://t.co/p7uh5HkRQo pic.twitter.com/4PTHFJ1PAn
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) September 15, 2018
The figures obtained by the New York Times’ Christopher Clarey show that men received 649 fines for breaking racquets to 99 for women in tens of thousands of matches in the four Grand Slams over the last two decades.
Men were fined 344 times compared to 140 for “audible obscenity” and 287 to 67 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
But on Monday, Serena’s husband went on a Twitter rant about how ‘misleading’ the stats were.
“Statistics help for @NYTimes @christopherclarey please: The argument is that women are punished more often *per incident* than men are. These data only show there are more penalties for men *total.*” he tweeted.
“E.g. If men were punished 344 times out of 3440 audible obscenities (10% enforcement), but women were punished 140 times out of 700 audible obscenities (20% enforcement) — that would mean women are penalized 2x more often than men for the same violation.
“Cc @ christophclarey – happy to help fund an independent research team to run the actual analysis! Statistics can be illuminating when you know what you’re looking for.”
Statistics help for @NYTimes @christopherclarey please:
The argument is that women are punished more often *per incident* than men are.
These data only show there are more penalties for men *total.*https://t.co/njqgH4Ut8a pic.twitter.com/2Jiqtn0l7I
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) September 16, 2018
E.g. If men were punished 344 times out of 3440 audible obscenities (10% enforcement), but women were punished 140 times out of 700 audible obscenities (20% enforcement) — that would mean women are penalized 2x more often than men for the same violation.
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) September 16, 2018
Cc @ christophclarey – happy to help fund an independent research team to run the actual analysis! Statistics can be illuminating when you know what you're looking for.
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) September 16, 2018
Ohanian also said he’d donated $10 for every word of the article to a school charity “to make sure the next generation gets access to learn basic statistics.”
And so that some good comes out of this, I've donated $10 for every word (714) in that misleading article to @DonorsChoose classroom projects to make sure the next generation gets access to learn basic statistics. Thank you, @christophclarey. pic.twitter.com/ccJtpxMBR0
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) September 16, 2018
And Ohanian wasn’t alone in his criticism of the stats.
The study doesn't show that. It shows that male players are fined more, but that could be because they misbehave more. (Indeed, from watching a fair bit of tennis, the men do misbehave more). This data doesn't tell us anything about whether they're punished at greater rates. https://t.co/vJYoKNMzYQ
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) September 15, 2018
Exactly. That is why I fundamentally disagree with @nytimes analysis. The report is a gross distortion of the truth.
— Bibian (@RoundTalk) September 16, 2018
QUICK MATHS
— Lexie Williams (@lexieee_marieee) September 16, 2018
This 🙌 Finally someone explaining it correctly! and shame on @nytimes for trying to spin it: you are a journalistic org. have some integrity!
— Jessica Jade (@pixietrue) September 16, 2018
In her post-match news conference after her loss, Williams doubled down on her claim there is a double standard when it comes to punishment.
“I have seen other men call other umpires several things. I am here fighting for women’s right and women’s equality …. and for me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game it made me feel like it was sexist,” she said.
“He’s never took a game from a man because they said thief. For me, it blows my mind.”
‘Blatantly racist & misogynistic’
It’s not the first time Ohanian has spoken out about Serena’s treatment after the US Open final, also slamming the cartoon that sparked outrage around the world.
In a passionate defence of his wife on social media, Ohanian hit out at the Australian newspaper behind the controversial cartoon.
“I am truly perplexed to learn this editor of the Australian newspaper behind the blatantly racist and misogynistic cartoon of my wife is a ‘Male Champion of Change.’ Is this supposed to be satire, too?”
I am truly perplexed to learn this editor of the Australian newspaper behind the blatantly racist & misogynistic cartoon of my wife is a “Male Champion of Change” 🤔 Is this supposed to be satire, too? @malechampions @LizBroderick https://t.co/QAq25HAhTo https://t.co/jOuYojCE3P
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) September 13, 2018
The Herald Sun were savaged over the original cartoon but sensationally doubled-down with a follow-up cartoon hitting out at their critics.
Many labelled the cartoon “racist” and “sexist”, accusing Knight of using derogatory imagery of African American people.
But Knight says it had nothing to do with race or gender.