i see a lot of people laughing about paige’s awkwardness/hesitancy to hug azzi at the draft but when you think about it, their reality is genuinely so sad. if they show affection to either, or literally any form of physical touch that would be normal for teammates and friends, they are deemed unprofessional because they’re held to a double standard, and so they have to overthink all of their moves in front of a camera. but if they don’t show affection to each other, their relationship comes under fire. people question their loyalty and their character.
to have the purest thing in your life under a microscope of constant criticism, hate, and discourse is a sad thing. to lose the right of being freely in love is something to grieve. they will truly never win because the one thing the world hates more than successful women is two successful women in love with each other. they aren’t valued as athletes anymore, but reduced to undeserving people with everything handed to them. their character and their work is diminished and forgotten
i have faith it will become better soon as the media attention die off and they continue to prove their worth is not in their relationship (which is not their job nor obligation to you or i, but something they will do regardless), but for now, it’s a very grim truth
gummygunk
gracieabrams
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
stormborns
yousharknotpass
