you should probably not rely on one single article as your evidence, because - while you're right that it wasn't a violent break in that vale is somehow responsible for - you are ignoring multiple other points of view/facets of the situation, including that said journalists showed up at his private residence with a cock-shaped trophy in the midst of a significant hate campaign that included both death threats and homophobic rhetoric (see how that would make the incident more concerning?) and that the resulting scuffle was almost certainly not one sided (other articles and reports mention marc being grabbed by both the throat and the arm). like of course the journalists are going to say they did nothing wrong, and even then "it's just a prank bro" isn't a defense? like it shouldn't be blown out of proportion as some act of massive violence against marc either, but. that doesn't make it nothing.
Hi. My reasons for only referencing one article is because Motomatters is an international motorsports publication. Unlike Italian and Spanish media who would and did have cause to write a misleading and misrepresented version of events, David Emmett is reputable reporter and exceedingly unlikely to have someone paying him off. In fact, a sizeable chunk of this article addresses the harassment Marc did face and condemns Valentino’s actions. You however cite “other articles” without providing publications, authors, or links, which doesn’t amount to much as a rebuttal.
I’ve gone ahead and looked for these articles myself though, and of the seven front page results I found, the only “assault” on Marc that was repeatedly mentioned was a scrape to his neck. Realistically, this proves nothing and could have been the results of Marc trying to rip the camera equipment out of the journalists’ hands as much as an intentional assault. Crucially, the articles reporting on the assault also rely on quotes from Alzamora, Marc’s manager, who notably made efforts to worsen the rift between Marc and Valentino, and was a contentious character in the paddock:
Alzamora would similarly have reason to lie about the series of events if it would a) make Marc look better b) cover up the patriarch of the family assaulting someone. Furthermore, as stated by the journalists for Le Lene, the Marquezes have those SD cards in their possession. It would be easy and undeniable proof of their innocence and Marc’s assault if the family released the footage. Something Le Lene themselves have encouraged, and yet radio silence from Marc and his family.
To me, this is an admission of guilt from the Marquez camp regarding the lie they spun about Marc being assaulted inside his home. As well as a cover-up for Julia assaulting the Le Lene journalists; because why, as a small-time media company, would you invite a celebrity with immense resources and power to upload the video of you assaulting him?
Now a couple other things you mentioned that I want to address:
“Journalists showed up to his house with a cock-shaped trophy in the midst of a significant hate campaign that included both death threats and homophobic rhetoric (see how that would make the incident more concerning?)” No I don’t actually. Two journalists from a satirical media company showing up with a cock trophy to make fun of Marc is not the next violent development in a hate campaign, because they were non-violent. I fully recognise that strangers showing up at his home to heckle Marc would have been upsetting for both him and his family, but as I said in my original post, this was a situation that should’ve absolutely been handled privately. Marc did indeed file a legal complaint against Le Lene which is his prerogative and a course of action I understand. However, Julia Marquez, categorically, did not need to assault two people regardless of how much of a nuisance they were being.
Marc is also not the victim of a homophobic hate campaign. Unfortunately, sports-trash talk then and now is still significantly substantiated by homophobia; Valentino himself has been subjected to homophobic commentary his entire career. Neither of these men however are victims. Calling them slurs, while harmful and actively perpetuating homophobia in sports-- something deserving of critique, does not otherwise impact men like Marc or otherwise, because they are ultimately protected by being heterosexual. It’s meant to debase and harass for sure, but Marc isn’t being targeted by this rhetoric because he’s queer. Le Lene giving Marc the cock trophy wasn’t some multi-layered gay joke, it was them calling him a dickhead. Sometimes when you hear the sounds of hooves it’s better to think of horses, not zebras.
The point of my original post wasn’t to say that Marc deserved the harassment, it was about pointing out the double standard that motogpblr employ when discussing Sepang and its subsequent fallout. Valentino is not an ontological evil that spent two years playing nice with Marc to break his spirit; 2015 was Valentino’s last significant title chance, of course he was going to throw everything he had at winning it. If the actions Valentino took during 2015 you consider unbecoming of someone of Valentino's social stature, then you are free dislike him for that. There need not be some greater overarching narrative regarding his motives. Sometimes, people just make bad decisions. Article References: 1. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/marc-marquez-files-complaint-after-scuffle-idUSKCN0SP0S8/ 2. https://www.tntsports.co.uk/moto/marc-marquez-files-complaint-after-scuffle-near-home_sto4972952/story.shtml 3. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/report-marc-marquez-assaulted-by-italian-reporters 4. https://www.beinsports.com/en-mena/articles/video-marquezs-manager-vows-to-act-after-conf 5. https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1874510/motogp-rider-marc-marquez-clash-italian-tv-comedy-show 6. https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1874510/motogp-rider-marc-marquez-clash-italian-tv-comedy-show 7. https://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/motogp/2015/october/police-called-to-altercation-with-italian-tv-at-marc-marquezs-home/
