The Epidemic of the Witch Hunted
And how Luis Rubiales is using it to control the narrative
I want to be done thinking about Luis Rubiales. The Women’s World Cup concluded more than two weeks ago. College football is in full swing. It’s CyHawk Week!
But I can’t stop thinking about Luis Rubiales. More specifically, I can’t stop thinking about the epidemic he represents.
For my readers who don’t know, Rubiales is the president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF). On August 20, Spain won the Women’s World Cup in a 1-0 victory over England. As is custom after winning the World Cup, Spain’s women’s national team filed through a congratulatory line of dignitaries and officials, which included Rubiales. As they greeted him, Rubiales tightly embraced many of his players (hmmm), kissed several on the neck (ew), lifted some into the air (awkward), and then, with the world watching, grabbed player Jenni Hermoso’s head with both of his hands and kissed her on the lips (NO!).
The whole episode was jarring enough to make the world uncomfortable even before Hermoso said she “didn’t like it” during the team’s locker room celebration.
Within hours, criticism swelled—so much so that Rubiales decided to address the incident before getting on a plane to return to Spain that night. In a radio interview, he described his actions as nothing more than a “peck between two friends celebrating something.”
But he said something else too. “We shouldn’t pay attention to idiots and stupid people,” he quipped.
And with that comment, Rubiales planted a seed—the start of a “them vs. me” narrative intended to make listeners and readers question whether those criticizing him were being fair in their disapproval.
In the days since, Rubiales has doubled down on this narrative, calling the outcry against his actions as a “social assassination” being carried out by “false feminists.” He claims to have “suffered an unprecedented media and political lynching . . . [n]ot just on a national level, but globally.” And he’s described calls for his resignation as a “witch hunt.”
It’s a brilliant(/maddening) tactic, because once someone begins to believe that the critiques and criticisms are part of an unfair inquisition (i.e., the “witch hunt”), logic and truth become immaterial. Nothing—not facts, objectivity, or independent data—can change the mind of the witch hunted, because in the mind of the witch hunted, it’s all a farce created by the witch hunter.
The witch hunted can’t be reasoned with. The witch hunted can’t be proven wrong—not even with photo, audio or video evidence! And that makes them dangerous—because there are some things that are, objectively, wrong (like kissing your subordinate on the lips without her consent, for example).
If this sounds familiar, it should. It’s a page pulled directly from the Donald Trump Playbook.
It worked for Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 election, and it’s still working now—to cult-like extremes. Whether this tactic will save Rubiales from being ousted from his role as REEF president remains to be seen, but it’s working enough to make “it was just a kiss” a common retort. It’s working enough to make people wonder if the protests against Rubiales are an “overreaction.”
And when this tactic is "working enough,” it’s working too well. Because all too often, it's working to undermine women.
As explained by Laura Bates, the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, in an interview with the BBC about the incident: "The irony is that women are so often told an allegation is meaningless without evidence. But what we can see from this case is that even when the evidence is iron-clad the woman is disbelieved anyway, so we really can't win.”
Only time will tell if there’s a cure to eradicate the epidemic of the witch hunted, but if the Rubiales saga is any indication, the odds don’t seem super great. So in the meantime, and maybe forever, this epidemic rages on.
This reminds me of Dr. Blasey Ford. It was never a question of believing her--of course she was to be believed. It was a question of whether people cared. 💔
Hmm, this is your major concern? The border is wide open, millions of people, not vetted in the least are allowed to walk in with no questions asked. We provide $$ and transportation to wherever they want to go? The regime is violating every law on the books. I guess being a lawyer, you are not concerned with rule of law.
The regime has decided equal employment laws which prohibit hiring based on race,gender, sex, ideology do not apply to them. They openly say they are hiring a women of color with a hint of marxism thrown in for good measure.. I guess that is only against the law if you are not a liberal. Rules for thee, not for me.
The DOJ is fully weaponized against your political opponent. If you deny this you are nothing more than a liar. I guess it is ok as long as it promotes your agenda.
You mention "trans kids" as one of your concerns and reasons to hate Trump and everyone else. Sorry, there is no such thing. There are kids with mental disorders that need help, but you somehow feel the mutilation of their bodies as minors somehow is a basic right and empowering. Might try asking a few of them who have gone through this "ceremony" and fully regret it later in life.
Are you ok with a teacher in a middle school classroom promoting and encouraging gender transformation as if is just another perfectly normal thing? Did you join in the lie of calling Florida's bill banning sexual indoctrination in classrooms of 8 to 12 yr olds the "dont say gay bill". Another lie that you appear to agree with . Tell me, when is it ok to be a disingenuous, untruthful, partisan. I'm just curious. My conscience does not allow it, how about yours?
Do you want DesMoines to become like portland, Seattle, San Fran? To me it appears you do. Why? Just curious.
I could go on all day long. I would destroy you in a real debate. I have truth on my side. All you have is a bunch of hyperbole, rhetoric and information control.
I used to feel cheated that I never got to go to 4 yr university. I am now convinced it is the best thing that ever happened to me. Hundreds of thousand of dollars seems a bit steep for a few years of liberal boot camp.
I ask you, who is living the delusional life? Look in the mirror,