An unusual event occurred at the World Series of Poker on Monday evening when around 10 supporters of player Sean Drake, who was competing in the Monster Stack final table, wore shirts bearing the slogan “Play Like Drake and Rape.” This phrase is reportedly a hashtag Drake uses on Twitter.
I may not fully subscribe to all aspects of the “rape culture” discourse (I’m not particularly politically correct), but even in private, I would feel completely humiliated to wear that shirt, much less in public.
It’s understandable if one or two individuals lack the social awareness to understand why saying/wearing “play like Drake and rape” is inappropriate in civilized society. However, it’s absolutely mind-boggling that a group of around a dozen people could wear those shirts without anyone questioning their appropriateness.
I also somewhat sympathize with Sean Drake, who was dealing with a problem caused by his rail while competing for a WSOP bracelet and a significant amount of money. This is just a side note.
Let me clarify before going any further, I won’t be advocating for his sponsors to abandon him or anything of the sort. I deem such steps as an overreaction at this point, and it doesn’t benefit anyone. Assuming he’s a young individual, he deserves an opportunity to cease using the phrase now that it’s been highlighted to him.
It seems from his tweets that he won’t stop using his signature catchphrase…
However, he should be given a few days to think it over. We’ve all spoken or acted in ways we later regret at some point, so let’s not blow things out of proportion just yet.
Alright, here are my issues with this incident…
It’s a Bad Joke to Begin With
To begin with, “chip rape” is an internal jest.
This term is only used by a small percentage of poker players, not a common slang term. Wearing a shirt with a provocative word as a joke that only a few people will understand shows how disconnected some individuals in the poker community are.
Helpful hint: If you find yourself having to explain why something is humorous, it likely isn’t funny.
While I may quickly associate “play like Drake and rape” with poker, it’s likely that many people wouldn’t grasp this slogan at all. Now, picture a woman, who has been a victim of sexual assault, strolling through Rio’s hallways and seeing you with a shirt that has “and Rape” boldly printed on the back.
The term ‘rape’ is such a term that can abruptly silence any room. It may not be as controversial as the N-word, but it’s certainly not a topic to casually joke about in front of your grandmother. It fails the so-called ‘grandma test’.
To provide some perspective, many individuals often utilize racial, ethnic, or sexual descriptors when referring to specific attributes in their friends. This isn’t meant to belittle the respective group, and it’s unlikely that most of these individuals harbor anti-Semitic, bigoted, or misogynistic views. However, it’s important to note that these same individuals would not publicly display such language on a T-shirt.
Something in their mind triggers the notion that it’s alright to behave a certain way within a close group of friends, but not in the broader society where it may offend or genuinely harm someone.
I’m inclined to believe that none of the individuals donning these shirts intended harm or possess a malicious nature. It’s quite possible that within their group, the phrase in question is deemed entirely normal, perhaps due to frequent use, leading to desensitization. However, it is occasionally necessary to expand one’s perspective beyond one’s immediate social circle.
No one is suggesting that your shirt is endorsing rape, but rather that it demonstrates a lack of sensitivity towards the subject and the victims of this heinous crime.
There Is No 1st Amendment Issue Here
I observed just a single occurrence of this on Twitter, although I should note that I didn’t read more than a few threads. The First Amendment safeguards your right to speech by preventing the government from violating it – for example, by arresting you for criticizing Obama at your home, or seizing your protest signs and similar items.
The Rio, being private property, does not permit you to say or do anything.
In my view, The Rio has the right to expel anyone for virtually any reason at any given time. Undoubtedly, donning a shirt that displays “Play Like Drake” on one side and “and Rape” on the other gives more than sufficient grounds for expulsion.
Schools frequently request children to remove shirts with various slogans, restaurants and casinos enforce dress codes, individuals are often prohibited from boarding airplanes due to their attire, and the list goes on.
People have every right to express their discontent if your shirt displays offensive language or violent threats. Additionally, private companies, like the Rio, have the authority to request you to either remove such a shirt or leave their premises.
Though the shirt’s intention might be harmless, as I previously mentioned, not everyone comprehends this intention. Making inappropriate jokes can backfire if people fail to find your comments amusing.
Inquire from Michael Richards (Kramer) about the outcome when you employ a derogatory term and the joke is not understood by the audience.
Don’t Blame the WSOP
In instances like these, it’s challenging to blame a company for being thorough and taking their time. According to reports, the shirts were removed within a maximum of two hours from when they were first spotted. Considering this issue needed to ascend the corporate hierarchy, it was likely handled as swiftly as possible.
They would need to bring the shirts to someone’s notice. That individual would probably need to inform their superior, who might in turn notify their own boss. Afterward, they would need to swiftly verify the report’s truth and examine the shirts’ messages. Finally, they would need to determine the appropriate course of action.
The Rio has a lot happening during the WSOP and it’s difficult to claim that their response wasn’t swift enough. Essentially, despite our desire for issues to be resolved in 10 minutes, the logistics make it complex.
I Don’t Agree With Keeping Things Quiet Though
Some people on Twitter have commented that most businesses would resolve this swiftly and discreetly, as Caesars seemingly did. However, I personally believe that is not the appropriate way to manage the situation.
A public action by the WSOP, for instance, expelling all individuals donning the shirts, would communicate to the global community and especially the poker fraternity, that such unprofessional and disrespectful behavior is unacceptable at this level and will not be permitted at the WSOP.
This is simply amateurish stuff.
If you desire to behave foolishly and make childish jokes, do so in your basement around your DIY poker table, or online. The World Series of Poker deserves more reverence from both its players and fans, than to have their trivial online insults brought into the Rio.
The WSOP and the poker community need to eradicate this kind of nonsense. If spectators are allowed to wear such insensitive shirts, the game won’t be able to progress.
If something half as offensive appears on ESPN’s coverage, you can say goodbye to any mainstream sponsors.
Further reading:
Of course, let’s not forget about the shirts:
*Update: The following tweet has been removed. https://twitter.com/ChilliGirl13/status/483738394908819456
