Grown men persistently seeking autographs from Kelsey Plum at hotels deemed peculiar by her
Ready, Set, Rewrite:
Here's a fresh take on the viral video featuring Kelsey Plum, the LA Sparks star, who's found herself in the fickle focus of internet criticism lately.
The video, which spread like wildfire, showcases Plum confronting a few enthusiasts who had camped outside her hotel, packed with binders overflowing with collector trading cards. They were after her autograph.
Asked for her opinion on their pursuit, she straight-up asks, "Don't y'all find that kind of weird? Lowkey?" Admitting to being turned off, she made it clear she wasn't in the mood for autographs.
"I'm just a fan ... can you sign one [trading card]?" the guy persisted, ending with a cheer for her stellar performances.
Plum responded politely, thanking him and admitting she appreciated his support.
The digital world, thus, erupted with fury. Critics ridiculed Plum, deeming her ungrateful for failing to show more enthusiasm towards fans.
"So you finally get the attention you begged years and years for in the WNBA and then shut down fans when asked for 5 seconds of your time because you're too good for them," one person raged. "I hate people like this. These women in this league are delusional."
"WNBA players begged for more attention, more coverage, but they 1000% are unequipped and ill-prepared for this," another sniped. "They need some sort of training Lmaao Like do you not know what comes with being a star?"
But here's the thing. I'm firmly on Team Plum for reasons:
- She kept it civil, even signing the autographs in question.
- Let's face it, stalking athletes at their hotels is weird, regardless of gender. I've clocked years traveling with sports teams, and what astounds me is the shocking disregard for boundaries by grown-ups lurking in hotel hallways, tailing players' cars, or sending personal messages through social media. This applies to both male and female athletes.
- Face it, a dude with a binder full of collectible trading cards isn't really a fan. He's likely a reseller, exploiting the athlete's fame for personal gain. I have a feeling Plum would've handled things differently if the fan were a few little girls in Sparks T-shirts.
With the Sparks enduring a couple of crumbling losses in their recent matches, Plum's looking to get back into the win zone against the Minnesota Lynx this Saturday in Minneapolis. So, if you find yourself loitering near a hotel there, try keeping a low profile.
- Social media was abuzz with criticism towards Kelsey Plum after the video of her dealing with persistent fans went viral, with some calling her ungrateful for failing to show more enthusiasm towards fans.
- Despite the backlash, Plum's stance on the incident remains firm, citing the unusual and borderline stalker-ish behavior of the fans requesting her autograph.
- In the realm of entertainment and sports, celebrities and athletes often face boundary issues from enthusiastic fans, whether it's through social media, hotel stalking, or overzealous autograph requests, a phenomenon that transcends gender and sports.
