Why are we shocked upon learning that a long standing tv presenter is accused of paying illicit photos?

There was a huge furore in the media about Huw Edwards and the former ITV presenter Phil Schofield who unceremoniously fell from grace.  Edwards is at the centre of a report by the tabloid paper, The Sun, which claimed that the journalist allegedly paid “more than £35,000” to a young person “for sordid images.” We are yet to know if this is actually true. Schofield on the other hand admitted to having an affair with a younger man who he worked with. While popular British TV chef, James Martin recently found himself embroiled in a “scandal“. In the heat of a moment he lost his temper and acted in a way that was less than becoming. He is accused of bullying staff and in his apology, he admitted that “lessons have been learnt.”

So many individuals appeared completely shocked and disappointed at learning of the misdeeds committed by these household names. In reference to BBC presenter Huw Edwards, one commentator described him as a “part of the family.” This statement typifies the regard for these personalities among the public. Most people would never have met them in real life but watching over these number of years has endeared them to us. They are seen as paragons of virtue, unblemished, in their crisp, clean suits, fresh hair cut and powdered faces.

Why are they seen as better than us? Most of us know very little about them much less their private lives. We are immensely ignorant of what they do away from the camera. This void in knowledge does nothing to prevent us from putting them on a pedestal. Do we think of them as being perfect humans? Or is it that we divorce the thought of them having faults from our mind? The response to discovering their skeletons is utter disbelief.

Such news becomes the headline for just about every single media house in the UK. The reports flow every hour for days. Persons found to have done wrong are slowly but surely disowned and ostracised. Before the accusations are proven they are removed from their jobs, the employers cut ties. Sponsors relinquish support and publicly dissociate themselves. Once accused the media acts as judge and jury. If they call for your head they will get no less. We live in a culture that is quick to have people cancelled when they make a mistake, deliberate or not.

My fundamental question remains: why are we so shocked when the dark deeds of these men are revealed?

They are people too.

They’ve got feelings, emotions, desires, wholesome and unwholesome, just like the rest of us. Like all humans, they do not always make the right decision. Their judgement can become clouded or warped, just like the rest of us. The temptations they are vulnerable to may be different from ours, but they get tempted just like the rest of us. Should they know better? Yes they do. But having knowledge does not equate to wisdom. We all make that occasional dumb decision. That choice that defies logic and mystifies everyone around us. That’s because not a single human being is without flaws and faults.

When we place persons on a pedestal and begin to regard them as heroes or role models, it pays to remember that they are still humans. Once you’re made from flesh and blood then you are prone to mistakes. It’s in your DNA. No amount of training, schooling or beating can remove this feature.

One of the reasons I love the bible is because of how it represents the characters. The book does nothing to hide the vices of any patriarch, kings, disciples or apostles. It’s all there for everyone to see. 

Lots daughters slept with him.

Abraham lied about his wife.

Jacob deceived his uncle Laban 

Moses killed a man and hid the body

Moses got upset and struck the rock.

Samson killed many because of riddles

King Saul used a witch

King David took another man’s wife and had the man killed

Peter denied Jesus publicly.

Saul persecuted early Christians before his name changed to Paul

All the misdeed of these individuals are recorded and reported in full. We find devout men who were prone to making mistakes. No matter their spiritual achievements they were still men. Vulnerabilities didn’t disappear because they spent time with God.

We’re all flawed. It’s useless to pretend otherwise. 

Careful how you look to men for your example of practice and belief. 

No man is perfect.