How is it, that you’re at home, in the sanctity of your personal space, that space is invaded by a burglar, you lose an item of value but somehow YOU end up becoming the bad guy?

This is a smear campaign, for some yet-to-be-explained rationale and it’s impossible to convince me otherwise.

We sure do know how to treat victims of crimes here in Jamaica Ÿ™ƒâ€” Christopher E. Harper (@chrisxharper)

We sure do know how to treat victims of crimes here in Jamaica Ÿ™ƒâ€” Christopher E. Harper (@chrisxharper) January 16, 2020

That’s the question on many people’s minds as some media outlets have chosen to rip Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Adley Duncan, to shreds, labelling him as a ‘sexual deviant’.

The slide down a slippery slope…

A story carried by Loop Jamaica on Sunday,

which seemed to focus on Duncan’s Twitter rant where he claimed to be ‘pleasuring

himself’ during the break-in, only made the anger worse for me.

49 MURDERS FROM YEAR START AND THE NEWS IS FOCUSED ON ADLEY?!!!!! We can agree he made an err in judgment when he tweeted and STILL agree this shit is ridiculous. I don’t even know him and I’m appalled. This is beyond me yo.— Mamachel (@mamachell)

49 MURDERS FROM YEAR START AND THE NEWS IS FOCUSED ON ADLEY?!!!!! We can agree he made an err in judgment when he tweeted and STILL agree this shit is ridiculous. I don’t even know him and I’m appalled. This is beyond me yo.— Mamachel (@mamachell) January 16, 2020

Fine, the man /might/ have an oversharing problem, but he’s STILL a victim. Is sensationalism (or clicks) the only thing some of you care about?

Now, this is absolutely disgusting for two reasons:

1. You’re basically telling people that if their personal space is breached, the idea of innocence is thrown out the window if that person is as outspoken and unabashed as Adley. 2. The very nature of his proclivities is more “newsworthy†than the fact that he could have easily died, given Jamaica’s current security climate.

I cannot believe that some Jamaican journalists are using their world renowned press freedom to dogpile a victim of a burglary and make out like masturbation is more dangerous and shameful to Jamaican society than *actual* burglars.— Imbezzu (@ashindestad)

I cannot believe that some Jamaican journalists are using their world renowned press freedom to dogpile a victim of a burglary and make out like masturbation is more dangerous and shameful to Jamaican society than *actual* burglars.— Imbezzu (@ashindestad) January 16, 2020

Okay, so the story aired, people were

upset, was that it? No. More stories came as DPP Paula Llewellyn declared her

office will be drafting a social media policy as a countermeasure. Still

nothing on the actual burglary but I digress.

And it actually gets WORSE

Could you tell me, why on Thursday (Jan. 16), the Jamaica Observer’s head cartoonist Clovis Brown decided that a sketch of Adley – steeped in shame and NAKED – is somehow funny?

I-

What public is Clovis talking about???— Morningstar (@MZSnookes) Adley is the VICTIM!!The press truly has a jaded sense of what is relevant and important to cover.

What public is Clovis talking about???— Morningstar (@MZSnookes) Adley is the VICTIM!!The press truly has a jaded sense of what is relevant and important to cover.January 16, 2020

Someone, anyone, explain it to me.

How is it that this man’s moment of

vulnerability continues to serve up a tickle for you sadists?

They say fortune favours the brave, and I’ll

say it with my chest that you folk are despicable. No sympathy, no courtesy, no

remorse.

I said some time ago that it was a personal vendetta against Adley. Unnu believe now??— Mikeipedia (@mikey_esquire)

I said some time ago that it was a personal vendetta against Adley. Unnu believe now??— Mikeipedia (@mikey_esquire) January 16, 2020

I’m honestly shocked at the way this man, whose only ‘bad thing’ was being too open with his words, and his good name is being drawn through the dirt despite the common criminal still being at large.

Judging from the apt and fierce backlash on Twitter, I’m not the only incensed by open mud-slinging of Adley in the media.

WHY is adley being made the villain in this story?????— kingston boy (@amadeusfletch)

WHY is adley being made the villain in this story?????— kingston boy (@amadeusfletch) January 16, 2020

Well, maybe it’s because I don’t consider myself a “journalist†and there’s a standard to my work I will never allow any company have me sink below that moral threshold.

He’s a person. A taxpayer. Someone’s son.

Someone’s friend. What you all have done is downright nasty and disappointing.

Y’all must really have a grudge against Adley if this tweet from his traumatic experience is what becomes his public takedown. — Fit for Purpose Gay (@GlenDivo) No matter which way you slice it, whether you believe his version or a rumor, neither implicates his work or his capacity to do same.

Y’all must really have a grudge against Adley if this tweet from his traumatic experience is what becomes his public takedown. — Fit for Purpose Gay (@GlenDivo) No matter which way you slice it, whether you believe his version or a rumor, neither implicates his work or his capacity to do same.January 16, 2020

It is with this biased (and unreservedly

so) view that I say the profession has lost the stature that once made it so

formidable.

My only apology will be to Adley, for all

the flack you’ve received despite the fact.

What’s this agenda that all the major media houses seem to have against Adley? I’ve never seen this in my life.— King Kai (@ibkonteh)

What’s this agenda that all the major media houses seem to have against Adley? I’ve never seen this in my life.— King Kai (@ibkonteh) January 16, 2020

Bring back the pride to journalism, fellow media, you’re not far removed from criticism. If Adley is fair game, then so are you.

I wish this would be the warning no one has ever been bold enough to tell you to your face, to make you change, but controversy sells.

Until the next outrage.