Wayne Bridge to John – Et Tu Terry?

One of the most famous plays written by William Shakespeare is Julius Caesar.  In it, a plot was hatched to kill Julius Caesar.  When finally the murderous attack took place, Julius Caesar recognized one of the assassins as his good friend Brutus.  And with his dying breath he uttered these words: “Et tu Brute”?  Since then this phrase has been used to express the surprise and dismay at the treachery of someone who is supposed to be a friend.  This week, Wayne Bridge, England soccer team defender could well be saying to England’s soccer team captain John Terry these very words: “Et tu Terry”?

The British press has just been given a boost in press freedom.  High Court Judge, Justice Tugendhat has just made a historic landmark ruling that freedom of speech is just as important as the right to privacy.  With it, he ruled the public had the right to know and that it is alright for people to critisize “socially harmful” behavior. And with that, a pandora box opened up.

The British press are now reporting that England and Chelsea FC captain, John Terry had an affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the girlfriend of Wayne Bridge, his England and ex-Chelsea colleague and former neighbor.

Last week, News of the World was going to go public with this allegation when John Terry got wind of it.  He promptly applied for a gagging order to prevent the story coming out in print.  John Terry used human rights laws to obtain his mid-week gagging order against the press. This is the so-called secret super-injunction used by celebrities to stop people from revealing private and embarrassing information.

In 2008, Justice Eady ruled that the News of the World had indeed breached Formula One supremo Max Mosley’s privacy when it reported that Max Mosley had participated in a sado-masochistic orgy with 5 prostitutes.  Justice Eady had ruled then that since the orgy took place in a private apartment, it could not be lawfully discussed or reported by anyone. Understandably, the main British press have been careful about reporting on celebrities’ misdeeds.

In John Terry’s case, rumors about his infidelity has been reported in blogosphere.  John Terry obtained his interim gagging order using the initials “LNS”.  But blogosphere was already naming him as the culprit. Justice Tugendhat said that since the information is so widely known to others, “it meant that an injunction was less necessary or proportionate than would otherwise be the case”.  He therefore lifted the interim injunction.

Justice Tugendhat said: “Freedom to live as one chooses is one of the most valuable freedoms. But so is the freedom to criticize – within the limits of the law – the conduct of other members of society as being socially harmful, or wrong.”

In lifting the interim injunction, Justice Tugendhat suggested the claim to privacy was “essentially a business matter” for LNS. John Terry had claimed his right to a “private and family life”.

What are the consequences for John Terry now that the whole affair is public knowledge?

First, his England captaincy is at stake. England manager, Fabio Capello now has a decision to make on whether to retain John Terry as England captain.  England plays a friendly match against Egypt on March 3 at Wembley.  What is the dressing room atmosphere going to be then, seeing that John Terry’s team mates are reportedly angry with him, believing he has crossed a line by sleeping with a colleague’s partner?  Will Fabio Capello sack John Terry as captain, or will he resign?  There are already calls from fans for his resignation.

Secondly, what impact will this have on England’s players when the 2010 World Cup Final is played in South Africa later this year?

Thirdly, what will happen to his business.  As Justice Tugendhat suggested, John Terry could be more concerned about his business in getting the gagging order.  When Tiger Woods’ affairs with 14-odd women became public knowledge, he lost several commercial endorsement deals, costing him millions of dollars in lost revenue.  Will corporate sponsors similarly abandon John Terry after this?

Fourthly, what about John Terry’s image as a family man?  Remember he was named in 2009 as Daddies Sauce Father of The Year!  That reputation is surely gone.

Then again, what about his wife, Toni Poole? In 2005, two years before marrying Toni, John Terry said: “I’ve misbehaved and slept with girls behind her back. I’m not going to cheat on her ever again and I want to marry her more than anything.”  But he apparently did cheat on Toni then, and now. And Vanessa Perroncel was Toni’s best friend.  And when Vanessa Perroncel and Wayne Bridge split last year, she turned to Toni for emotional support. So Toni could well be saying: “Et tu John” and “Et tu Vanessa”?

And then again, what about the twin children?  Will they be victim of divorced parents?  John Terry reportedly confessed to Toni about his infidelity when he knew the game was up.  Will Toni forgive John Terry or will divorce follow?

And finally, what about Chelsea?  He is captain there as well?  Will Chelsea supporters turn hostile to him?  Will the club stand by him?  For now, yes, but what if the public turns against John Terry? 

Think about it.  Why do celebrities do such things as being unfaithful to their spouses?  John Terry earns £170,000-a-week as Chelsea captain, has a loving wife and twin children.  Why put all this at risk with his alleged affair with French underwear model Vanessa Perronce, who is the best friend of his wife Toni Poole, and who happens to be the girlfriend of his England and former Chelsea colleague, Wayne Bridge?  What happened to friendship?  Wayne Bridge is understandably upset.  And so is Toni.  Et tu Terry?  Et tu Vanessa?