Here’s how the internet would have reacted to Billie Jean King beating Bobby Riggs in the tennis match labeled the “Battle of the Sexes” had it happened today.
Once upon a time, only journalists were able to effectively express an opinion. Now? Everyone has a platform on which they can voice their thoughts thanks to social media. And let’s just say if Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs’ Battle of the Sexes had happened today, Twitter would be on fire.
Leading up to the Battle of the Sexes, Bobby Riggs, a 55-year-old former Wimbledon champion, ended up challenging and defeating Margaret Court, 30. But he was not ready for Billie Jean King, 29, who he challenged next.
To put this in perspective, Bobby Riggs was an unashamed chauvinist. He believed the quality of women’s tennis was sub-par, and he was very vocal about his anti-equality thoughts. Billie King, on the other hand, was a feminist and a strong force for women’s rights.
When it came time for them to clash, Billie Jean King was under a lot of pressure and was quoted as saying, “I thought it would set [women] back 50 years if I didn’t win that match. It would ruin the women’s [tennis] tour and affect all women’s self-esteem.”
The result of the match? She swept him 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a statement victory.
When King beat Riggs, there was no Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or anything of the sort. So that leaves us to wonder — how would the internet have reacted to her victory had it happened today? Participants of this social experiment were asked to give their gut reactions on social media as if King had just now beaten Riggs, and awesomeness ensued.
I wonder if this how good ol’ Bobby feels about right now. pic.twitter.com/nM6PKKSlzS
— John D-Rock Dotson (@DRockDot) January 2, 2019
— Shaun Laibe (@DynastyGOAT) January 2, 2019
Billie Jean didn’t surprise me WHATsoever. Clearly she’s the more skilled player. Gender doesn’t matter at all.
— Brad Washington (@themusecian) January 1, 2019
Sit down Bobby. The only love you know is a tennis score.#BillieJeanKing
— Grant Wilging (@gwilging) January 3, 2019
— Luis Tirado Jr. (@LTJ81) January 2, 2019
Sit down, Bobby. Be humble.#BillieJeanKing #girlpower
— Ryan Lee Mekkes (@RyanLeeMekkes) January 3, 2019
Billie Jean shutting up that chauvinist pig is a BIG MOOD pic.twitter.com/qgNFbZsui8
— Spider-Wes (@WesLara) January 2, 2019
Meanwhile, on Facebook…
The moral of the story? It’s girl time.
