THE CASE FOR IFE WALDEN – Blythe Gunta
Twelve days ago, I broke the story about infidelity in the Waldens Marriage, and we have not seen or heard from the woman in the eye of the storm since the story broke. I would go so far as to say Ife Walden is one of those women who is seen and not heard, until she has something to say, which makes her a firm favourite of mine. Ironic considering, I broke the story of the affair nearly a fortnight ago. However, like every good journalist which I hope I am, I am keen on a balanced representation and fair assessment and at times am able to call myself out for getting things wrong on occasion. Whilst I was not wrong about the affair the proof is in the stills and then some, and this is a matter of public interest, not interest to the public (those are two different things here dear reader), I am however shocked at the mischaracterisation of Mrs Walden, Ife, let’s call her by her name since she is her own entity, in the comment sections of that piece which you can read here. Of the two thousand comments and counting there are only ten comments defending a woman who has done nothing wrong but be a wife to her husband, a mother to her children, a chairwoman of the company her family founded, a supporter of her husband, a man who until very recently was a shoe in as the next PM of this country of ours and that my friends, is to our everlasting loss because he would have been a fantastic prime minister, his foibles notwithstanding. I have no idea what the leadership of the labour party is thinking now that their great hope has become problematic but I do hope they can pull a rabbit out of the hat.
Having said all that, I do want to take your time by asking you to read further. This is my case for Ife Walden. A woman I know.
She graduated Magna cum Laude from our class in Vassar, she was brilliant, articulate, wiped the floor clean in any debate society… if she were a character, she would be Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa smile. Ife Johnson is not only book smart but whip smart, if you are wondering why her husband’s campaign is suddenly taking shape; it is because of her. Why his message is suddenly clearer? It is because of the team she assembled. While elder statesmen Tristan Walden the fist and the second would happily take credit for moulding or shaping their son and grandson’s future and path to the throne of PM, I ask you to look closely at their policies and even closer at Tristan’s; there is a marked difference by a country mile because of the influence of his wife, the woman we all vilify and dogpile on today in the comments and the tabloids and that is not a royal we, it is indeed WE in the fullness of the world because I acknowledge I am part of the problem.
Her offence if we are to take note is that she does not smile enough because it could be worse love. Right? She is not friendly because she does not go around hugging all your snot infested babies and she does not exude that English rose charm we all want to see from the wives of our elected representatives; misogynoir anyone? I even read one commenter call this saga a “sistah on sistah” crime. Wow take a bow attania123498 in the comments sections, for really showing your racism, but the two hundred plus likes tells us they are not alone in their mischaracterisation and outright racist dogwhislte. Are we surprised at this point?
But let’s lay down the pitchforks and placards calling for the head of the woman, who was going to be our next first lady, if we are giving titles, whose only offence besides being the “wrong sort”, is that she is not our friend or does not laugh on demand or is not as humble as we think she ought to be, because how dare a woman simply show up as herself. A woman fluent in five languages including Xhosa, a woman who plays six instruments, knows her Monet from her Manet, has the perfect right foot on the football pitched to rival David Beckham’s left, is responsible for billions of pounds in the small business loans, is a chairwoman of her family’s illustrious investment portfolio, has put her money where her mouth is in support of her charities across the globes and is the woman to whom much wrong has been done by those she trusted the most. That cannot be an easy thing to come to terms with. Can we step back from pushing her over the edge and if the empathy is not ours to give, because of her wealth and class and believe she ought to put up with it; you know, never complain, never explain, then can we hold space for a little humanity? And if not during the holiest season of all, Christmas, when? I ask you to please think about that as I will to.
As always, your comments are welcome.
Ever, Blythe.