In a statement posted on his website, Tiger Woods admitted he had “let [his] family down” and apologized for his “transgressions.” The online statement, his second since a car-accident last Friday, came just hours after US Weekly published claims from a Los Angeles woman that she had a relationship with the married golfer. “I am not without faults and I am far from perfect,” wrote Woods. “I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family.” Woods also reiterated his right to privacy: “Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.”
Dec 2
2009
11:09 AM ET
Tiger Woods apologizes for 'transgressions'
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he’s absolutely right. It’s nobodies business but he and his family. Anyone that feels otherwise, just has to know about the intimate details about people’s private lives. It’s not our right, and I am glad he is sticking up for his prviacy
I agree. I really don’t care if he (allegedly) cheated on his wife. No, it’s not right, but that is between the two of them and isn’t anyone’s business. People cheat on their spouses all the time and it doesn’t make the news.
Tiger waived his rights to his “human measure of prvacy” when he started selling buicks and nike products. You can’t use the spot light to make millions, and then expect people to turn away when your not in the mood. Celebrity is a double edged sword, if you don’t want everything that comes with it, become and accountant.
Thank you, Tigerfan, for being the voice of reason. By becoming the most recognizable and bankable athlete in the WORLD, he also welcomed in the world of celebrity and all that comes with it, the good and the bad.
I think Yao Ming, David Beckham, Christiano Ronaldo and several other football players (and no, not the fake football in America) would dispute that statement.
Tigerfan – I totally agree. You can’t have it both ways. Personally, I would prefer not to hear about this all over the news myself, because it is disappointing news, but you can’t bring in the $$ and expect people to ignore other explosive information that comes out. I am sad for his family.
Did this argument work for Bill Clinton? What worked for Bill Clinton is confession and a request for forgiveness.
And that only worked on the Democrats.
Agree with that. It will affect him endorsement-wise but I’m thinking Tiger has plenty of scratch and as long as he still plays and invests wisely, he’ll be fine for life.
no, it will NOT affect his endorsements – that’s ridiculous – now, if they found a joint on him that would be another matter
the problem with society today is that everyone wants to be famous, be it through sports or music, movies, tv….whatever. and then once they become well know, the want their personal lives to stay personal.
if anyone wants to have their personal lives stay person, you need to lead a private life, and unfortunately today, that’s not what fame is.
if you want to be famous, take the good and bad aspects of it, or don’t be famous at all.
don’t get me wrong, i like Tiger, but since he’s famous (very famous in fact) the media will not consider his private life to be public at all times. is it right, of course not, but that’s the price of fame in our world.
sorry, meant to say “private life to be private”
Well said, Sara.
MANY famous people lead private lives. Do you ever hear anything about Meryl Streeo, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Beyonce, etc? No, b/c they keep it private. It’s not impossible. But when a scandal breaks (and these don’t have to happen) all bets are off.
Tiger Woods pitches many products and brands. His public face has allowed him to make millions of dollars on endorsements. And now he is complaining about the need for privacy? He sold his privacy long ago. He should learn from Bill Clinton and confess his sins. Oprah might be an ideal place for his first confession.
I like how it’s “nobody’s business” when we like the celebrity or politician. If they aren’t well-liked, it’s a different story. This tarnishes Tiger’s squeeky clean reputation, no doubt about it.
I think it does become our business when he is the face of a product and wants us to believe in him and therefore that product in order to generate sales of that product. If you want me to buy what you are selling, I have to be able to buy you as a person. And for me, unfaithfulness in a marriage is not a value I espouse.
While I see your point, I have a question. If you are a salesperson for…a software company, and you cheat on your spouse, do all of your clients have a right to know? Should they no longer purchse software from you because unfaithfulness in marriage is not a value they espouse? I guess I just feel bad for Tiger. There are people who truly wh*re themselves out for the public (ie Kardashians) and then you have Tiger who although endorses products, at least tried to maintain some privacy in life and now the entire world knows about it.
Yes, the same applies for me. If this behavior came to light, then I would cease business dealings with that person. To me, if you can’t be faithful to a person you profess to love and care about, how can I believe you care about me as a client and won’t screw me over the first chance you get. Character shows itself in all aspects of life.
I am asking if YOU were the salesperson. If a client heard a rumor you were having an affair and called and asked…is that any of their business? If you are an accountant and it was rumored you had an affair, does the company have a right to ask you, because if you can’t be faithful to your spouse, who is to say you can’t be trusted with money?
Sarah, I think the argument is that he enters people’s homes and asks them to purchase certain items because of their respect of him as a person. A sales rep is usually just selling the products based on its own merits.
Personally, I don’t care about what he does in his private life, or who he does it with. I wouldn’t buy a car because Tiger drives it, and I won’t not buy a car because he cheated on his wife. If I was a golfer, I might take his advice on a set of clubs, and his marital life would have no impact that decision for me.
He let his pants down.
Just because he is a celebrity who is also a ‘pitchman’ does not in any way limit his right to privacy. Playing golf is his occupation, his job. Just like a doctor or salesperson, he has off-duty time which is none of my business. I hold him to no higher standard than I do the Free-Credit Report minstrel-trio or the talking gecko. I also don’t have to believe in Wood’s integrity to believe the razors are sharp or the
sneakers will last.
Well said.
I completely disagree with this reasoning. The advertisers wouldn’t pay millions for the Wood’s brand if they didn’t believe it was worth the money. The talking gecko is millions of dollars cheaper than Tiger Woods. Tiger Wood’s is clearly held to a different standard or they wouldn’t pay millions for his endorsement.
They pay millions because he has a recognizable face. People might watch the entire commercial because they see Tiger Woods in it, but to actually prefer one product over another because a celebrity endorses it…I can’t see that reasoning.
Then the issue is between Tiger and those who pay him for his endorsements. His personal life is still none of our damn business.
I’m still trying to figure out why the media is trying to make this into a major news story – even bigger than the president’s news conference last night. Tiger is not a politician who promised us anything, he wasn’t being extorted, his mistress didn’t come to his house threatening his wife, he didn’t break any laws. He just got into it with his wife who caught him cheating. He definitely won’t be the last guy this happens too.
Leave the guy alone already
A rich athlete cheats on his wife and it’s a surprise? I agree with Sue that a pitchman’s personal life doesn’t impact the PRODUCT they are selling. Tiger Woods doesn’t get multi-million dollar endorsements because he’a a good person. He gets them for being a good golfer.
The Tiger Wood’s brand included being a good golfer and being a good person. Unfortunately, his brand just took a big hit. Will he still make money on endorsements? Yes (especially golf related items). Will he make as much money as before? No
Will he make as much money as before? Of course he will.
The guy IS golf. He has even managed to make the “sport” watchable. Can you name five other active golfers besides him? With the help of Google I can. He’ll be fine just like the many men before him.
Kim that goes for every celeb than. No where in his contract it says to be a good person, do not cheat on your wife. What it does say that play golf, be in the commercials for this n that product. No where it says dont cheat n be a good person. No where this aint a high school or college golf or anyother sports team. This is the pros, do what ever you want to u aint a kid anymore you know what wrong n right just bring your A game when you come to play.
good person phhaalllzzz
Teapot1997 – I’m not sure if I should even bother responding given your lack of spelling ability, but…in someone’s endorsement contracts there is almost always a “morality clause”. The “morality clause” stipulates that if the celebrity does anything to tarnish his/her good reputation, then they can be fired. So actually, being a good person IS part of Tiger’s contracts, but that is still between him and those companies.
Teapot…you might want to work on those writing skills but, more importantly, you’re deluded if you dont think that Tiger doesn’t have any obligation to his adoring public. I personally don’t believe that we should look up to any of these schmucks as role models but what I believe and what is are two different things. Tiger makes his zillion dollars a year from nike and other sponsors because they believe that his endorsement of their product will sell more to his adoring fans. Without adoring fans, there would be no endorsements. Since he enjoys his 25 million dollar yacht and his estates, he should do a better job at hiding his indiscretions or living a better life. He does owe the public and for you numbskulls who think that he should only be obligated to play a good game of golf…you have another thing coming to you and are completely out of touch with reality.
Wakeforce, your point was made by a co-worker of mine (golf fan) and I understand that it’s not really anything new. Look at how Kobe bounced back from his “transgressions,” for example. Yet I think Tiger traded on a wholesome image as well as his golfing ability. As someone with only a casual interest in golf/Tiger, I’m actually kind of shocked that he was involved in all this sordid stuff. Ignorance was bliss…….
Tiger is following in the footsteps of his mentor, Michael Jordan. Both are dogs!
News flash: All men are dogs.
I’m betting that neither SLP or OLD John is handsome or a talented athlete or incredibly rich. That’s why you can make judgements about these guys. There must be thousands of women constantly beating down their doors because of the celebrity and money and I couldn’t imagine how one would handle that.
I believe the acceptable method is “No thanks, I’m married”. That, or don’t get married in the first place.
“transgressions” – why can’t he just use the “I had an extra-marital affair” – it is what it is – trangressions is suppose to make it better – I had a transgression vs I cheated on my wife – big man, big word, still means he’s stupid – plus he crashed is car to boot…
A short semi-apology followed by three paragraphs of whining and playing the victim.
While Tiger strives for perfection in golf, it appears he doesn’t strive for it in his marriage. Society has gotten too blase about lack of character and commitment and we are reaping the results of this attitude.
Ditto.
Tiger needs to hold a press conference with his devoted wife at his side, he needs to start crying, say he’s sorry, and then buy his wife a ginormous diamond. All will be forgiven.
better be bigger than the one Kobe bought