Jayne Secker's on-air remarks about Willis Gibson, first player to beat Tetris - Sky News (04/01/24) (youtube.com)
In the linked video above was regular Sky News anchor Jayne Secker, a patron of disabled children’s charity Grace House, with a spontaneous yet unnecessary comment following the report on American teenager Willis Gibson beating the NES version of Tetris, a feat never achieved by anyone, ever, before. It is a comment that completely undermined the achievement being reported in the first place, on her own show, and moreover Willis himself. This was of course met with widespread disappointment, as anyone with a soul would.
“As a mother, I would just say step away from the screen, go outside, get some fresh air. Beating Tetris is not a life goal.”
Jayne herself has since stealthily double down, changing her X profile location to ‘Hopefully Outside’, and simply threatening to block anyone who has come to “bicker”. That was a week ago, with the original video report on her own feed also now deleted. But that hasn’t stopped the public’s passionate quest for an apology, with almost every single post Jayne has made on the platform since consisting of replies, from the gaming community, demanding just that.
I have no issue with a journalist or presenter trying to add a bit of spontaneous humanity to a reported event. But it must be constructive. As a viewer, regardless of their own leaning, I don’t expect a war correspondent to state, “I wish they’d just stop fighting”, and why should I? It is implied, same as it should be implied here that what Willis has done is an incredible video game achievement. Instead, it was simply a disappointing way to conduct oneself, as a professional broadcaster, to belittle a teenage boy’s personal and hugely unique achievement for the whole world of video games, just because you don’t like video games.
For Willis, it was an achievement encouraged by his own father, who sadly passed away before Christmas at the age of 38. It galvanised the boy’s focus to finish something his father would have been proud to see him achieve. The kid makes money from competitive Tetris events, more money than most teenagers will ever make themselves. Esports has become a multimillion money industry. But no, a walk in the park is what’s needed. He’s 13, its likely he does both. I’m going to shock you, Jayne, maybe he reads books inside too! The shame of it! How’s that indoor office and studio, by the way?
It might seem easy to add this to the “media hates video games” evidence library, but this feels a little different. This was a personal comment, from the heart, with added laughter to boot. It reminded me of a similar comment, from the prolific voice actor Steven Blum. Steven was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2013 for 333 video game credits, a figure that has grown exponentially since. Steven is an excellent and unique actor with his distinct gravelly voice that has been applied to quite a few favourite characters of mine.
In an interview on the Anime World Order podcast in 2011, Steven confirmed, as he has before, that he does not play video games. And that’s fine, I know plenty of people who don’t. It isn’t for everyone, and I respect that. However, to follow up, when asked what he does do in his spare time, he proceeds to state that there is a “thing called outside” and a “lot who are entrenched in the world of video games don’t realise there are trees and grass to frolic in”.
There are two things to unpack here. Firstly, it is implied that only kids play video games, when in fact most of the games Steven appears in are not for kids (Bulletstorm being a prime example). Also, what right-minded adults “frolic” in the park! Secondly, like Jayne’s comment, it is implied that anyone that plays video games doesn’t go outside. Or, to take Steven’s comment literally, “don't realise”. The key demographic for video games is 18-34 years of age. For the most part these are adults studying at college/university (which means leaving the house), commuting to work (also outside) or, and bear with me with this crazy notion, their job could take place – outside!
If Steven is concerned about gamers, it feels a little hypocritical to star in well over 300 of the very entertainment medium that, supposedly, nullifies the notion of leaving the house?! You star in countless animation projects too, Steven, do I watch them, as your website advertises, or should I go outside instead? You know what, I can do both in fact, I do both. We can all do both. I might sit at home tonight and watch a movie, can I do that too, Steven? How about you, Jayne? Is that ok?