Different cultures have different traditions and expectations. When it came out that Usain Bolt had a girlfriend and was then seen with other women, as a Jamaican I considered it normal. Of course others did not and it turned into a huge scandal. Bolt explained the culture and when he intends to settle down.
In a sort of prophetic interview Bolt did with The Telegraph, he talked about his girlfriend and the differences of what’s expected in relationships based on your culture. At the time of interview (July), he did not want to name his girlfriend for fear of the firestorm that was sure to come.
“I want to keep it small for now, because I know when it gets out there’s going to be a lot of things to say, and I told her she can’t handle it,” said Bolt. “Because I’ve been through the media. I understand how you guys are.”
And he was right. It came out that he’s been dating a girl named Kasi Bennett for two years. While in Rio for the 2016 Olympics, Bolt was spotted dancing, kissing, and in bed with several other women. It grew into a pretty big scandal. In the interview, Bolt talked about how girls throw themselves at you once you become famous.
“You get famous, there’s so much pressure of girls wanting you. And for you to get married at 21, you have not lived one bit. It’s hard for you to stay with one woman because girls are literally just throwing themselves at you, and then you have the girls that the tabloids encourage pretty much to try to get with you. And that’s unfair to us guys – it’s hard to say no, you know what I mean? So I’ve learnt from you guys.”
He also talked about the differences in culture and the expectations once you’re in a relationship.
“That’s the expectation. If you’re famous, you need to have a family – that’s what they need to sell in Britain, I don’t know why. It’s respectability. But I’m not English! I’m Jamaican! We have a totally different culture, so you can’t judge me based on your culture.
Every culture is different. Jamaican culture is different, when you look at women and men having more than one… It’s different.”
So what is the Jamaican Culture?
“We’re laid-back. We dance, we live our lives, we have our fun. And then when we get older, then it’s time to settle down and have a family. I want to get married because my parents are married. I’ve thought about it, but I know I’m not going to get married before 35, for sure.”
