RateTheRef

The kid had his phone facing down apparently, according to media reports, not up in his face - several around him with their phones held high, many of whom filmed the incident, because they were filming him, and put it on social media. It was in the public domain before she said anything, the press had picked it up from Twitter. It was already trending on Twitter and on media outlets before the kid was even identified. She may well have come forward and said yes it was my son but the press already had it by that stage. They'd got it before the kids phone had even hit the floor - did you not notice all the press photographers there snapping away?  You are making a lot of assumptions about the mother and that is so wrong, there is NO blame on her at all. Stop blaming her - you say you're not but your negative comments about her say the exact opposite. She is understandably upset and dealing with the impact on her son, whatever that might be, along with media attention she is not used to.  Have you seen the photos of the bruising on the kids hand? That is assault, no ifs or buts about it.  Had you or I done that to him, we'd have been, quite rightly, carted off down to the police station instantly.

There is only 1 person in the wrong here & no you haven't condoned his behaviour at all, but you are making a lot more of a fuss about the mother than you have about his actions. Actions he did in front of several press photographers and hundreds of supporters. There is no explanation for what he did, there is no excuse for what he did. Blaming the mother and not just the one and only person who is to blame for any of this is why people like him think they can get away with this behaviour...