Gayle now ‘scared’ around women
WEST Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has been scared of being around women ever since newspaper stories claimed he exposed himself to a female massage therapist, a Sydney jury has been told.
When the exposure claims were first aired “we all thought this was a joke ... not serious”, close friend and coach Donovan Miller told the NSW Supreme Court yesterday.
Since then, Gayle had become very reserved “and scared, especially (around) females and he always feels someone is out to get him,” Miller said. “You can see the incident has affected him.”
Gayle is suing Fairfax Media for defamation, saying it falsely claimed he intentionally exposed his genitals to, and indecently propositioned, Leanne Russell in the West Indies dressing room during an SCG training session at the 2015 World Cup.
Matt Collins, QC, acting for Fairfax Media, said Ms Russell bravely bared her soul to give raw and honest evidence.
She had explained her motive in going to Fairfax, saying she was horrified by a live TV interview in which Gayle invited reporter Mel McLaughlin to have a drink with him and told her “don’t blush baby”.