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Naomi Osaka Accidentally Illustrated What’s Wrong With the Mental Health Conversation
What everyone is missing in the debate
The talented Naomi Osaka sparked controversy at the French Open when she skipped a post-match press conference.
Her absence resulted in a $15,000 fine — and a flurry of opinions.
Here’s how The Washington Post summarized the opposing arguments that have arisen for and against Osaka’s actions:
Many applaud her for prioritizing her mental health and making her position known publicly. Others have noted that doing media interviews, however tedious or unwelcome, is part of the job of being a professional athlete.
But the bigger question isn’t being asked: Is a professional athlete skipping an uncomfortable press conference a good way to promote mental health?
Why Does Naomi Osaka Want to Abstain From Press Conferences?
Naomi is human and has a fear that most of us — myself included — have: The fear of public speaking.
In a Twitter post, she shared that she suffers from large waves of anxiety before press conferences. She also revealed that she has been battling depression since 2018 (when she was just 20 years old).
