On Friday, February 22nd, the owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft, was charged with two counts of solicitation of prostitution. These events occurred at Orchids of Asia Day Spa, a massage spa in Jupiter, Florida. The charges were made after the uncovering of a human sex trafficking ring linked to illegal sex work in several day spas in South Florida. This case dates back to July, when a complaint of conditions at a day spa in the South Florida area lead to an investigation of day spas including the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. There was evidence at the original day spa that employees were living in the facility, cooking on the back steps, and sleeping on the massage tables. After the investigation, Jupiter Police stated that sex traffickers forced several women from China to live inside the spa and sell sexual services to more than one thousand men a year.
While this information is shocking, it has been overshadowed by Robert Kraft’s involvement and how the NFL plans to punish him for his actions. When reporting on this event, major news publications discuss “a new statement from the NFL regarding Kraft and the league’s personal conduct policy”(CNBC) and how the NFL “requires owners, players and other employees to “refrain from ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL”(CNN). These news publications focus very little on the sex trafficking ring and the victims of this terrible crime. Instead, publications remind readers that “Kraft is the front-facing owner of the greatest dynasty of this, and maybe any, NFL generation”(Sports Illustrated). Rather than reflecting on efforts to combat sex trafficking, news publications focus on how Robert Kraft’s charges will affect his reputation and his position as the owner of the Patriots.
Robert Kraft is a celebrity, especially in New England, so it does make sense that people are interested in the fact that he is involved in such an evil crime. People should, however, pay attention to the discovery of this sex trafficking ring in South Florida, which shows the disgusting reality of sex trafficking and how large this industry is in the United States. The media should spread awareness and gather support for the victims of these crimes, instead of just discussing Robert Kraft’s future in the NFL. Focus on the real victims, not a celebrity forced to face the realities of his own actions.