LOS ANGELES — This past Sunday, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his San Francisco 49ers blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead and lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-20.
A two-second Google search of "Jimmy Garoppolo+girlfriend" reveals literally dozens of articles published in the two days since the loss wondering who his girlfriend is and whether his dating life contributed to the Niners' choke job.
Every single one of them mentions adult performer Kiara Mia, with whom Garoppolo was seen on one date back in 2018.
It was considered quite a scandal by a certain segment of the sports media sphere, observes Marlow Stern for the Daily Beast.
"Jimmy Garoppolo is the franchise quarterback of a prominent NFL team," opined Fox News host Britt McHenry at the time. "He should have more values and class than parading a porn star in L.A. Slam me for saying that, but guarantee someone in his camp said the same thing."
The Daily Beast article also quotes Fox Sports' Jason Whitlock.
"He’s got a freaky side, a real freaky side. Again, it’s going to be like: is he distracted? Does he have some kind of addiction issue? Is he Tiger Woods?"
Again, this was after one date.
Mia has defended Garoppolo since their date went viral two years ago.
"Jimmy values a woman with respect and honor — not judging or criticizing a woman without getting to know her heart and authenticity," she told the Daily Beast. "Very few athletes have the heart of a lion as he does. Not only athletes but also every man should value and respect a woman no matter what her career choice is."
But for a certain segment of the population, which includes a large segment of mainstream media, a mainstream celebrity associating with an adult performer is something to be looked down upon.
"It was nice to see a man of his caliber date a woman in the industry so publicly," performer and Adult Performers Actors Guild President Alana Evans told the Daily Beast. "For many of us, we are often the secret lover. It was nice to see a man not afraid of stepping out with such a recognizable star."
When they date adult performers, some male celebs go to great lengths to cover their own ass should the news break.
"I recall years ago going out with DeMarco Murray on the [Dallas] Cowboys," performer Tasha Reign told the Daily Beast. "For some reason his publicist was there too, which I found odd."
Maitland Ward, a recent breakout crossover adult star, has been on both sides of the performer divide, having been a well-known mainstream actress before turning to adult last year.
"In the past, porn stars were celebrities’ dirty secrets," Ward told the Daily Beast. "They’ve always dated them but never in public."
Ward went on though to praise Garoppolo for his public rendezvous with Mia.
"[It's] cool that this date [seemed] so authentic and genuine," she notes. "He wanted to take out a girl he likes. And she is treated with the respect and care she deserves. Sex work doesn’t change those standards. I’m not sure he should be praised for doing the classy, right thing, but you can’t deny he has made a bold statement. His braveness where others have cowered should at least be commended."
Unfortunately, with mainstream attitudes being what they are, it may be a long time before one date with an adult performer by a mainstream sports celebrity isn't dredged up because he lost a football game two years later.
Read the complete article here.
Image: Kristen Hazzard/The Daily Beast
