Ever since Ben Shelton defeated defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling quarterfinal, fans have been buzzing about his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman‘s reaction when he forgot to mention her in his post-match speech.
The tennis match went into the wee hours of the morning, ending at 3:33 a.m. on Sept. 9. In his comments on the court after it concluded, Shelton mentioned his sister and best friend, but omitted Rodman when he said, “I’m just hoping my best friend and sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m. in three hours. It would be huge for their employers to let them have the day off today.”
A camera then panned to the Washington Spirit star in the stands, saying, “What about me?”
After Rodman’s reaction went viral, some outlets started reporting that she took the snub personally and was upset with her beau. However, an expert who analyzed the footage is insisting that’s not the case.
Inbaal Honigman is a body language expert. She has appeared in the media for more than two decades, offering her expertise and perspectives on several pop culture figures for Big Brother’s Little Brother, Elle Magazine, and talkSPORT radio, to name a few.
Speaking on behalf of Casino Guru, Honigman told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “When Shelton forgets to mention Rodman during his interview, her reaction is not dismay; it is comedy. Shelton himself is clearly still buzzing with adrenaline, which makes it hard for him to focus on answering questions. His raised, tense shoulders and his heavy breathing suggest that his body has not yet regulated itself after his incredible athletic feat, and so he can be forgiven for failing to mention Rodman.
“It is evident that Rodman’s physical reaction is meant in jest and is not to be taken seriously, for these reasons. First and foremost, her shoulders rise, and her chin juts forward, which are marks of excitement and pride. Had she been disappointed, anguished, or dismayed, her shoulders would have drooped and her chin would have lowered.”
The expert continued, “Secondly, upon noticing Shelton’s omission, Rodman is seen uncrossing her arms, perhaps expressing shock but not anger. Crossed arms form a protective stance, so if Rodman had felt under attack, her arms would have remained crossed, as if protecting herself from negative emotions.
“And finally, as Rodman turns and exclaims to his box, she’s making eye contact with the others, and moving her arms using large, noticeable gestures. This display indicates playfulness on her part, certainly not disappointment. Disappointment is solitary and quiet, while comedy is friendly and broad. Rodman’s body language is clearly the latter.”
Honigman also talked about the couple doing Shelton’s signature “celly” celebration together following his win, noting, “Ben and Trinity may be standing in different parts of the court, but their celebration moves are identical, which shows how much they are on the same wavelength.
“Ben throws his head back with unbridled delight, chin up showing how proud he is. His smile is so huge, it exposes his parted teeth, and his eyes narrow to a small opening. A smile could not be any bigger or more genuine. Trinity echoes the same smile — head raised, chin up, parted teeth and eyes squeezed nearly shut. Pushing her hair away, this is a small grooming gesture, indicating that she’d like to be noticed.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
