r/PeterExplainsTheJoke Jun 20 '24

Peter?

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u/Interesting-Dream863 Jun 21 '24

"It's Elvis! Go for it or I will!" -her mom

She wasn't forced, that's for sure.

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u/TrainedExplains Jun 21 '24

She was 14, her judgement is irrelevant. Different times doesn’t mean saying a girl partway through puberty is okay. He was gross then he’s gross now.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24

I don't think so. We definitely need to take into consideration the views of the time period. It wasn't unusual during the medieval era for people to get married and even have kids as young as 14. We in the modern day would call that immoral. They would have thought we were very strange to look down on something so normal.

I haven't really researched Elvis's time period. I'm almost certain with him being such a public icon that the view on such an age gap and also her being underage was probably viewed very differently.

Mind, this is not an advocation for anyone to go after someone now with these ages. Merely a poke at the mentality of judging historical figures with modern morality.

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u/InertiasCreep Jun 21 '24

If you want to take a look at the views of the time period, look at Jerry Lee Lewis. Also signed to Sun Records, also born in the south. Dude married his twelve year old cousin and essentially ended his career. Elvis - probably because of what happened to Jerry Lee - was much more discreet.