The Kobe Bryant Case: Why is sexual deviance okay for celebrities?

I was at the gym being exposed to both Fox News and CNN, when I heard that a judge moved to identify Kobe Bryant's accuser in the civil case against him. When I got home I searched the New York Times, and found the article, which outlined the judges reasoning for releasing her identity. The article mentions that the woman has already received death threats because her identity was leaked during the criminal trial. The criminal charges were dropped after the defendant said she no longer wanted to participate in the trial. The civil case is seeking damages for "ridicule, pain and suffering" since the alleged rape.

Will this discourage other rape victims from coming forward, especially if the person they are accusing is high profile? If this woman was raped, she has had to endure threats and unwanted publicity as "punishment" for trying to bring her rapist to justice. On the other side of the coin, if Kobe Bryant did not rape this woman, he had no protection against having his name plastered all over the newspapers and TV.

Which brings me to the title of this post: I suppose what is most disturbing is not the actions of Kobe Bryant or the defendant, but the actions of people who would threaten this woman, without getting any facts or hearing a verdict. Has Kobe Bryant received any death threats? I doubt it. What message is this sending? This also brings to mind when various male celebrities are caught with prostitutes (I'm thinking of Hugh Grant, but there are others). It makes the news for a day, these men are seen as "playboys", and everyone moves on. The public deems what society would categorize as "deviant" sexual behavior for themselves and their peers as somehow "okay" for celebrities. Why is this? And, what are the gender differentials for the acceptance and endorsement of celebrity deviant sexual behavior? I am trying to think of an A-list actress or female celebrity who has experience with deviant sexual behavior in the media, but I can't think of a counter-example. Except for Madonna, who used her sexuality to define herself for a period of her career, which is not quite what I mean. If anyone has any female examples of deviant celebrities, please post them. To wrap this up, I guess my point is that male celebrities are seen as being more macho or masculine by having experiences with deviant sexual behavior, but female celebrities do not experience the same pay-offs. Kobe's career will be just fine.