Expert: Carmen Curtis - 7/8/2008

Question
Hello Carmen, Would you help me clear something up about Kelly's character. In the Season 8 episode when they are at the high school for a reunion, Kelly confides in Val about her first time in the bushes with a senior & that this senior gives her a bad rep of being a "slut".  Previously, in an earlier season, I thought Steve admitted to Kelly that he was the one that began the "slut" rumor because he was so hurt.
In addition to that, I thought Kelly said that the frat guy from their freshman year was the guy that date raped her and then told everyone she was a "slut".
Am I confused? Or did the writers make an error?
Thanks for your help! :)

Answer
Hi Su73,
These scenes are very confusing, and the writers have definitely made continuity errors before :). As far as I can figure out, Kelly's first time was in the bushes with Ross Webber in 9th grade. After she slept with him, I think she had low self-esteem and apparently slept around, which gave her a reputation for being "easy." I think during that phase is when she slept with the frat guy (John Sears) and regretted it. From what she said, with John it wasn't date rape but just a mistake she made with him, and that he too spread rumors about her after their night together.

Steve's revelation in season 7 is confusing because it is not clear how soon after the Ross Webber incident she sleeps with Steve. I suppose it must have been soon after Ross, because Kelly said that she tried to "live up to the slut rep for a year and a half." So I guess all the guys called her a slut in a way, but Steve told everyone he could that she was a slut, which ultimately got around school.

I hope this helps.
Carmen