The nonplussed Farrell found all the right words to stick up for Curry, who had been abused on social media for making allegations of racism against South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi.
The 32-year-old was about to captain England in the third-place play-off against Argentina, and while he was relishing the Parisian adventure, rugby's dark side was taking its toll.
No one who heard Farrell speak on October 25, just two days out from the Bronze Final, would have had the slightest inkling he would withdraw himself from selection for the following Six Nations.
But no one in that room at France's Institute of Sport on the capital's outskirts was left in any doubt that Farrell was as furious as he was puzzled by the state of social media.
"Just because you are saying things on your phone or behind a computer screen doesn't make it acceptable," said Farrell. "It seems to be going more this way, and it's not acceptable.
"I don't think it's for the players to come up with an answer to that. But it doesn't make me look fondly on engaging with people outside of those close to me." So, when Saracens yesterday revealed that Farrell will miss next year's Six Nations in order to "prioritise his and his family's well-being", thoughts turned immediately to rugby's murkier machinations.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 30, 2023 من Evening Standard.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 30, 2023 من Evening Standard.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis