What a repulsive man John Barrowman is

[Tequilabeliever]

John Barrowman, indecent exposer extraordinaire has been on tv this morning talking about how it’s not sexual harassment to lob your knob out in front of your colleagues and everyone had a great time and thought it was hilarious whilst he was doing it.

How tone deaf can one man be. Even given it was over ten years ago, has it really ever been ok to behave in that way, anywhere, let alone in a workplace.

I’d love to hear from the women who were present when this was happening. I believe he actually put his penis on the shoulder of one woman. The man should have been arrested but no, he’s on tv talking about how painful it’s been for him, for this to have been brought to the attention of the public.

I watched the interview with Richard Madeley this morning. JB was super unrepentant. And seemed a bit angry that it was still an issue. He did a bit of ranting. But at the end of the day a misogynist is a misogynist - gay or straight it makes no difference in my mind. Cancel cancel cancel. Bye Mr Barrowman. Oh and I don’t rate your singing either. Sorry about that.

If John Barrowman's work has dried up he'll have to find other employment. It's what the rest of us do.

No one owes us a living though next time I'm made redundant I must remember to give Richard Madeley a call to see if he can give me spot on national TV to help in my job search. I wonder if this a service This Morning offers to all their loyal viewers. I bet most of us haven't been accused of sexual misconduct at work.

It would be wise in Barrowman's next role if he only exposed his penis at the porcelain on the urinal and zipped up before he turned round.

@Cassop Fantastic post. This behaviour is not funny, it is not ok because of a persons sexual orientation. JB has behaved shockingly and Will not own up to it. Disgusting.

To me it wasn't sexual in that he wasn't aroused and wasn't intended to cause offence or distress, the cast were apparently very close - if he hardly knew the person it would be very different. Two people complained though and he stopped.

It was the sort of thing that went on at uni all the time - the lads were always getting naked and it didn't bother me, there was no threat and we knew them all very well - if it was a women pulling her top up and putting her boobs on a (sitting down) man's head I'd feel the same - if they were good enough friends to be like that then that's up to them I wouldn't be offended just think they were a bit silly and immature. It wouldn't happen in an office setting as that is quite formal and would be very weird.

I think John Barrowman puts on a big persona which comes across as a smug git. I used to think he was awful, but I felt a bit sorry for him when he was on I'm a celeb and thought he seemed quite unsure of himself. I suspect he's probably not as big a twat as people think he is just very immature in the past and it's come back to haunt him.

@CoopsMalloops

If it was in an office situation would he have been arrested for breaking the law? Indecent exposure? Sexual assault? Isn’t it basically what it is?

And yes, always turned my stomach when I saw him, creepy.

It's the differences from the office environment that make this sort of thing more common in industries like film and theater.

You have people who are working together long hours, sometimes almost living together. They can be working very intimately. Sometimes they are being paid to be naked in front of people, so their boundaries are not what you might get in an office situation. Extrovert personalities are fairly common, and substance use is also more common. Plus the whole "we're so liberal" attitude you sometimes find in the arts.

It leads to a culture which is quite different than a typical office environment, and where there are a lot of blurry boundaries which makes for people crossing them.

@Gowithme
No offence- but your description of not sexual because he wasn’t aroused or intending to cause distress is not how the Sexual Offences Act describes sexual assault.

So sorry this happened to you @Blue4YOU, and that excuse as to why he couldn't have done it is ridiculous. Yet another example of why we don't want men in women's spaces just based on who they say they are. People like John Barrowman and your attacker are not safe to have around women, with attitudes like this, and we shouldn't have to put up with it or have people think we're a prude.

If I sat on a colleague's lap with no knickers on I'm sure they'd have something to say about it, and I'd most definitely be fired.

I'm somewhat more on the pro Barrowman side as I think context is important.

I used to work with someone who made really inappropriate comments to me and the woman I shared an office with, but in the context of our working relationship we all knew he just being daft and there was absolutely no threat or disrespect involved.

That said Barrowman is an absolute idiot for carrying on with the woe is me act now, and his management are stupid for allowing it.

The definition of sexual assault - in the UK is
That person A commits an offence
If he causes another person (B) to engage in an activity,

(b)the activity is sexual,

(c)B does not consent to engaging in the activity, and

(d)A does not reasonably believe that B consents.

(2)Whether a belief is reasonable is to be determined having regard to all the circumstances, including any steps A has taken to ascertain whether B consents.

No work place should accept behaviour like this, and I would feel really uncomfortable if a group of friends acted like this in a social setting.

Maybe some people who think this is ok should read the OFSTED report on peer on peer abuse in schools. This is why schools are trying to stamp out ‘it’s only banter’ type excuses

@KylieCharlene

First time I ever saw him on TV he gave me the shivers. Very sinister vibe. I couldn't understand how other people thought he was fabulous.

Same. He did something so vile on a tv panel show I was watching I had to turn it off, he makes me feel uncomfortable every time I see him. I switch sides/off every time he pops up.

I think there’s no point holding him to todays standards
The whole of society revelled in the “wild/boob touching /bitchy gay” for bloody years and years.
Look at lovely Gok Wan. His models came out and said “actually I didn’t like it when he did that”
So they probably won’t do it again

Men and their Willy - gay or straight, there’s always one mate that has to get it out lol.
Up to you if you karate chop it

He is Scottish/American. His parents are Scots and live in Ameria.

This is very disappointing, I really liked John Barrowman at one time.

I do know people in the entertainment industry and have been told about some who go over the top like this. It is unacceptable, those days are over. We are going to hear more about such people in the future and will be very surprised at who they are. Makes me feel very sad and disillusioned.

Wow just watched it. He seems very cross about it.
"Everyone thought it was funny!"
How does he get to speak for everyone else?
Like pp have said, I could understand if he said "I thought it was just a bit of fun and Tom foolery but I misjudged how other people felt about it, or I found it very funny but in hindsight it was inappropriate"

@Gowithme

To me it wasn't sexual in that he wasn't aroused and wasn't intended to cause offence or distress, the cast were apparently very close - if he hardly knew the person it would be very different. Two people complained though and he stopped.

It was the sort of thing that went on at uni all the time - the lads were always getting naked and it didn't bother me, there was no threat and we knew them all very well - if it was a women pulling her top up and putting her boobs on a (sitting down) man's head I'd feel the same - if they were good enough friends to be like that then that's up to them I wouldn't be offended just think they were a bit silly and immature. It wouldn't happen in an office setting as that is quite formal and would be very weird.

I think John Barrowman puts on a big persona which comes across as a smug git. I used to think he was awful, but I felt a bit sorry for him when he was on I'm a celeb and thought he seemed quite unsure of himself. I suspect he's probably not as big a twat as people think he is just very immature in the past and it's come back to haunt him.

It's not acceptable at uni either, however when this happened John Barrowman was in his thirties or forties.

He wasn't a daft young guy showing off to other daft young people in a setting that was silly or immature.

He was a grown man, who'd been told numerous times to stop, who enjoyed inflicting his cock (and choice of humiliating 'prank) on other people and is utterly unapologetic for his action.

He's sorry his career is tanking, but he's utterly apologetic for his actions.

@MRS54321

I think there’s no point holding him to todays standards The whole of society revelled in the “wild/boob touching /bitchy gay” for bloody years and years. Look at lovely Gok Wan. His models came out and said “actually I didn’t like it when he did that” So they probably won’t do it again

Men and their Willy - gay or straight, there’s always one mate that has to get it out lol.
Up to you if you karate chop it

No, the whole of society did not. As ever, there was a large unheard/unvalued minority of ordinary females who felt unsafe, violated, repulsed etc.

It was never OK to get your cock out and force it into somebody else's space. Never. And JB knew full well what he was doing.

@EatSleepRantRepeat
Thank you! And I agree that just saying it wasn’t sexual, or a threat, or done by someone not intending to cause distress etc is not the defining characteristic of a crime or other type of offence.
And one can reasonably ask why is it that it’s women having to tolerate this, time and again.
Yes I wouldn’t feel “threatened” by lads at uni stripping off but there’s a bit of a difference between that and when someone with more influence or power just decides to do something to you that you do not consent to. And saying plopping an arse or a penis unwantedly on someone (naked) is quite obviously sexual.
Just like rape isn’t just about power and contains elements of hate and sexual arousal, assault of a sexual nature doesn’t stop being assault because the numpty fooling around didn’t think through the consequences properly

@Cassop

I am sick of "omg cancel culture!?!" being wheeled out to stop people talking about wrongdoing, normally done by men.

There is no cancel culture in this case, like many rich, famous white men before him, he has been known to be completely sexually inappropriate in the workplace for absolutely years, he has a section on his Wikipedia page, kindly highlighting some of them.

Despite being a total pervert who can't keep his cock in his pants and this being known by the industry he worked in, he has had an extraordinarily long career. He is now back doing work and on the talk show circuit whining about cancel culture.

If the entertainment industry had been doing their job correctly, his career would have ended up in the 90s when it was shown he couldn't behave in a safe and nonperverted manner in the workplace.

Whines of cancel culture from these types of men or their supporters are ridiculous and the foot-stamping about how it was years ago, so why is it being dragged up again? So you can have decades whipping your cock out, but discussing this in any way after the fact, is somehow the wrong thing?

John and others like him, you have not been canceled because of some warriors on twitter or whatnot. You have been sacked/stopped being hired/not being hired as frequently because of your own disgusting behavior. Take some ownership and if you don't want this to be talked about don't do it?

Bill Cosby.

It's not about colour it's about actions

If he had done this in a park or to young girls walking down the street, would that be acceptable to some people on here? Or is it different because he is in musicals?

@ButterflyBitch

I think he sounds Scottish when he talks to someone Scottish. I knew someone like this in real life. Sounded completely English until he spoke to his mum and then it was the broadest Scottish accent ever. Sounded really odd.

He was born in Scotland to a Sottish family who moved to Canada when he was a child. I believe

He is Scottish and brought up in Canada

“ This is very disappointing, I really liked John Barrowman at one time.”

I agree. I actually went to his concert a few years ago and had a really good night. His singing was superb and he was entertaining (in a clean way).

He has a right to make a living. I hate cancel culture that allows for no mistakes. People need to accept that others are human and do daft things.

Sticking your willy on someone's shoulder, and them laughing uncomfortably, and wanting him to actually feel some consequences of that isn't "daft" it is reprehensible

As to the American/Scottish thing - (or is it Canadian?) he was brought up in an American (or Canadian) / Scottish family and has said before in interviews that according to who he is with, his accent changes.

@MrsTerryPratchett

Flashing isn't about sex it's about power. So his sexuality is irrelevant.

I can't stand men mansplaining how women should feel about sex offending. I don't care how John feels. I care about how the women do (and men when they're victims).

Exactly this.

I heard he only ever did it to people of lower status than him. So... if that isn't an indicator that it's a power things, what is? I presume he didn't do it to the showrunner or his agent.

I hadn't heard about this. It's absolutely disgusting.