How is Huw Edwards different to Philip Schofield

[user6482952]

Heard this question raised on LBC this morning and was wondering the same thing.

How are the two any different? Both older men engaged with younger men, both cheating on their wives, and both claiming mental health issues post revelation.

This. Both preyed on vulnerable men young enough to be their grandchildren. It's grim.

What @melaniepond said. Plus two young BBS staffers have now alleged he made questionable remarks to them havent they? So more parallels with Schofield.

I just don't get the-he's mentally I'll so it's fine. Schofield was probably also feeling mentally unwell after his behaviour was revealed and I don't remember blanket calls to lay off him (there were some).

I think they both behaved very badly, even if not illegally. (HE did behave illegally if he met up with one of his interests during lock down in point of fact), and both are grim. Both will probably struggle with there MH which I wouldn't wish on anyone-but there has to be some accountability for both

We don't know for a fact that it was through OF.

HE had been contacting various young men on Twitter and Instagram so this is just as likely what happened with the first person.

Also, the sheer irony of HE reporting on the numerous lockdown breaches of politicians, when he was guilty of the same.

You can't invoke Caroline Flack and #bekind whenever someone does something reprehensible. People need to be held accountable. Using MH as a reason to go easy on someone (particularly when someone else found doing something similar isn't given the same treatment) is abuse of a different kind.

Yep.

Oh and finally, The Sun is a shitrag.

It's been almost exclusively assumed or stated that the young people involved with the HE case are male.

THIS is the problem with SM chats including MN where lots of assumptions, rumours, and inaccuracies on reporting are bandied about.

Plus the total lack of comprehension skills that many have, I've seen numerous posts today saying HEs wife is claiming he did whatever he's accused of doing because he was mentally ill. That she's covering up for him and is disgusting saying MH is an excuse. Someone even claimed she said "that's just what men do".

She said nothing even approaching any of those things.

She said he has a documented history of mental illness (this is true) that the events of the last few days have made this worse and he is now receiving treatment in hospital and will respond to the allegations when he's well enough to do so.

The Only Fans thing took off on Tattle and has not been verified anywhere.

AFAIK Huw Edwards was paying for pictures, not engaged in a full-blown affair (unless I've missed something?)

Phillip Schofield's partner was working with him at ITV, so there was the inappropriateness of an office affair, plus the power imbalance between a big TV star and a young guy just starting out in the business.

So IMO, the PS situation is much worse.

No difference, both vile

I agree with this. BBC have been brought into disrepute (and colleagues of HE are now coming forward saying he sent them inappropriate messages) but the difference is, we don’t pay PS wages. We do pay HE.

BBC have to take action or they will have nobody left paying the licence fee.

He's not, except perhaps there was some suggestion of misuse of career power with Schofield as that kid got a job at ITV with his help?

Between the two, I’d say the same and little difference

Same feeling of being untouchable, seeking out young people, and crashing down when found out

OF has not been verified anywhere.

That HE met anyone for sex or tried to meet anyone for sex has not been verified anywhere.

Nor has ANYONE ANYWHERE officially said or implied that HE or his wife have said he did whatever he is being accused of doing because he was mentally ill!

His wife's statement said he had a documented history of mental illness, the recent events have made it worse, he is in hospital receiving treatment and will respond to the allegations when well enough.

That was it. But hundreds of people seem to have interpreted that as something very different to what was said.

There isn't any difference. Both privileged white men in a position of power, using their status to live their sexual fantasies while being married with children. They are only sorry and claim mental health issues because they got caught out. If they had not, both would still be on TV right now.

These people that have everything think they are untouchable.

Both old pervs, however Scofield slightly worse due to his brothers behaviour and his knowledge of it.

Yeah this is a big part of it IMO

Schofield situation looked like grooming - plus he'd just been on witness stand fairly recently and admitted he failed to report to authorities his brothers illegal activities with a minor that sent the brother to jail.

It's seem much less clear what they hell was going on with Huw Edwards - 2 police forces have said no crime - but there may be inappropriate behavior in workplace stories coming out - it looks sleezy as hell and I have to say I was shocked it was him partly because of his respectable persona - which frankly Schofield never had.

I do think both cases are really bad - not least the indifference/coverup of their behavior that appears to have gone on - but there are subtle differences not sure that's enough really to distinguish them may depend on what else emerges with Edwards.

I agree that both Philip and Huw's behaviour has definitely been questionable and unwise given their positions, but I agree with Thirty5 about the homophobic element. Liam Payne was 14 when he was mentored by Cheryl Cole, some 10 years his senior, on an ITV programme. They went on to have a baby. Could she now be accused of grooming Liam from an early age in the hope of a future relationship.?

*I imagine living a lie for forty years or more will take a toll on your mental health.

Trying to be someone you're not (for whatever reasons and in whatever way) is incredibly stressful*

Especially when you realise that your secret side is now out and known to millions of people and looks likely to destroy your reputation and everything you've worked for over the years. I imagine there's going to be years of therapy for HE in this, if he wasn't in there before, and whatever the truth I can't see any way back onto TV for him.

Yes and I think if it happened now, she would be. A lot has changed in child protection and safeguarding in the last 15 years. Things that were normal(ish) then are beginning to be recognised for what they are now.

Caroline Flack and Harry Styles, too.

I have to say the people saying 'but he did nothing illegal' really, to use a MN phrase, ought to raise their bar for behaviour somewhat. For anyone, never mind people in the public eye.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I absolutely didn’t mean to single you out in any way - it was meant as a general comment. I’m as guilty of making assumptions as the next person. I hope everyone involved in this sad story finds a way to heal.

I really wouldn't expect anyone to be investigated at work because they spent their private time on dating websites chatting to over 18s, even if they were married, or if they were subscribing to legal OnlyFans accounts. It wouldn't matter if they went to church or not either.

Whereas if someone got a lover a job and then moved their job around/had them sacked when the affair finished, I would expect work to look into that. Still probably not a police matter.

I'm surprised it's not a police matter if you hear a confession to paedophilia but don't report it, but apparently it isn't.