Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Michael Rosen & Rachel Riley

87 replies

StBrides · 04/08/2023 18:39

This sounds quite sensitive so apologies to anyone who's affected by it but can someone please tell me what the argument between these two is about?

Seems to be a big twitter spat about which one's antisemitic..? There's an article that apparently sheds lights but it's in Google drive which I can't access.

TIA

OP posts:
MouseMinge · 05/08/2023 00:03

This seems to be from 2019 so not sure how it's relevant. I dislike Rachel Riley a lot and have so much respect for Michael Rosen so would definitely take his side in this but it's not something that's happening now and a lot has happened since then, including him nearly dying from Covid. If I was Jewish and heard her saying that and laughing I'd think she was, at the very best, an arsehole.

Curtainswithpompoms · 05/08/2023 07:56

MouseMinge · 05/08/2023 00:03

This seems to be from 2019 so not sure how it's relevant. I dislike Rachel Riley a lot and have so much respect for Michael Rosen so would definitely take his side in this but it's not something that's happening now and a lot has happened since then, including him nearly dying from Covid. If I was Jewish and heard her saying that and laughing I'd think she was, at the very best, an arsehole.

You’re obviously not on Twitter!

Mumdiva99 · 06/08/2023 06:41

Walruswithbraces · 04/08/2023 21:25

Rosen always comes across badly to me.

I don't know how he takes the credit for "bear hunt" when he didn't come up with it.

He doesn't. He retold the story. Have you heard him talk about it?

I didn't see the spat. But I do love MR. I actually voted for JC because of MR and his campaigning. MR is a fascinating person who has been through so much in his life. Leave him be. Why would RR attack him?

JellyMouldJnr · 06/08/2023 06:52

Walruswithbraces · 04/08/2023 21:25

Rosen always comes across badly to me.

I don't know how he takes the credit for "bear hunt" when he didn't come up with it.

Yes! Drives me mad. Along with his anti-phonics stance.

highdaysandholudays · 06/08/2023 07:28

www.theguardian.com/books/2012/nov/05/how-we-made-bear-hunt

For all the weird vitriol about MR not coming up with original story. He has talked about the origins many times.

AgathaSpencerGregson · 06/08/2023 07:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

GuitarZero · 06/08/2023 08:00

The person I feel sorry for most is Pete Newbon’s family. His wife, Rachel, has asked them to stop but they’re all continuing. Hirsch is dodgy and Riley is following suit.

GuitarZero · 06/08/2023 08:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

So which are you, a sad Tory Tosser or a sad Starmerite Twat? Hilarious.

AgathaSpencerGregson · 06/08/2023 08:16

GuitarZero · 06/08/2023 08:01

So which are you, a sad Tory Tosser or a sad Starmerite Twat? Hilarious.

Show quote history

You cling on to hope. One day, magic grandpa will return. One day. Believe!

topnoddy · 06/08/2023 08:30

Curtainswithpompoms · 05/08/2023 07:56

You’re obviously not on Twitter!

Show quote history

Nor is anyone else these days !

X marks the spot now Elon (I'm a reet TWAT me) Musk has got it

GuitarZero · 06/08/2023 08:39

AgathaSpencerGregson · 06/08/2023 08:16

You cling on to hope. One day, magic grandpa will return. One day. Believe!

Show quote history

Except I didn’t say I support Corbyn.

But if anyone who supports Corbyn is a sad twat according to you, god knows what someone who supports Johnson, Sunak or Starmer is by your book.

Curtainswithpompoms · 06/08/2023 08:47

topnoddy · 06/08/2023 08:30

Nor is anyone else these days !

X marks the spot now Elon (I'm a reet TWAT me) Musk has got it

Show quote history

Ah, I see you’re one of those post-truthers.
Not to worry.

topnoddy · 06/08/2023 08:48

Curtainswithpompoms · 06/08/2023 08:47

Ah, I see you’re one of those post-truthers.
Not to worry.

Show quote history

More of a pre-truther really .

Marxism comrade !

User98866 · 06/08/2023 09:01

What a ludicrous and awful thing for a supposed campaigner against antisemitism to say. It’s almost like Riley doesn’t understand what antisemitism is and found her new found passion for campaigning at a certain time in life when it suited her politically. Leave MR alone!

User98866 · 06/08/2023 09:07

The way she pulls a face too. Probably one of the most overt and shocking examples of antisemitism I’ve seen from a public figure for a while.

Curtainswithpompoms · 06/08/2023 10:24

Can anyone link to the video of her saying that? I’ve looked but can’t seem to find it.
Probably her PR team working overtime.

Mumofhope0814 · 06/08/2023 10:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

thegreylady · 06/08/2023 11:22

Michael Rosen is a wonderful poet and his Sad Book has helped me through my bereavement. His autobiography , Getting Better, is a very interesting read. Politics are not my forte, I see one party as self serving as the rest. I voted Labour all my life but our current MP is Lib Dem and has put actions before words so that is where my next vote will go.

fuckmyuteruslining · 06/08/2023 12:03

Of course people trust Rosen so much because he seems like such a lovely man who writes very popular children's books. Which I'm sure he is but even the loveliest people can hold mistaken views or act unwisely.

There is a lot of information in the public domain about Corbyn's Labour being antisemitic. You may or may not believe that. Personally I do believe that was the case but we need to remember that much antisemitism is inherent, unconscious and subtle. Think about what people mean when they say 'I'm not racist but' - they are about to say something massively racist but they don't see it. It's somewhat similar with antisemitism in Labour. You either see it or you don't.

My understanding is the specific issue with Rosen and Newbon was that Newbon retweeted a satirical image which featured Corbyn and referenced Rosen. It made a link with antisemitism. Rosen was outraged and said that Newbon was antisemitic himself. Newbon launched legal action against Rosen. But he died (by suicide) before it concluded. He was also involved in other legal action, his employers had been involved and investigated and the whole thing was a massive mess. Twitter pile ins, Corbyn commenting etc.

Original poster
StBrides · 06/08/2023 12:04

GuitarZero · 06/08/2023 08:00

The person I feel sorry for most is Pete Newbon’s family. His wife, Rachel, has asked them to stop but they’re all continuing. Hirsch is dodgy and Riley is following suit.

Sorry for my ignorance, who is Hirsch and how is he involved?

OP posts:
UncertainSmiler · 06/08/2023 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AnElegantChaos · 07/08/2023 14:53

fuckmyuteruslining · 06/08/2023 12:03

Of course people trust Rosen so much because he seems like such a lovely man who writes very popular children's books. Which I'm sure he is but even the loveliest people can hold mistaken views or act unwisely.

There is a lot of information in the public domain about Corbyn's Labour being antisemitic. You may or may not believe that. Personally I do believe that was the case but we need to remember that much antisemitism is inherent, unconscious and subtle. Think about what people mean when they say 'I'm not racist but' - they are about to say something massively racist but they don't see it. It's somewhat similar with antisemitism in Labour. You either see it or you don't.

My understanding is the specific issue with Rosen and Newbon was that Newbon retweeted a satirical image which featured Corbyn and referenced Rosen. It made a link with antisemitism. Rosen was outraged and said that Newbon was antisemitic himself. Newbon launched legal action against Rosen. But he died (by suicide) before it concluded. He was also involved in other legal action, his employers had been involved and investigated and the whole thing was a massive mess. Twitter pile ins, Corbyn commenting etc.

100%.

Narjilla · 07/08/2023 14:57

I find Rachel's comment offensive and I stand with Rosen who I do not believe to be antisemitic.

Heywhatawobderfulkindofday · 07/08/2023 15:02

You can be antisemitic and Jewish, which I think RR has forgotten. Mexicans voted for Trump. It's part of distancing yourself from the parts of your identity that you don't want to be associated with, it's a defence mechanism necessary due to the racism and prejudice in society.

ScribblingPixie · 07/08/2023 15:11

Eighty-five per cent of Jewish people thought Jeremy Corbyn was antisemitic in a 2022 Survation Poll. And 8.3 per cent said he wasn't. So it's not much of a game changer when someone says, 'I'm Jewish and I don't think he's antisemitic'. It just mean their views fall in line with a small minority of the Jewish population.