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Biggest news story: Part 3

612 replies

Mimmy352 · 16/09/2023 15:40

Right so it’s being described as Baroque because whoever is writing it is from the 18th century and can’t figure out how to upload the story

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20
Superfood · 16/09/2023 19:44

SpidersAreShitheads · 16/09/2023 19:20

What did Richard Ayoade do??!!

I am a huge fan of the NZ director as well, I had no idea he was known for this.

Show quote history

Richard Ayoade said that Graham Linehan, who wrote Father Ted, Black Books, and the IT Crowd, is a good writer.

Superfood · 16/09/2023 19:46

SpidersAreShitheads · 16/09/2023 18:40

There are actually a lot fewer allegations in that Times article than I thought there would be.

I think the really shocking part is the raping of the woman/women. With everything we knew about his behaviour, I still wouldn't have guessed that he would rape a woman. (Possibly naive of me, but I'm not a big follower of entertainment news usually and I've never been a fan of RB as he's got a giant ego).

The rest of it though - forced sexual contact (ie/sexual assault) during relationships, narcissistic behaviour, flashing and exposing himself, sexual "jokes", controlling behaviour, rages, domineering, humiliating and abusing women that he was in relationships with.....even a sexual relationship with a teen that's barely legal.......I can't say any of it is a huge shock.

Is it horrible? Absolutely.
Is RB a nasty, misogynistic, sexually aggressive predator? Certainly.
Is any of this "huge news"? Unfortunately not.

Maybe the fact that this is being publicised as a huge story is good for women. Maybe it means that finally this type of behaviour will no longer be brushed off.

But I doubt it.

Because I don't think RB is the only celebrity/comedian who acts like this. I wish this had not been a RB expose, but more general about the treatment of women in the industry and how men get away with rape, abuse, and sexual aggression. This will probably dismissed as just about RB when actually there are far more celebrity men who are just as bad.

Just for total, total clarity - I'm not defending RB. He's utterly vile, and he deserves to be arrested, but it doesn't sound as if the women wanted to pursue that avenue. And who can blame them given the rape conviction stats, and all that comes with a rape trial....

I hope the women feel better for finally being able to tell the truth about RB.

There's more than one rape described in that article. What he did to that 16 year old girl is rape.

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 19:50

Just read the 16 year olds mother actually dropped her off at his house for a party. Seriously??? The police need to investigate, but should also filter out those who were genuinely raped/assaulted from the ones who were consensual, but now see pound signs. I’m thinking a lot of celebs are probably guilty of what Brand did, and worse. A lot of pop bands from the 60s, 70s and 80s, some of whom are still touring, have remained under the radar for years, when there’s been rumours about their really bad behaviour towards women. Why Russell Brand and not the other slime balls? Seems a bit selective, and sinister that others are massively getting away with it.

MrWhippyyy · 16/09/2023 19:51

Superfood · 16/09/2023 19:44

Richard Ayoade said that Graham Linehan, who wrote Father Ted, Black Books, and the IT Crowd, is a good writer.

Show quote history

He is a bloody good writer. Father Ted, Black Books, fantastic series.

squareyedannie · 16/09/2023 19:52

You can enjoy someone's talent and not agree with their choices.

PerfectPenquins · 16/09/2023 19:55

Superfood · 16/09/2023 19:44

Richard Ayoade said that Graham Linehan, who wrote Father Ted, Black Books, and the IT Crowd, is a good writer.

Show quote history

He is a good writer, how is that a letdown?

Redebs · 16/09/2023 19:55

Not a big story then.

Just a tabloid diversion from real news, like crumbling schools, Tory corruption and selling off the NHS

Buffypaws · 16/09/2023 19:56

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 16/09/2023 19:41

@SpidersAreShitheads oh gosh! Just realised how lumping Richard Ayoarde in with this thread might sound! He’s endorsed Glinner (or at least his book) Don’t get me started about how disappointed I was about Glinner too. Used to love him

how has glinner disappointed you?

GoodOldEmmaNess · 16/09/2023 20:01

Glad to learn that Richard Ayoade wasn't afraid to express the shocking view that Graham Linehan is a good writer. Had some doubts about him when he was such a supercillious wanker on Travel Man, but now he is back in my good books.

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 16/09/2023 20:02

@Buffypaws i suspect you already know how and want to get into a debate about it. No thank you.

MrWhippyyy · 16/09/2023 20:04

Redebs · 16/09/2023 19:55

Not a big story then.

Just a tabloid diversion from real news, like crumbling schools, Tory corruption and selling off the NHS

An influential man with millions of followers has been accused of being a serial rapist.

Yep, pretty big story. One that needs discussing. One that will hopefully, along with all the others, support victims in coming forward and reducing the power these predators have.

Rape is real news. It’s important news. Very fucking important

SpidersAreShitheads · 16/09/2023 20:06

Superfood · 16/09/2023 19:46

There's more than one rape described in that article. What he did to that 16 year old girl is rape.

Show quote history

Hi - yes absolutely, I agree. That's why I wrote woman/women. I was trying - and failing - to be subtle because on one of these threads there was a poster who was very angry about the 16 yr old's oral sexual assault being described as rape because the victim herself didn't choose to use that word. I was just trying not to upset or trigger anyone further!

In no way was I attempting to minimise what RB has done. It's absolutely awful. Of course it is. And I was genuinely shocked by the rapes. I just think that it's actually rather revealing that I didn't find the rest of it that surprising. As in, we're so used to these powerful men abusing and assaulting women that it's almost just par for the course now. RB has been a sexual predator in plain sight for a very long time - the only difference here is that it's all been laid out in more detail, and also it's even worse than we realised.

PacmanIsLost · 16/09/2023 20:08

PamelaAndreaGryglaszewska · 16/09/2023 17:29

Channel 4 need to address the "entertainment" culture they have been seminal in creating. They were at the forefront of reality TV with Big Brother, where being as over the top, devious, sexually deviant, willing to have on screen sex, willing to talk about and expose one's genitalia, willing to be a blatant on screen bully, willing to break down other's boundaries and push them to despair, etc, etc, is the route to success and C list fame; cheered on by presenters like Brand and the sainted Davina and hyped up audiences wanting a piece of the action. Their programming is 50% repulsive, laced with shows promoting the interests of fetishists and the puerile interest in the mundane lives of the those who don't understand they are being exploited; and 50% sanctimonious and oh so self congratulatory. Why wouldn't a figure like Brand - of modest talent and intelligence, but with a knack for self promotion and being larger than life - thrive in the sort of culture C4 have created? He's the blueprint for all the wannabes on their shows.

This is a very interesting perspective and you’re absolutely spot on.

SpidersAreShitheads · 16/09/2023 20:12

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 16/09/2023 19:41

@SpidersAreShitheads oh gosh! Just realised how lumping Richard Ayoarde in with this thread might sound! He’s endorsed Glinner (or at least his book) Don’t get me started about how disappointed I was about Glinner too. Used to love him

Aaaah phew!!! Thank you for the clarification. For one horrible moment I thought that Richard Ayoade was being accused of something. I can't imagine anyone less likely! I'm a big fan of his.

Also, I have to say that I think he's right about Glinner's writing - Father Ted is still one of my favourite comedy series. And IT Crowd is hilarious!

Plus, because I'd feel disingenuous for not being transparent, although I don't agree with him on everything, I'm also grateful to Glinner for speaking up for women's rights.

AliciaLime · 16/09/2023 20:15

JaniceBattersby · 16/09/2023 18:15

Christ this thread is disappointing. Mumsnet posters have done so much over the years to help women who have been assaulted or raped. I think this website has genuinely made a major contribution to the way in which abusive relationships are viewed in wider society.

And yet here we are, at the end of a three year investigation by some of the UK’s finest journalists who are finally, finally taking misogyny in the entertainment industry seriously and there are people here defending Russel Brand and attacking the women who’ve been assaulted for ‘not going to the police.’ Who in the hell would go to the police to be disbelieved, belittled, or ignored? Even if you do get a charge, imagine how Brand would use his platform to assassinate your character, whip up his millions of followers to pile-on, and eventually just get away with it because a conviction is nigh-on impossible.

As someone who works in journalism, I can’t tell you how much work it takes to get a story like this across the line. Every word will be triple sourced.

And as for it being ‘not a big story’, it’s literally all anyone is talking about on social media.

There are 40,000 reporters in this country. If you think one story, written by six people, is some kind of dead cat to detract from ‘other more important stories’ then you’ve literally lost leave of your senses.

The failures of this Government, the fallout from Brexit, the collapse of the NHS and education are reported every single day. This story is not going to detract from them. It’s a piece of hard-won journalism that, despite ‘rumours’ for years, not a single other journalist has been able to get across the line (and God knows they’ve tried)

And for the person wanging on about Charlotte Owen getting a peerage, there’s a podcast on it as well as millions of words written by ‘MSM’ 🙄 journalists. A quick google should sort it.

Yes. To this. All of it. I despair.

AliciaLime · 16/09/2023 20:18

MrWhippyyy · 16/09/2023 18:32

accusations of multiple rapes are big news. The fact he may have gotten away with it due to his status, is big news.

I will keep repeating, every time you say ‘Rape isn’t big news, we all knew he was sleazy’ you minimise rape and support men like this getting away with it. We SHOULD be screaming about this. We need to keep putting these men who do this. And every time it should be a bloody big news story. Even if you ‘always thought they were a wrong un’, we need to talk about the allegations and ask the questions as to WHY these people were allowed to get away with it for so long.

There should be hype, loads of hype, so we can root these bastards out and ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future.

Show quote history

Yes. So many ‘but I knew he was sleazy so this is boring’ vs ‘if he’s the rapist this in-depth reporting details, and was enabled to do so, for so long, then that’s horrendous and how brave those women are.’

The fact that these are the responses on Mumsnet, of all places, is horrifyingly disappointing. I’m genuinely despairing of where we’ve come to.

WinterDeWinter · 16/09/2023 20:19

PamelaAndreaGryglaszewska · 16/09/2023 17:29

Channel 4 need to address the "entertainment" culture they have been seminal in creating. They were at the forefront of reality TV with Big Brother, where being as over the top, devious, sexually deviant, willing to have on screen sex, willing to talk about and expose one's genitalia, willing to be a blatant on screen bully, willing to break down other's boundaries and push them to despair, etc, etc, is the route to success and C list fame; cheered on by presenters like Brand and the sainted Davina and hyped up audiences wanting a piece of the action. Their programming is 50% repulsive, laced with shows promoting the interests of fetishists and the puerile interest in the mundane lives of the those who don't understand they are being exploited; and 50% sanctimonious and oh so self congratulatory. Why wouldn't a figure like Brand - of modest talent and intelligence, but with a knack for self promotion and being larger than life - thrive in the sort of culture C4 have created? He's the blueprint for all the wannabes on their shows.

This is such a great post.

LodiDodi · 16/09/2023 20:23

A lot of posters seem to be hard done by that this story isn't big enough, but let me tell you, rape is a very big deal. I think some people especially those living sheltered lives are sometimes desensitised to the reality of it, the word is banded about in silly ways and in popular culture. It's an extraordinarily serious and heinous crime (and one that is more common than many are aware of).

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 16/09/2023 20:24

@SpidersAreShitheads Yes, I used to love him. Was one of my favourite writers and loved any interviews or podcasts he was on. I also appreciated his support with abortion reform. I massively disagree with his gender critical views now and that’s all he ever talks/tweets about so I don’t follow him or his work anymore.

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 16/09/2023 20:25

@LodiDodi well said!

Blueplaque · 16/09/2023 20:27

LodiDodi · 16/09/2023 20:23

A lot of posters seem to be hard done by that this story isn't big enough, but let me tell you, rape is a very big deal. I think some people especially those living sheltered lives are sometimes desensitised to the reality of it, the word is banded about in silly ways and in popular culture. It's an extraordinarily serious and heinous crime (and one that is more common than many are aware of).

This ⬆️

hihelenhi · 16/09/2023 20:29

TBH, Richard Ayoade has gone up in my estimation not down. RA has more integrity in his little finger than most of his fellow celbs (perhaps it's because he's intelligent and understands facts better than they do . As does Glinner, I'm afraid, despite the witch hunt he's been subjected to for telling uncomfortable truths that many find unpalatable. Yes, I know this will give some of you conniptions, but there's plenty of evidence sadly. I too, wish there wasn't.)

To return to RB, I was seriously hoping this Dispatches expose would be wider than one person. It's not a surprise that it's him, tbh, but the real issue is how sex offenders like this (who has been pretty open about his sleazy behaviour and quite a lot of it should have raised some red flags) KEEP ON being enabled in the entertainment industry. "Lessons will be learned" but they never seem to be, somehow. And I too am curious about why the Times and C4 are going for this and him now. Some of this has been lurking about for years.

Superfood · 16/09/2023 20:31

PerfectPenquins · 16/09/2023 19:55

He is a good writer, how is that a letdown?

Show quote history

I didn't think it was. I think GL is a great writer and I'm delighted that RA has the guts to say so.

I was just answering someone else who wanted to know what terrible crime RA had committed.

Clymene · 16/09/2023 20:31

LodiDodi · 16/09/2023 20:23

A lot of posters seem to be hard done by that this story isn't big enough, but let me tell you, rape is a very big deal. I think some people especially those living sheltered lives are sometimes desensitised to the reality of it, the word is banded about in silly ways and in popular culture. It's an extraordinarily serious and heinous crime (and one that is more common than many are aware of).

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼