Biggest news story: Part 3

[Mimmy352]

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

Last night an old thread from 2009 came up on active. It was about RB and basically would you or wouldn't you type conversations. Some women were saying they would throw themselves at him. Others hated him. Then a person wrote more recently "let's see how this thread ages". I thought to myself hmmmmm..

I'm not surprised at all. That twitter link that was posted. I felt sick.

I think the argument made in the Danny Masterson case was that the SOL did not apply to the crimes he was charged with -aggravated rape - because that crime can attract a life sentence.

THIS

Biggest story of the year, the secrecy beforehand and 90 minute special

Articles speculating A list celebrities etc

What a build up.

FFS, why are you saying anything about his wife and the age they met. Do you not think this will all be horrific for her, their young family and all this weekend. Why this thread is still allowed up is baffling…

I won't be watching but I would love to know how they are going to fill 90 minutes with this story.

Being a sleezy excuse for a man and committing serious sexual crimes are 2 very different things.

I'd prefer it to go through the courts first and be proven true before people are publicly tarred tbh.

Me too, but I’d also prefer our police to do actually do something when a rape is reported and the criminal justice system to, again, do s goddamn thing when a woman is raped and it actually even makes it to the courts.

I fully understand why these women don’t report (IF they don’t) but take to Journalists who seem to have more powers of investigation than the actual people who are supposed to investigate.

I believe them too. I also believe his daily rantings are problematic to the powers that be and that's why we're suddenly hearing these women's voices now, not because anyone actually gives a shit about victims.

Bread and circuses.

@WonkyDesk I didn’t see that thread but I’m wondering on how some/many people (mainly women) clearly throw themselves at these openly abusive and misogynistic ‘celebrities’. Why?

My thoughts entirely

Now pls don’t get me wrong. I’m in no way minimising these woman and their experiences but wow, is this really the biggest news article of the year? The man literally looks like a creep.

I’m not sure if this was to increase media views or what but I’m confused around all of the hype?

I do wonder about channel 4 breaking the story when there are similar creepy stories about RB's friend who just happens to be presenting one of their most popular showstopping programmes. Deflection?

But why would it take 3 years if they were so keen to stop him from speaking out about whatever it is he waffles on about? Surely they have much more effective ways of silencing him quickly?

Their stories — now told publicly for the first time — shine a light on Brand’s mistreatment of women behind closed doors, and on the industries that enabled him.

The line I've italicised from the Times story gets lost in long descriptions of what Brand allegedly did. This is a big story IF the programme includes a lot of hard evidence of what the industry did to protect and enable him and names names.

I find this whole thing so odd.

Dispatches has evidence that RB raped women? Or the word of the women?
The women haven't reported it to the police but have spoken to journalists. (i do believe them by the way).
What is to happen now then?
Is the idea that on the back of the program the allegations are now investigated by the police? Or just that RB is ... chucked off you tube?

If Dispatches made a program about any old Jo Bloggs doing all this what would we expect to happen next?
Would we watch it?
Would we care?

Genuine questions going round my head.

I would also rather it went through the courts and in an ideal world it would BUT we don't live in an ideal world and people can get away with a lot of criminal activity if they have the money/contacts.

Sometimes a press expose is the only way to bring someone to justice because a) then the police are forced to get their finger out and investigate
b) expensive lawyers aren't in a position to shut up witnesses once it's in the public arena.

It's covering up the fact that there isn't any other news. The government don't do anything, so there's nothing to cover up there.

Serial shagger has been sexual inappropriate with people is hardly news. It is vile what he did, but this has been seriously overhyped. And actually it's distasteful with the hype around "bet you can't wait to find out who's been raping people!" sensationalism.

The media are sinking to new lows with these guessing games.

Sleazy and rapist are two very different things.

Why would a story about a potential serial rapist who still maintains an influential platform not be a big story?!

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.

I do not think RB is the only one who will be mentioned in tonights programme.

Unfortunately, not much surprising content in that article. I feel sad for the victims. I’m a similar age to RB and in the 2000s worked in the financial services sector. Misogyny and unequal power relationships were rife. Admittedly they weren’t wearing leathers and they showered but many men where I worked were just vile like Brand. Not sure that this is about comedians, maybe more about society.

I’ve often thought that the legislation around the age of consent should consider the age gap. A 31 and a 16 sleeping together is wrong but a 15 and 16 isn’t necessarily so but that is the sex that is illegal. Doesn’t make sense.

So do people think the allegations against Jimmy Savile were trial by media and that as he was never reported, we shouldn't believe his victims?

sexual inappropriate with people is hardly news

You must have missed the bit in The Times where multiple women have accused him of rape and sexual assault.