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Original poster

Remembering the time MN deleted my thread about David Walliams

76 replies

musicalfrog · Yesterday 04:46

It was probably around 7 or 8 years ago, can't remember what username it was under even, I was complaining about people buying his books for my young ds as I was convinced DW was a complete creep. The video of him stripping a young boy on stage really disturbed me.

The thread went well, lots of people agreed with me. But MN deleted it as it was too 'personal' or something, I assume they had legal threats and had no choice.

Just goes to show the power of the man, and how hard he tried to keep the dodgy behaviour from any kind of conversation!

I don't suppose I was the only one to have a thread deleted.

Something to ponder.

OP posts:
5barks · Yesterday 08:12

Is David Williams abhorrent? Yes

Was MN correct to pull a libellous thread 8 years ago? Yes

GrimDamnFanjo · Yesterday 08:12

ThatsTheLot · Yesterday 06:41

Which celebrities have been falsely accused and hounded, their lives ruined? I can’t think of any off the top of my head. DW obviously deserves everything he gets.

Show quote history

Matthew Kelly?

5barks · Yesterday 08:13

musicalfrog · Yesterday 08:12

I've also said I'm not laying blame at MN door.

Although some on here appear to want to demonise me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh don’t be so dramatic, honestly

GrimDamnFanjo · Yesterday 08:15

Maternityleavelady · Yesterday 08:08

Absolutely shocked at that YouTube clip - was this a comedy stand up show or live or pre-recorded TV? If pre-recorded, I can’t believe it wasn’t deleted before being shown to the public. What channel was it on if on TV? I wonder if it got lots of complaints at the time?

The Little Britain live tour.

Phrootbaht · Yesterday 08:17

5barks · Yesterday 08:12

Is David Williams abhorrent? Yes

Was MN correct to pull a libellous thread 8 years ago? Yes

But how could thread considered libellous?
There was actual, video proof of DW exposing a 16YO boy on stage. The boy is struggling to keep his genitalia covered. This happened in 2008 -
the sexual assault of a child live on stage by David Walliams.

There is also video of him doing the same thing to the musician Mark Ronson.

Phrootbaht · Yesterday 08:18

GrimDamnFanjo · Yesterday 08:15

The Little Britain live tour.

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It was their tour. I think the incident happened in New Zealand

MrEdwardElizabethHitler · Yesterday 08:19

musicalfrog · Yesterday 08:10

I've said (more than once) that this is just another layer of protection for predators.

That is why I think it's worth pondering.

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So it sounds like it's not so much MNs actions you think are ponder worthy but rather the underlying system?

Maybe consider the way in which leaving potentially defamatory content up could be used as a mechanism for silencing by someone who doesn't want their actions scrutinised also. It's a bit of a damned if they do damned if they don't setup.

5barks · Yesterday 08:20

Phrootbaht · Yesterday 08:17

But how could thread considered libellous?
There was actual, video proof of DW exposing a 16YO boy on stage. The boy is struggling to keep his genitalia covered. This happened in 2008 -
the sexual assault of a child live on stage by David Walliams.

There is also video of him doing the same thing to the musician Mark Ronson.

Show quote history

Because no charges had been brought against him so at that point completely libellous to describe him as a sexual predator.

it is the law. It is as simple as that. MN was just keeping within the law.

5barks · Yesterday 08:20

I for one am very glad of the strict libel laws we have

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · Yesterday 08:24

Phrootbaht · Yesterday 08:17

But how could thread considered libellous?
There was actual, video proof of DW exposing a 16YO boy on stage. The boy is struggling to keep his genitalia covered. This happened in 2008 -
the sexual assault of a child live on stage by David Walliams.

There is also video of him doing the same thing to the musician Mark Ronson.

Show quote history

I don't think there is any issue with talking about behaviour featured in a video that is in the public domain. It is a perfectly legitimate discussion.

The problem is when posters start to extrapolate from that documented behaviour into making unsubstantiated allegations or insinuations.

If people could stick to talking about established facts, then discussions wouldn't need to be shut down. Unfortunately, as we've seen on MN in recent days, many people struggle to do this.

Original poster
musicalfrog · Yesterday 08:26

MrEdwardElizabethHitler · Yesterday 08:19

So it sounds like it's not so much MNs actions you think are ponder worthy but rather the underlying system?

Maybe consider the way in which leaving potentially defamatory content up could be used as a mechanism for silencing by someone who doesn't want their actions scrutinised also. It's a bit of a damned if they do damned if they don't setup.

Show quote history

I agree.

OP posts:
Original poster
musicalfrog · Yesterday 08:27

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · Yesterday 08:24

I don't think there is any issue with talking about behaviour featured in a video that is in the public domain. It is a perfectly legitimate discussion.

The problem is when posters start to extrapolate from that documented behaviour into making unsubstantiated allegations or insinuations.

If people could stick to talking about established facts, then discussions wouldn't need to be shut down. Unfortunately, as we've seen on MN in recent days, many people struggle to do this.

Show quote history

Absolutely! 🙏

Am hoping this thread doesn't follow that formula.

OP posts:
Tinyterrier · Yesterday 08:37

Urrrghhh he’s such a creep. This is why I think the age of consent should be raised to 18 if there is more than a 10 year age gap. This would mean creeps in their 30s preying on 16 year olds could be criminally charged. Am I right in thinking David walliams isn’t facing any criminal charges?

Phrootbaht · Yesterday 08:38

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · Yesterday 08:24

I don't think there is any issue with talking about behaviour featured in a video that is in the public domain. It is a perfectly legitimate discussion.

The problem is when posters start to extrapolate from that documented behaviour into making unsubstantiated allegations or insinuations.

If people could stick to talking about established facts, then discussions wouldn't need to be shut down. Unfortunately, as we've seen on MN in recent days, many people struggle to do this.

Show quote history

Yes, that explains it well, thanks.

OP’s OP may have been OK, but it’s likely the thread then threw up lots of unsubstantiated rumours (which were probably true) and thus crossed a dangerous line.

That said, most posters are aware and usually careful on such threads. I was on a some sort of creepy sleb thread in 2018 and someone “knew” some gossip about “someone on BGT” and was willing to PM it to people. Of course I asked for a PM and you’ll never guess who it was about 🙄

UniDaysAcoming · Yesterday 08:39

PickledMuffin · Yesterday 05:22

he stripped a young boy on stage! 😳

I had to Google it. Apparently there were 'shows' so not even once. Talk about hiding in plain sight!!!!

PickledMuffin · Yesterday 08:42

WHAAAAAT!! 😱

Tinyterrier · Yesterday 08:49

It must be such an utterly cringeworthy feeling for middle-aged, has-been male celebrities when this stuff start starts coming out, because it’s just such a cliche

UnbeatenMum · Yesterday 08:49

ElonAteMyHamster · Yesterday 07:46

Bloody hell 😳

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BTW this clip is of actor Jeremy Edwards who was 35 at the time. Not saying he didn't do it to 16 year olds, or that it was OK to do it to an adult either, but this specific video is not evidence that he exposed a 16 year old on stage.

Morebouncetotheounce · Yesterday 09:00

overnightangel · Yesterday 05:24

“The thread went well, lots of people agreed with me” 😂

”Just goes to show the power of the man”

I doubt he rang up Mumsnet HQ and demanded it be taken down 🙄 Common sense would indicate you can’t just have someone throw stuff like that around without proof.

I get that you’ve created with thread because you want recognition or a pat on the back but it’s not all about you

Have you never heard of SLAPPS? Loads of men have had allegations buried in legal threats, in publications much less widely known that mumsnet.

Irritableowlwan · Yesterday 09:04

I have never watched Little Britain but you could not help seeing some clips online or on the news over the decades. Never ever liked Walliams, just something creepy about him and same with RB and a few others being honest. I think you just get a feeling from some with their 'jokes' that just do not land like they should hard to explain I guess. Will be interesting going forward to see what will happen with him.

overnightangel · Yesterday 09:38

MyAzureSnake · Yesterday 07:53

I remember when MN were deleting posts and threads left right and centre when anybody implied that Israel were committing a genocide. Well. Well. Well.

And? They’re not, so what’s your point?

https://www.justthefacts.media/p/genocide-for-dummies

OP posts:
Original poster
musicalfrog · Yesterday 21:18

This just gets more and more fascinating.

OP posts:
ThatsTheLot · Yesterday 21:54

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · Yesterday 07:27

The thing is, I think it would have been perfectly legitimate to start a thread about the video to which you refer, to talk about how inappropriate it was and how uncomfortable it made you feel. And also to discuss whether this appeared to be part of a wider cultural problem within the entertainment industry, whether complaints should be made, or action should be taken etc. There absolutely should be a space for public debate about such things, and it is important that we talk about them and that public figures are held to account for their behaviour.

But there is a massive difference between talking about actual observed or reported behaviour and making unsubstantiated allegations or insinuations which are based on gut feeling that someone is "a creep" rather than actual evidence. Because while those unfounded allegations might turn out to be right, they may equally turn out to be wrong.

Speculation can ruin lives when it's about people who are innocent. But it can also distract from the facts and make it easier for them to be dismissed when people are actually guilty.

There has been a lot of speculation about various celebrities on here in recent days. Some of it might turn out to be right, whereas some of it might turn out to be wrong. It would be helpful if people could stick to talking about established facts that are in the public domain instead of straying into conjecture. That way, there is no risk of unfairly defaming anyone who is innocent and it is much less likely that discussions will get shut down about those who may later turn out to be guilty.

Whose life has been ruined by speculation? I can’t think of any.

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