to think Stephen Fry is a shit

[AgaPanthers]

Apparently he thinks Operation Yewtree is a sham and we need tougher laws against people making up sexual abuse allegations.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/stephen-fry-criticises-operation-yewtree-in-dinner-party-rant-calling-for-tougher-laws-to-deter-false-sex-abuse-allegations-9602686.html

I thought he was supposed to be intelligent? Surely he realises that

At present, two people are found guilty each month in England and Wales for making false accusations of sexual crime. Minority - yes, of course. But the devastation for those falsely accused is unimaginable if you haven't been there. I've known someone who was and even with it finally being proved he didn't do anything, his life and that of his family, have been ruined and will never ever go back to normal.

Have the accusations of historical abuse by anonymous general members of the public increased at the exact same rate as accusations of celebrities/famous people?

SAdly, there are inevitably going to be those sick twisted feckless idiots who jump on the bandwagon and make false allegations, especially where the rich and famous are concerned and they think they might get money out of it, or their 15 minutes of fame doing interviews etc. I do think the law should come down like a ton of bricks on those who are proven to have made things up, about anyone. Even Savile, whose crimes span decades, may be falsely accused by someone - should we assume they are telling the truth because we know how widespread his crimes were?

The trouble is, where there is insufficient evidence to reach a guilty verdict , the public think someone has got off because it can't be proven, when in fact it may be that there was nothing to prove. In other words, mud sticks.

And, at risk of being scorched from the surface of the planet, the DM's version is a little bit more informative. I wonder how they will proceed with this? I may find myself in the weird position of agreeing with them!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2690107/Fry-stuns-Labour-gala-hits-sex-abuse-investigation-Miliband-rebukes-TV-star-attacks-former-DPP.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

My apologies for actually doing the linky thing.

I used to like him, but after his comments about women and sex - unless he's a woman after all - I went right off him.
I don't think I'm being homophobic, I think I'm Knobheadphobic. Doesn't matter to me what your 'inclination' is, if you're being a Knob, you're a knob.
And he is.

False accusation of sex crimes run at the same rate as other crimes and are low.

I am at this.

The comment about fewer than half the people under investigation having been found guilty is nonsensical. If they are under investigation then they haven't been to court yet and in any case if nearly 50% of people (is it a lot fewer than 50% or a bit fewer than 50%? I think he may have made that up) who have been arrested have been found guilty that is a really really HIGH rate.

I think a lot of people considered themselves untouchable and it's all starting to come out and it must feel weird and scary if you are in that group and know lots of them. BUT obviously if crimes are reported they need to be investigated. That goes without saying doesn't it FGS.

his issue is or should be with the press not the legal system

of course it is not as scandalous when charges are dropped as when someone has been arrested and charged but the press should have a responsibility on how they report these stories

bad timing to have such a rant only a week after RH is sentenced

But there was one of the 'victims' who when she got to court said she couldn't actually remember it happening.
I actually share his POV that after this amount of time, the 'celebrity' factor involved and the differnt culture in the 70s it is very difficult for a fair trial to take place.
I am particularly concerned about someone being post-humously hung, drawn and quartered, when they have absolutely no means of defending themselves.I am not saying JS was NOT guilty, it is just there is something not quite right in prnicipal about 'trying' a dead purpose

He hasn't said they shouldn't be investigated. He is simply decrying the apparent need to shout their names when they are arrested but to go all silent when they are not prosecuted, whether because they are released without charge or found not guilty.

I suppose I need to add that that is the second part of his rant. That and we need to do something more to prevent/ punish the bandwagonners.

As for numbers, we won't know until Yew Tree is over. Maybe he has more info because he is closer to some of the people involved, being a celebrity.

Either way, the fact that it is celebs being treated this way should, if there is any justice at all have 2 main consequences:

1. Famous people will no longer be able to stand on their fame/fortune and get away with any crime
2. Anyone will be able to report sexual assaults and be believed a) because Yew Tree will show them that even famous people can't hide and b) fewer people will make false allegations, thus muddying already murky waters.

it is rubbish about there being a different culture so it is not fair blah blah

these abusive men were allowed to get away with their behaviour and called dirty old men or men with wondering hands. it was still wrong not all men behaved like this only men that wanted to abuse and take advantage of their position

why should they not be punished for wrong they have done in the past just because it was viewed differently

I don't know what he expects the police to do. If someone makes a complaint they can hardly refuse to investigate it just in case the accused doesn't happen to want to be investigated. It isn't the victim of the crime who is dragging someones good name through the mud with front page stories. He seems to be under the impression that false accusations are both commonplace and that to be accused is a dreadful crime, on a par with being raped/abused. It switches the victims into criminals and makes victims of the perpetrators.

Is there a transcript of his actual words?

I sometimes find him funny but I always thought hi conviction kept him out of the 'national treasure' category and then there was the sexism about women and sex.

I do agree with some of what he's said this time though; I think the blame lies with the media though for turning it all into such a circus. It's not the fault of the police that those they don't proceed against don't get much publicity.

Stephen Fry has a conviction?

Yes, credit card fraud.

Learn something new everyday!

I don't think that would preclude him from being a "national treasure" mind. Given that Cheryl Cole spent a time being one and she had a conviction for gbh!

Have we got a transcript of what he actually said?

I do think Operation Yewtree could turn into a bit of a witch hunt. There does need to be proper investigation into allegations including evidence etc. Not that I don't agree with convictions for past offenses, but the evidence should be there and care should be taken to make sure people aren't jumping on the bandwagon and making false claims. Like it or not, people do lie.

But it is a proper investigation with evidence. Testimony from witnesses is, of course, a form of evidence.

From his biography I seem to recall he stole the credit card of a friend he was staying with (correct me if I'm wrong). Pretty low if I'm right. Apologies if I'm wrong.

He is someone I want to like for his wit and warmth. But ultimately seems a bit of a knob. How much of this can be excused by his mental heath issues is hard to say.

No longer have any respect for him now

.

Where are the statistics to say people make it up that they have been sexually assaulted. If it is more than genuine victims then maybe a conversation needs to be had.

"a bit of fame" people really think saying they have been assaulted it worth the backlash if they have five minutes of fame?

Bloody hell.

I agree with him to a point, too.

There are people jumping on the 'accuse a celeb' bandwagon.

Jim Davidson and Jimmy Tarbuck for example; Bill Roache not guilty and Paul Gambuccini still left dangling.

It is good obviously that victims were finally heard and believed re Max Clifford, Rolf Harris and all the other high profile cases; I'm glad that people were listened to so that Jim Davidson etc were investigated even if no evidence found, as I hope this encourages more people to come forward when things happen in future and that celebrity is not a shield anymore - but I do think that those proven to have made false accusations should face a consequence.

I can understand him saying that women don't like sex, if he's judging by his own experience. I wouldn't like it with him either.

Yes, he stole a credit card when he was at an all time low, right about the time he first attempted suicide - back in 1975, when he was about 17.

If you read his autobiography you will know he had been expelled from 2 schools, was probably experiencing his first real problems with being bi polar and had a lot to deal with, again due to his being bi polar and eccentric.

Or is it enough to throw that information out there in order to discredit anything else he says/does?