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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Michael Barrymore

585 replies

ChairsAndStairs · 06/02/2020 21:29

I’ve always wondered why his career was so badly damaged by what happened at his house.

It was awful that a man died, but he was never found guilty and it was never proved that he was in any way involved - as far as I remember.

He was so popular before and had a really strong career. AIBU to wonder why people turned against him so quickly?

I don’t mean this to be a goady thread, just generally wondering why he was the ‘only’ fall guy for what happened.

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6
Jocasta2018 · 07/02/2020 06:33

I always found him creepy so never watched his shows. I was horrified how he outed himself - had he informed his wife beforehand then made a big show of taking off his ring? Or was it all a shock to her? Not nice either way.

As for Stuart. The other 8 all know what went on even if they didn't actually do it. I can't believe none of them have ever been willing to say anything. If Barrymore has bought their silence, surely as witnesses this would've been looked into? Could there be a charge of obstruction to justice - or is this not in UK law?
I don't know how they sleep at night.

DonKeyshot · 07/02/2020 06:44

Since Stuart Lubbock's death almost 19 years ago, this case has had more twists and turns than a corkscrew.

There were five men and 3 women at Barrymore's house that night in March 2001. According to the police neither Barrymore nor two of the other men, Kenney and Merritt, have been completely eliminated from their enquiries.

There is now a £20,000 reward, funded by Essex police and Crimestopppers, for information leading to a conviction.

Regardless of whether 'money talks', it is to be hoped that Stuart and his family get the justice they have so long deserved.

Bezalelle · 07/02/2020 06:57

He’s meant to be a really nice bloke!

Sure... Hmm

Desolate2nite · 07/02/2020 07:14

It was chilling to watch. How do those people sleep at night? I've read the reward has been increased to £40000. I hope Stuarts dad gets some closure, the poor man 😭

Standrewsschool · 07/02/2020 07:31

For me, the most significant part of the documentary was when someone said, there were eight people at the party, someone knew what happened.

Blackbear19 · 07/02/2020 07:32

He didn’t know him he met him at a club that night and Stuart was invited back to his house

Poor Stuart, I'd always assumed he'd been a friend, that's verging on premeditated. You could read it as at the very least planned to rape him. Sad

category12 · 07/02/2020 07:49

I doubt it's just money that has kept people silent - it's likely implicating themselves as well.

MimiLaRue · 07/02/2020 07:53

He knows exactly what happened that night, his story makes no sense. Everyone present that night have all stuck to the same script to protect themselves

This. The way he acts was dodgy as hell. Not to mention, he initially ran away from the scene. He's always been cagey and guarded about what actually happened. That man had horrific sexual assault injuries. Someone at the party must have done that. These were people that Barrymore had personally invited to his house. I'm not saying he did it himself but it he knows a heck of a lot more than he lets on. He makes my skin crawl- so fake and false.

dayswithaY · 07/02/2020 07:56

Lets see what happens when Barrymore runs out of money. Suddenly the witnesses will start to remember certain details.

It's hard to believe all those people were present and yet no one saw anything. Did they all say "no comment"?

MimiLaRue · 07/02/2020 07:57

He’s meant to be a really nice bloke!

People used to say that about Jimmy Saville, and look how that turned out....

10FrozenFingers · 07/02/2020 07:59

I may have this wrong but I thought I read that another pathologist said the injuries could have been caused while they were trying to revive Stuart. An anal thermometer was inserted many times.

MB was stupid to leave but his agent told him to, he was drunk and he panicked. I really do believe he doesn't know what happened but there are others who do.

MB has no filter, as those who remember him on TV will know. If he knew anything he'd have blabbed it by now.

Awful man.

MimiLaRue · 07/02/2020 08:04

An anal thermometer was inserted many times

No. You dont insert an anal thermometer in order to revive someone from drowning. He had horrific sexual injuries that were consistent with rape.

Ijustwanttoretire · 07/02/2020 08:05

I was most surprised that he appeared to go on Dancing on Ice - obviously hoping it would kick start his career, however some may think that the injury forcing him out was poetic justice.And now this documentary - I don't think he'll work in TV again.

Ofthread · 07/02/2020 08:05

Interesting that it has been revealed that there were only three men who possibly could have done this (inc. Barrymore), and that the rape could not have been carried out by just one person. So, at least two of them had to have raped him. One of the guys was straight - not that that means he couldn't carry out this rape. I think they raped him so badly they decided to drown him to cover it up. I think the other witnesses didn't say anything because they did nothing to stop it.

Confused that people keep saying 'a young man died', he was murdered, I think that has been established.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 07/02/2020 08:08

He comes across as a total fake. All that over the top grinning and 'banter'. Wasn't he on Piers Morgan life stories and he fake sobbed then joked non stop.

At a gathering of 9 people he was surely aware of what was going on.

I'm glad his career panned, its just a shame ITV seem so keen to resurrect it with the attempts to get sympathy for him.

Ofthread · 07/02/2020 08:12

The saddest bit in the documentary is when Stuart's dad said that the events around his death had dominated so much of his life that they had erased his memory of his son.

Charley50 · 07/02/2020 08:13

It's shocking there hasn't been a trial. When groups are implicated in a murder they all go on trial. Why didn't this happen? So, so devastating for Stuart's family that his life wasn't deemed worthy enough to send them to trial.

BonnesVacances · 07/02/2020 08:15

I think they raped him so badly they decided to drown him to cover it up.

That doesn't make sense as he died of a cardiac arrest. Which may have been caused by the rape, I don't know if that's possible? But he didn't die of drowning.

IIRC his career nose dived when he came out. I remember my dad who was a massive MB fan refused to watch him when he found out MB was gay.

Greysparkles · 07/02/2020 08:15

I think is says alot that of the people who were there, none have spoken out to the press. They must have been offered serious money to do so. If they had nothing to hide, why wouldn't they tell what they know?

MarthasGinYard · 07/02/2020 08:17

'The saddest bit in the documentary is when Stuart's dad said that the events around his death had dominated so much of his life that they had erased his memory of his son.'

So sad that part

Awful

FizzyIce · 07/02/2020 08:17

There weren’t that many people there so I reckon they all know what happened .
The whole thing stinks and the fact Barrymore did a runner at first does not sit well with me .
Feel for Stuart’s father and hope they get answers soon

ILoveYou3000 · 07/02/2020 08:18

I may have this wrong but I thought I read that another pathologist said the injuries could have been caused while they were trying to revive Stuart. An anal thermometer was inserted many times.

That was a suggestion put forward by Barrymore's barrister; the pathologist explained that was unlikely due to the width of the thermometer and the fact it had a rounded tip. He pretty much ruled that out as an option.

Sarcelle · 07/02/2020 08:21

I was reading a book by Alan Carr. When he was hosting a show with Justin Lee Collins, Barrymore was on it. I guess this was before the swimming pool death. He didn't know Barrymore. Carr thought he was odd. They had to do a sketch which required him to slap Carr. Meant to be a comedy slap but he really went for it and hurt Carr. They remonstrated with him but they had to do it again and Barrymore promised to do it lightly. He didn't, it was harder than before and Carr ended up on the floor, whereby Barrymore started kicking him. Carr said it was bizarre, he didn't know him or have beef with him. Sort of belies the nice guy image.

He treated his ex wife Cheryl very badly. Her dad made him as a performer, when the dad died Barrymore went off the rails, deciding to come out. He came out in a cruel way, mocking his wife and embracing a lifestyle that involved young men, drink and drugs. He really was denigrating about his wife. He used to be friendly with Princess Diana, not sexually, but Cheryl did not have much good to say about her. She thought that Diana was encouraging Barrymore and mocking her. Cheryl gave an interview a few years before she died of cancer. She was also Barrymore's manager so had lost her husband and her job - her hurt and bewilderment of how her ex had treated her was palpable.

I remember seeing him on Celeb BB which was one of his attempts to revive his career after Stuart's death. He was dead eyed on that to. I remember George Galloway sneering at Barrymore's self pity. That is what strikes me most about Barrymore, his self absorption.

He has always had a dead eyed look about him, even when he was the light entertainment star of the time. We forget just how huge he was. His trajectory downwards when he came out as gay, and then becoming a drunk and drug user. Nothing wrong with embracing the real you, but he didn't have to be such a cruel arse about it. Who knows whether he was involved in the death. What is clear is he ran away and that shows you the mark of the man.

Sammi38 · 07/02/2020 08:22

I haven’t seen the documentary yet, will watch it tonight, absolutely heartbreaking for Stuart Lubbock’s family. I know his dad has been campaigning for years to get some justice for his son.

Seems a coincidence that Barrymore left dancing on ice in the same period that this documentary was going to be shown.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 07/02/2020 08:24

I don't think money was involved,I think Barrymore and the two other men rapes him and they've all kept quiet so as not to implicate themselves. That's the only theory that makes sense,Barrymore isn't going to be negotiating pay offs while fleeing the scene,is he?

Very weird 999 call as well,again , no concern for the man who had died just the fact the caller hadn't been out for for 4 months and this is what's happened when he finally gets a night out,what an inconvenience Hmm

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