Just found out that Billie Piper doesn't share social/political views as her ex H

[EddyF]

I just assumed that she shared similar views as that silly man. I am not sure what attracted her to him; she seems pretty level headed and clued up.

I googled her as I saw a movie featuring her and I wanted to watch it but wouldn't have watched it if she was anything like that Lawrence/Laurence, or whatever he's called. I really dislike the man and his face, and unfairly, I had lumbered Bilie with him despite them being separated.

But I can't imagine marrying and having kids with someone who is on a completely different wavelength on such important issues.

I guess there's no aibu but had me reflect if he was always like this/only become like what he is after the divorce.

I would hate to parent with someone with views like him. I would be worried what he's teaching my children all types of intolerance. Plus he's just not very bright.

David Mitchell - of whom I’m not the greatest fan - has nailed it.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/04/hands-up-who-takes-laurence-fox-seriously

I reckon @carreterra is Lozza...

I actually think good on him. He has every right to voice his opinion. Nothing he has said is racist, although the definition of racist seems to have shifted to being of an opinion that you dont believe black people in the West Have it worse than anyone in the whole history of mankind ever every white person should strip to the waist and flog themselves in public for something a distant ancestor might or might not have thought in line with general Contemporary public Opinion.

You are not allowed to mention any similar persecution as you’re taking away from black culture. Where’s Jewish history month (probably the most disadvantaged and displaced group in the history of the west)?

All these special months, accusations of cultural appropriation, blaming whole groups for the actions of a few only seeks to divide not unite people.

In answer to Sainsbury’s claims we don’t need white history month, actually we do, most ancient and early modern history taught In schools is framed to treat the Victorian Christian but enlightened man as the pinnacle in an evolutionary narrative. This does not just affect black history, it affects all history that does not serve this particular narrative.

It was more Billie I was interested in, and wanted to check her views.

But why?

@Aridane

I'm disappointed the OP assumed a woman held the same political views as her husband, regardless of what they are

Ditto

Don't be disappointed. If it was Billie who had those views, I would have checked her now ex husband’s views if they were the same as Billie, before ‘supporting’ a movie with him. It’s not a male-female thing on my end, but rather I personalised the rationale that they would share similar political/social views as I don’t think I have ever dated a man who had such complete differences in political and social issues as myself. So my failing in this is that I was rather comparing to myself.

It must be difficult to co-parent when such views are so different. Mummy has a t-shirt on with BLM, in the morning fixing your breakfast, only to reach Daddy’s home in the afternoon with Daddy foaming at the mouth at Sainsbury.

@sst1234

But what has he said thats racist? Can someone explain, genuinely perplexed as to why has had acquired this label.

Because he very publicly asserts that there is no such thing as white privilege (let alone male and upper class privilege). A simple google would help you with this.

@derxa

It was more Billie I was interested in, and wanted to check her views.

But why?

What part don’t you understand? I have already explained. If you still don’t understand, I am sorry for you.

[quote AuntMasha]I wonder about his mental health. His latest grab for attention is that he’s boycotting Sainsbury’s because of Black History Month.

metro.co.uk/2020/10/04/laurence-fox-boycotts-sainsburys-over-black-history-month-support-13368682/[/quote]
That will probably delight Sainsburys. Being boycotted by that twat is virtually an endorsement that they are beyond reproach when it comes to racism.

As this is AIBU, YABU for assuming Piper has similar opinions to Fox simply because he's her ex-spouse. Kudos for admitting you were unfair, though. I've no idea if they co-parent well. Divorce isn't uncommon so, logically, it should be easy to imagine many people have children with disagreeable people. Intelligent people can hold unpleasant opinions; you don't have to be stupid to think poorly of others.

@queenofknives

Okay but wtf have Sainsburys got to do with Black History Month? What are they going to tell us about black history? I mean, are they actually providing some kind of educational resources? Even if they are, I don't really want Sainsburys to teach me anything, do you? It's a fucking supermarket. I do understand people getting pissed off with the relentless corporate wokery.

I agree with that. It's basically a marketing ploy to show how virtuous they are. You would rarely find big business supporting controversial causes.

That said, boycotting them is a daft overreaction, especially from someone who's made a new career for himself in decrying 'cancel culture'.

Cancelling someone isn’t wrong if they have despicable and disgusting views like that fool does.

Who gets to decide though? This is a dangerous view to have - you either want a society where all views can be heard and you have the freedom to argue against those you disagree with, or you don't.
What happens when it's your views that are considered unacceptable by the powers that be?

This sort of shit is why we live in a world where women are getting death threats for saying that biology is real and that male and female actually means something!
Cancel culture has to stop, even if that means you sometimes have to hear opinions that you don't like.

As an aside, it's ridiculous to assume that a woman shares her husband's opinions. Even more ridiculous to assume it about a divorced couple.

Good. Fuck Laurence Fox. I feel sorry for Richard Ayoade, having him for a BIL.

Billie Piper and Laurence Fox have been divorced for 4 years. Billie is in a relationship with someone else and they have a daughter together. I'm sure any tensions between Laurence and Billie are nothing to do with political views.

I always assume he is was normal and the turned into one of those weird, bitter F4J type men after being dumped by his much more talented wife.

Do you remember when he left his kid alone in a car and claimed he was being "harassed" by the police?

What an utter loser.

Cancelling is wrong in a free society. Where do you live, that people can decide how other people should think?

Okay, but he can boycott Sainsbury's because he doesn't agree how other people think?

Don't you realise how ridiculous you sound?

*think the left/right distinction has as good as negated itself by now. The censorious 'left' as it currently sees itself is nothing like any left-wing stance I recognise or have ever known. Far from being a horseshoe effect of far left politics meeting far right, it's now become an ever decreasing circle where the left in particular is chasing its own tail, catching it, and eating itself.

Laurence Fox is sick of these censorious attitudes and for this I can't blame him. I DO blame him for his denial of the existence of particular forms of societal privilege, as well as the cavalier dismissal of the experiences of people who don't happen to share that privilege and been disadvantaged because of it. It's important that this stuff should not be rugswept, and should receive a fair hearing and the discussion it merits rather than cancelling, deplatforming, and #nodebate, which achieves nothing and prevents progress. It's actually a conversation that is long overdue.

I disagree strongly with Fox on many of the key points he makes. I still would passionately defend his right to speak (although wouldn't defend other people's right to challenge what he says vociferously; that's how free speech works). IMO, though, 'Cancel Culture', rendering people silenced, unemployed - dare I say it, fucking vapourised with all associated documentation thrown down the memory hole - taking us down an insidious and very dangerous slippery slope.*
⬆️ This

I disagree with him. I think BHM is important because for so long black history was ignored. It’s about redressing the balance. I’m not sure I’ve seen evidence he’s racist. His BIL wouldn’t defend him on Twitter but also conceded that he didn’t think him a racist either. To me he just seems like a grumpy, bitter middle aged man. As I understand it, his tweet is in disagreement with their tweet about finding physical spaces where their black and minority staff feel safe. He seems his criticism of segregation. I also feel Sainsbury’s are virtue signalling. However, if it gets people talking and acknowledging BHM then who cares if it comes from a place of altruism or not? 🤷‍♀️

It must be difficult to co-parent when such views are so different. Mummy has a t-shirt on with BLM, in the morning fixing your breakfast, only to reach Daddy’s home in the afternoon with Daddy foaming at the mouth at Sainsbury.

I don't think we can know if her views are different. I don't believe she has ever shared her political views with us, just as her ex hadn't until the start of this year either. Much better that way. Actors are no better informed on such matters than bus drivers or shop assitants - sometimess a lot worse infomed. I'd prefer they keep their views to themselves.

Sorry. The bit above my arrow is a quote from @MarieIVanArkleStinks post. It should be in bold.

@Ablackrussian

Cancelling is wrong in a free society. Where do you live, that people can decide how other people should think?

Okay, but he can boycott Sainsbury's because he doesn't agree how other people think?

Don't you realise how ridiculous you sound?

No I don't. He is boycotting. People can do that.

People here are hating the man with a demonic glee. I won't join in. Let him speak, or one day that will be you or me.

Where do you live, that people can decide how other people should think?

People can think what they like, but if I find their views offensive, surely I'm entitled not to read their views/watch them on tv/see their films/listen to their music? If enough people feel the same, I daresay eventually they'll have trouble getting work/sales as a result, but I don't give a toss.

For me, it's no different from boycotting SA products during apartheid, I didn't want a single shiny copper of my money to prop up that regime.

Mind you, I swear some people would be happy if Jim Davidson and his ilk were still on tv.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo has this spot on. As a mixed race female, BHM is something that allows people to pretend they care, tweet, write something on social media and feel all righteous.

Lawrence Fox is not complaining about Sainsburys celebrating BHM he's angry that Sainsburys are providing safe spaces for their Black members of staff and using BHM as a virtual signalling event.

As a mixed race woman I find this segregation abhorrent. Black people just want to be treated equality, discuss the past, celebrate the good and move on without race having a negative effect on black peoples lives. We shouldn't have to return to this fight and if Sainsburys cannot see this, they should not have let the woke marketing team deal with something so important.

I'm not a fan of his and no idea why anyone should care if BP has or hasn't similar views.

Black people are up on arms over social media and in the community, but nobody is listening and I constantly see people over social media calling others racist for boycotting Sainsburys, these people are mostly white.

I urge all of you to read Sainsburys statement before condemning a boycott of Sainsburys as racist and understand the real issue here, Not Lawrence Fox or Billy Piper, but once again, Black People are told what to do, think and treated differently.

www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/new---trending/black-history-month?storeId=10151&langId=44&krypto=ukVwF8nGW9UFWaiwSYPOGm%2B2%2FR4GY07qNn6OegoFZSu61Yi8N7t4sUlFqw36l%2FLfr5QyNEh2EI2aOrJ9gXBCSZR4kX9Tlh5EDHZtFt0PhtscxSxOL17SjGAtT9hQa2YCpF2rSb7oUpmYinM5F6gm6Kq%2F%2BBhxyRJpKTgxHP0r8Yc%3D&ddkey=https%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fnew---trending%2Fblack-history-month

Good. Fuck Laurence Fox. I feel sorry for Richard Ayoade, having him for a BIL.

Yet they may get on how do you know, because you think Lawrence is racist , yet he might not be disagreing with causes isn't racist.

I feel sorry for Richard Ayoade, having him for a BIL

I bet it makes for a bit of tension at family parties.

I really love Richard Ayoade.

I agree with that. It's basically a marketing ploy to show how virtuous they are. You would rarely find big business supporting controversial causes

Yep. You’ll find a lot of multinationals have LGBTQ and BLM adverts in Western markets but would never dare to show them in foreign markets. Shows how deeply they care 🙄