Page 4 | Fiona Bruce

MayThe4th · 2023-03-12T12:46:17+00:00

If Fiona Bruce had just clarified what was being referred to when talking about Stanley Johnson being guilty of domestic violence that would have been understandable. But to then go on to say that it had only happened once? Did that really need saying? we all know domestic violence doesn’t start with a broken nose…

Fladdermus · 12/03/2023 15:58

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 15:54

Have you read the quote? She did say his wife disclosed the abuse to Tom Bower

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She said his wife disclosed that he had broken her nose, and then went on to say that his friends said it had only happened once. She did not say that his wife also disclosed that he had abused her repeatedly over many years.

Untitledsquatboulder · 12/03/2023 15:58

Why are people saying that this only happened once? According to his wife, he hit her on many occasions. I see no reason to disbelieve her.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 15:58

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 15:56

The panellist said along the lines of 'Stanley Johnson is a wife beater, he broke his wife's nose'. I could understand if the interjection was 'allegedly', or 'I have to mention that he is not here to defend himself', that kind of thing... but his friend said he did it once, it was a one off

This

Really???

If she’d chipped in to say ‘allegedly’ then that WOULD have been defensive apologism. What she said was perfect - she gave context and also provided the information that he IS a wife beater despite not being one on paper, and even his friends agree

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 15:59

CurlewKate · 12/03/2023 15:56

What's left wing about not condoning domestic violence?

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Who is condoning domestic violence?

Starflecked · 12/03/2023 16:01

She is a journalist with many years of experience, even though its true she knows the potential repercussions for not applying context to a comment a member of the panel makes which could have them up for slander. I most certainly believe he abused her, but it's a tricky ground when someone hasn't been charged.

Personally I'm going to roll with the 25 years of work she has done supporting Refuge in their support of women as to assuming her views on DV rather than something said which has likely been taken the wrong way. She has said she is mortified it's caused upset and I'm sure she would own it if she meant it as its been taken- the BBC are backing her up so she isn't needing to fight for her job or whatever is she; would have been easier for her to hope it blows over.

I swear there are some out there who watch everything in the hope something they can post on twitter to summon outrage amongst others is said. All of these calls to have her removed from her work with Refuge or sacked is ludicrous to be honest, what the hell is going on.

Justforlaffs · 12/03/2023 16:02

Well, didn't she recently on question time end the segment on self-ID with something like "and now let's move on to something more important"??

She massively went down in my estimation after that. Misogyny apologist.

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:03

It wasn't only what she said, it was her tone, as if she was minimising it.

Shelefttheweb · 12/03/2023 16:03

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 15:58

Really???

If she’d chipped in to say ‘allegedly’ then that WOULD have been defensive apologism. What she said was perfect - she gave context and also provided the information that he IS a wife beater despite not being one on paper, and even his friends agree

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‘Allegedly’ would have been appropriate, and not condoning or excusing, if the event had not been acknowledged by his wife or SJ. The BBC can’t present even well established rumours as fact on topics like this.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 16:05

Starflecked · 12/03/2023 16:01

She is a journalist with many years of experience, even though its true she knows the potential repercussions for not applying context to a comment a member of the panel makes which could have them up for slander. I most certainly believe he abused her, but it's a tricky ground when someone hasn't been charged.

Personally I'm going to roll with the 25 years of work she has done supporting Refuge in their support of women as to assuming her views on DV rather than something said which has likely been taken the wrong way. She has said she is mortified it's caused upset and I'm sure she would own it if she meant it as its been taken- the BBC are backing her up so she isn't needing to fight for her job or whatever is she; would have been easier for her to hope it blows over.

I swear there are some out there who watch everything in the hope something they can post on twitter to summon outrage amongst others is said. All of these calls to have her removed from her work with Refuge or sacked is ludicrous to be honest, what the hell is going on.

Excellent post.

If I was a public figure there’s no way I’d be saying “Stanley Johnson is a wife beater” on national TV even if it was true, when he hadn’t been convicted, because I don’t fancy opening myself up to a libel case, not for anyone. Why should FB be any different?

And yes to the people watching waiting to catch others out - totally pathetic “she didn’t say the EXACT WORDS I think she should have said therefore she’s WRONG”. The arrogance is astounding.

JocelynBurnell · 12/03/2023 16:05

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 15:58

Really???

If she’d chipped in to say ‘allegedly’ then that WOULD have been defensive apologism. What she said was perfect - she gave context and also provided the information that he IS a wife beater despite not being one on paper, and even his friends agree

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But why did Fiona Bruce need to intervene?

Alibhai-Brown described Stanley Johnson as a wife-beater. It did not need intervention.

Charlotte Wahl said he beat her on many occasions. Stanley Johnson's friends claim it was only on the one occasion that could not be denied, i.e. when she ended up hospitalised with a broken nose.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 16:07

JocelynBurnell · 12/03/2023 16:05

But why did Fiona Bruce need to intervene?

Alibhai-Brown described Stanley Johnson as a wife-beater. It did not need intervention.

Charlotte Wahl said he beat her on many occasions. Stanley Johnson's friends claim it was only on the one occasion that could not be denied, i.e. when she ended up hospitalised with a broken nose.

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To give context to the comments, and especially because he’s never been convicted, to clarify that.

I think people need to look up and see why and how BBC presenters must remain balanced and neutral and wipe the froth away from their mouths.

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:09

I think people need to look up and see why and how BBC presenters must remain balanced and neutral and wipe the froth away from their mouths.

So patronising. She didn't sound balanced an neutral, she sounded like a DV apologist

Theluggage15 · 12/03/2023 16:11

She’s not a DV apologist, what a stupid comment. She’s a great support for abused women. These witch-hunts are so tedious.

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:11

It's just absolutely bizarre to say it was a one off. It gives the impression 'one off' DV is somehow less DV than other types. It's just not what anybody I know would say and I can't see what on earth possessed her to say it. Even if I was told to say that at work I wouldn't.

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:12

She’s a great support for abused women. according to who?

Piggywaspushed · 12/03/2023 16:12

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 15:52

Eh?

Is that a hard and fast rule?

Because Im not criticising BBC or FB and I’m still appalled at SJ and the thought of him getting a knighthood

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You aren't making that awfully clear, tbh.

JocelynBurnell · 12/03/2023 16:12

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 12/03/2023 16:07

To give context to the comments, and especially because he’s never been convicted, to clarify that.

I think people need to look up and see why and how BBC presenters must remain balanced and neutral and wipe the froth away from their mouths.

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In that case, if Fiona Bruce was so keen to give context, why did she not state that Charlotte Wahl said that Stanley beat her on many occasions?

Why did the words of the anonymous 'friends of Stanley Johnson' take precedence?

Theluggage15 · 12/03/2023 16:13

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:12

She’s a great support for abused women. according to who?

See! You have no clue about her!!

QuietlyConfident · 12/03/2023 16:14

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:12

She’s a great support for abused women. according to who?

Refuge.

Hadjab · 12/03/2023 16:15

Nanny0gg · 12/03/2023 12:59

She had to be factual rather than air her personal views apparently. But she should never have said 'only'. That's what minimised it

If she wanted to be factual, she would have said “his friends said…” and “his ex-wife said…”

Either way, he’s a wife beater.

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:15

See! You have no clue about her!!

Nor do I particularly care about her. But I care about her comments on QT which is what this thread is about. And those comments were imo the very opposite of supporting abused women.

TortolaParadise · 12/03/2023 16:15

Allywill · 12/03/2023 12:49

even if it was once (and i agree statistics tell us it’s highly unlikely) i don’t see that matters. I steal once, i’m still a thief aren't I?

yes and with a criminal record too if caught

Piggywaspushed · 12/03/2023 16:15

Yes, who have also acknowledged that many DV victims were upset by Bruce's words. Fiona is upset by this. So she knows the impact it had, as do the charity.

salutsandy · 12/03/2023 16:16

Refuge thanks QuietlyConfident Well imagine going to refuge and they asked you if it was a one off. No thanks.

Firehouse1 · 12/03/2023 16:17

She didn’t say her opinion. She has been misquoted. She was quoting what SJs friends had said