To wonder why Huw Edwards is being treated a lot more sympathetically than Phillip Schofield was ?

[Barnybrown]

That’s it really - the tone of the media coverage re Huw seems much more sympathetic than the coverage Phillip received and discussion generally just seems much more sympathetic of Huw than Phillip, I can’t quite understand why?

My initial reaction to your post was ‘fair enough’, but actually is it? It’s a direct contrast to how opinion has changed generally towards attitudes towards peoples (legal let’s not forget) sexuality.

People feel how they feel but I don’t see how to comfortably separate the notion that one category of sexuality people may personally find distasteful but have reached the conclusion that it’s private and ultimately none of their businesses can be separate from a professional setting and another can’t.

I keep coming back to that, certainly in the case of HE, people are actually making arguments to increase the age of consent which I’m not convinced by.

I don’t doubt he’s good. He gave better advice than whoever advised PS with the statement v interview

What’s the difference between PS and HE? Has the sex of the young people in the HE one been confirmed

Plenty have assumed male anyway

1. PS admitted to his affair. There’s not a scrap of evidence on HE and the story from the mother which has been seriously challenged, is a bit dodgy
2. IF the stories are true about HE, it wasn’t a prolonged and inappropriate affair - it was a transaction exchange on a website where the young person in question offered those services.
3. He has a history of depression which he’s previously spoken at length about and is now in an inpatient MH unit. I’m not sure the witch hunt intensifying would be very helpful.

I kind of want to know exactly why people want these men to burn anyway?! It’s all a big distraction. I expect our politicians - who make a difference to the every day lives, choices, finances and quality of life for every person in this country - to be moral and upstanding people who set an example by making good life choices.

The men who read us the news? Couldn’t give a fuck what they do behind their wives backs. And if you do care, maybe question why.

I don't think attitudes have changed regarding hypocrisy. Until now, HE's public persona was that of a respectable family man. Most reasonable people would not describe his secret antics as brilliant parenting. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/dec/20/huw-edwards-by-the-fifth-child-youre-a-brilliant-parent

@Dylanesque are parents, people of faith, media figures etc not allowed private lives including sexual activities?

Posted to soon…

on this point:

Most reasonable people would not describe his secret antics as brilliant parenting

I don’t see what they have to do with his parenting anymore than my own sex life has anything to do with my children tbh. The fact it’s public knowledge wasn’t down to HE.

He hasn’t done anything illegal!
He didn’t send explicit text messages to colleagues. It was probably flirtatious work banter. It’s commonplace at work. How do people get by in the workplace without a sense of humour?!?

No wonder this poor man is in hospital with attitudes like this.

When standards far exceed what is legal and seem to have no upper limit, it’s known as a purity spiral. This is a destructive social dynamic and helps no one.

The hypocrisy is breathtaking too, wasnt Ant fined £86k for drink driving and crashing into vehicles (he could have killed people) and yet oh he’s forgiven, he can keep his job even though he’s plainly engaged in illegal and dangerous behaviour.

As yet HE hasn't admitted to anything, PS held his hands up saying oops so sorry and please lay off me in case I top myself. HE has been admitted to hospital for his mental health before even responding to allegations.

There's no ambiguities about what PS did, there's lots about what HE did... for all we know he's just paid for some pornographic content made by worryingly young people compared to him - and flouted lockdown rules to go for a cup of tea with a young fan

The porn industry purposely uses young as a selling point- look on pornhub- it tags lots as "teen" or "student" or whatever- it's not illegal, it's creepy but it's selling and to MANY men who are doing nothing illegal to watch it

The general public by the end were also in disagreement about lockdowns

It's hypocritical and weird for his brand as a "salt of the nation" type presenter but it's not criminal and I personally don't like the feel sorry for him manipulating 'because if you hold him accountable you might have blood on your hands' - we shouldn't be scared to hold people accountable and expect better and them to live up to the brand they've created imo but lots of men will be thinking "oh ffs, I do that all the time" and be sympathetic and many women will be thinking "oh ffs my dad/partner/husband" etc did that and they didn't get publicly shamed and lose their careers because of it

HE may have done much more than that, and clearly there's a pattern at BBC which made people feel they couldn't say when made uncomfortable... but there's enough ambiguity that if people want to believe that's all he's done, they'll excuse it- particularly with the "shit, he's in hospital- if I don't excuse him I might end up part of the crowd who'd be blamed if he tops himself" and you can find a way it all fits (which may or may not be true, won't know till he responds or more comes out) that doesn't seem to merit being worth his suicide

Define ‘one of the good guys’ to be able to have a job reading a script on TV please. Fwiw I find his behaviour seedy and revolting, but as it wasn’t illegal I see no reason to force him to resign or cry for him to be given the sack. I think it’s an overreaction.

Also, lots of people are just more angry about the Sun... who broke the story, for its coverage of many things in the past (justifiably so especially for Liverpudlians or Milly Dowlers family and friends) than they will ever be able to be over a celeb being shamed

People would overall I think prefer to see the Sun topple vs the presenter. Had it come from the Guardian for instance- I think there'd be far less support for HE

There are two villains atm in the story - one has a longer history of being a villain- naturally people want that villain not to come out as a hero (Sun) so they need HE to be the victim not the villain

That's not what's being said at all.

I think the poster is saying it's equally bad if a boy or girl is the victim. But that the public is still homophobic.

Actually, I think there are other reasons Huw is getting off now lightly. But homophobia is still a thing unfortunately and the reporting affects how it is perceived. So it's a factor.

PS and HE seem to get an easier time than Prince Andrew, who was the only unmarried man amongst them all.

I think those who gaslight wives, thieve resources from their family and potentially pass on STIs to the wife - are to be judged by all as guestbook do the same to you if they do that to their so called loved ones.

The men who read us the news? Couldn’t give a fuck what they do behind their wives backs

I'm inclined to agree with this too.

Same goes for men who present breakfast TV programmes that I've never watched.

Neither of them is of any particular interest at all.

Prince Andrew - we all don't believe (the majority) is an innocent man who doesn't sweat

But he's part of the Royal Family, of whom there are a thousand conspiracy theories about and more- and I think a lot of people don't actually believe that the conspiracy theories (lizard folk, baby sacrificers) are true so I think there's an element of believing he did it but believing that the Royal Family isn't quite as bad as some make out and so not putting the pressure on in case other conspiracies gain more traction when plenty support the institution of the Royal Family and it's tied up with the identity of the nation to have a Royal Family- I think there's others who do believe the conspiracies who have a "no surprises there" attitude to it ... but HE simply shocked everyone to be involved in scandal

I don't think genuine MNers are too soft on him actually. Genuine MNers are appalled at people trying to excuse an older, wealthier man taking advantage of much younger people (whether work colleagues or teen boys on social media). Remember HE's friend said HE is very angry about all this. That is what happens when people try to hold men to account - the men get angry.
If you look at wider social media, it's mainly men trotting out all the bullshit excuses and trying to smear the victims. It would be odd if it wasn't the same on here.

Andy Coulson is the PR man behind this, Guardian reported yesterday. Odd choice for the family imo.

Genuine MNers are appalled at people trying to excuse an older, wealthier man taking advantage of much younger people (whether work colleagues or teen boys on social media).

Yep. If it was my teenage son (or daughter), I'd be livid. It may not be criminal but it's highly inappropriate, particularly given the power imbalance.

I'm also not that sympathetic to him trotting out mental health as a defence mechanism. If you want to do something that others may judge you for, you have to accept the consequence of your actions. And if you can't, perhaps that's your conscience telling you to stop before you cross that line.

I have a lot of sympathy for his wife, children and the teenagers in question.

Genuine mumsnetters only have opinions that align with yours?

There could be lots of reasons. One that Philip is gay and part of the vitriol towards him is homophobia. Another reason could be because he knew the adult as a child and had contact be it via social media sporadically during his youth. Another could be that he allegedly used his position to get him an interview. He is also quite disliked by several of his colleagues and members of the public.

In general Huw is liked and respected by his peers. None of his colleagues at his level have come out with stories about his behaviour, appreciate some junior colleagies have. He has documented mental health issues. It could be argued that he committed the alleged behaviour when suffering from said issues so was not acting of sound mind. Also that they pictures were asked of from an adult (depending on alleged age of the other person). Also its all alleged at the moment. Once he is in a better place mentally he should speak for himself.

I think I’ve found my tribe. I really don’t care so long as it is legal.
To this day I have no idea why illegally drink driving crashing into multiple cars Ant was forgiven and sympathised with. It’s like getting boozed up and almost killing innocents is one of a very few acceptable “sins” in England.

Prince fucking Andrew?! Come on now!

The allegation is that she was he had sex with a trafficked minor who was brought to the country by his friend and associate who is a convicted pedophile and close friend who has also been convicted of sex trafficking. That’s an order of magnitude more serious than either Phillip Schofield or HE.

When you add to that the embarrassing interview about his inability to sweat, attempts to discredit the victim which were rescinded in the out of course settlement.

Its appalling how far he has been rehabilitated.

You've not looked very hard if you think this is your tribe. Twitter is chock full of men sympathising with HE and saying they don't care .... they don't care if older men deliberately seek out much younger, more vulnerable people as long as the older men get their 'needs' met. They don't care if men cheat on their wives for years. They don't care if saying they 'don't care' helps to normalise grooming and abusive relationships. Yy if that's 'your tribe' just go to Twitter or Reddit. MN is actually one of the few places saying your apologism and disinterest is bullshit and puts vulnerable people at risk.

There could be lots of reasons. One that Philip is gay and part of the vitriol towards him is homophobia.

Why are you assuming the sex of HE young people is female?