Is Stephen Fry a repulsive, condescending misogynistic turd?

[Absentmindedsmile]

I realised on the first thread about lovely Stephen Fry, that I should have put an AIBU. I’m interested to know the wider view, beyond us sex realists on the FWR board.

So if you’ve got time, take a flick through the last thread (link attached), and using that plus your existing knowledge of the man, what do you think?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5357749-stephen-fry-what-a-repulsive-condescending-misogynistic-turd?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

YABU - No he’s lovely.

YANBU - Yes, he is at the very least, a misogynistic wanker.

I find S.F rather tiresome, but YABU to start such a hateful thread.

The problem with Stephen Fry is that he's one of those men who talks with that voice and expects everyone to bow down and worship his every word. Some things he's said, I agree with; some, I very much don't. But it doesn't matter. Why are we placing so much weight on the patronising declamations of a privileged and demonstrably cruel light entertainer?

That is all he is. I've followed his career. I've read at least one of his books. He is an intellectual lightweight. But he has that voice, and good grief, he knows it.

Edit: I said I'd followed his career, but obviously not too much of late (I am not a JKR fan to say the least so I swerve people associated) and I had not read what he's said about having sex with very young people/kids/however he's put it. Bloody hell.

I'd also not associated him with the Baby Reindeer guy. Is that just (malicious?) speculation or is he the openly-known producer? Surely he has better job titles?

And she’s not willing to climb on the thought policed bandwagon of what’s trendily acceptable. I think she pretty fantastic too!

@DeanElderberry that was an entirely fabricated anecdote, apparently.

My comment isn’t about his husband, it’s about him. The man can dress as he wishes, but Stephen has chosen a partner who is not only significantly younger but also dresses and appears younger still.

If I were gorgeous and fortunate enough to look younger than my age, I too would lean into it.

If I were then courted by someone 30 years older than me, and looking 40 years older, that would be extra creepy.

Utterly repulsive man who wrote a nasty play on the subject of paedophilia which he thought could be viewed as art or entertainment and far from making the play a warning about the subject matter it was thoroughly promoting it!

Latin! (or Tobacco and Boys) is about the homosexual relationship between a Latin teacher and his 13-year-old pupil.

You think Fry's support for Peter Tatchell trying to remove the age of consent so children can be raped more easily is "rather tiresome?" Or is the statements Fry has made himself saying that the raped children of Rotherham and Manchester were "child prostitutes" and that raped children shouldn't keep feeling sorry for themselves that you find tiresome?

I think minimising child rape is hateful. Talking about those who do is not.

Reminder, if you are trying to defend Fry, read up on his behaviour.

If you already knew this and are still trying to defend him - we see you.

This bit from the linked article is interesting. It reads to me as though it’s implying that he used the AIDS epidemic as cover for not having any sexual contact with adult males despite being part of the gay social scene during that time period.

As the OP said, read this. I have become aware of his behaviours over the last year or so. I had no idea he was a Stephen Tatchell supporter until today.

Again, if you don't know the truth, educate yourself. If you do and you are still trying to defend him - you might as well just drape yourself in a red flag.

Stephen Fry struggled to say the phrase "Harry pocketed it" while recording the audiobook for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He contacted J.K. Rowling to ask if he could change it to "Harry put it in his pocket," but she refused. https: // www mentalfloss dot com/article/5842

I remember seeing him talking about this in an interview. Actually, I don't think this particularly a a big deal, but it's not fabricated at all.

God the things in that article are stomach churning 🤢

Not entirely. He objected to her prose, she refused to change it. He then claimed that she used the problematic word in all her subsequent books just to spite him.

He was silly enough to fabricate that, she wasn't petty enough to do it.

Why are we placing so much weight on the patronising declamations of a privileged and demonstrably cruel light entertainer?

You’ve came to the wrong place to ask that question

Because too often it went with patronising attitudes towards ‘them’ (I.e the lower or working classes), branding them all stupid/racist/bigoted etc., and hypocritical attitudes towards e.g. private schools - basking in the self satisfied glow of NOT sending their own children to them - only because they lived in relatively very expensive areas where the state schools were equally good.

Absolutely 💯

Fry also joked about how she deliberately used similar phrasing in other books for him to stumble lover

It’s a funny story when the lovelies are all fawning over each other.

Fry is a creep. Much like David Tennant.

The fabricated bit being the rest of the anecdote- that she deliberately put it in all the other books.

I agree with some of the things he says and I disagree with some of what he says. I do not need to agree with everything someone says to admire their intelligence. I do think he is out of touch at times and other times he really shows real understanding and empathy

he has been elevated to the status of national treasure so everything he makes a statement on or says in passing gets a huge amount of publicity and then it appears to many to represent him as a person

its a ridiculous situation we are now in

I thought that was just a joke tbh.

Thank you @savagedaughter . It’s almost as if people don’t read the thread before commenting.

@Petrovaposy that is what is tiring..

Perhaps you might read this thread and its predecessor, with its’ associated links / information. And when you’ve done that (feasible?), tell us what you think about SF.

But fyi - yes I find it ‘hateful’ at least, that Stephen fry uses terms like ‘child prostitution’ and likens the young Rochdale rape victims to ‘child prostitutes’. Amongst the rest of the information provided for you to make your own decision about the man.

I am truly, truly hoping that the person saying he shows understanding and empathy just has not read the thread or the piece you linked to.

Otherwise, my God, I don't know what to say.😡

I always thought he fancied himself as a reincarnation of Oscar Wilde - charming, decadent, uber-intelligent and witty aristocrat. In reality, he always reminded me of a type of a Colonel James character from Boogie Nights, I had no idea why - I know now! There was always something grubby about him.

Ha ha yes. Again.. 🤢