Dawn French on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast

[LunaNorth]

Has anyone listened?

She seems to be speaking in a very circumlocutory way about the toxicity of the trans debate, and more or less admits her cowardice in not speaking out, nor defending JK Rowling.

She even mumbles that JK is ‘a very good person’.

Two things struck me - one is this feels like another step towards sanity, with supporters peeping their heads a tiny way above the parapet. The second is the palpable tension in the air as these two accomplished women dare themselves to admit there’s a fucking great neon yellow elephant in the room.

It was very interesting.

The Cass review has allowed more people to speak out, and has provided evidence of everything we’ve been saying for years.

Over the next few months I think more influential people will be open about how they feel.

:

There’s an article in The Times today about the interview with FC. DF apparently also mentions in the interview that she was reprimanded by a previous podcaster (not Fern) who told her she needed to “catch up” on why JKR is unacceptable. Anyone know who that was?

I would guess at James Acaster🙄

Dawn French just made my day x

Nasty little virtue-signalling prick, that one.

Thanks - never heard of him, but having done a quick Google, he sounds like exactly the type of sanctimonious little jerk who would lecture a woman about what her beliefs should be.

They’ve got some brass neck, talking to Dawn French like that. Where’s the respect? Catch up, indeed. Cheeky fuckers.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was Acaster, the unfunny, adenoidal little prick.

Look forward to 30 years time when a 39 year old tells James Acaster that he needs to "catch up".

Absolute lack of perspective.

I don't think it was Acaster. DF refers to "she"

I think alot of celebs who have championed women's issues throughout their career but have remained silent on the trans debate will feel some guilt for not speaking up. They must know they have let women down, Jo Brand and Caitlin Moran spring to mind.

Here is the Times article mentioned earlier in the thread:

I'm prepared to base this on other things he's said, but I can believe the pretentious, arrogant little tit would have been condescending enough to say this to a highly intelligent,caring adult.

Sorry, am I missing something? Hasn't df notably been absent in this debate.
Until now

Most celebs have been absent, Dawn is not unusual for not saying anything. She generally doesn’t get involved in controversial stuff, especially on social media.

She is the chancellor of a university, it’s possible she doesn’t want the aggro when she’s on stage at graduation…

Nevertheless I’m glad she has said what she’s said, I think she’s a good and clever person.

That's fine, I'm sure lots of media figures have the the equivalent of a note from their mums to explain why they have been spineless about this.
It's just a poster upthread infered she was due special respect.

I just meant she was due respect from younger comedians for her long career and well, generally, really.

Oh, I see. I think comedy works more in the vein of 'the King is dead, long live the king' iykwim

Hilary Cass’s biggest gift is to resurrect free speech

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cc301178-fc1e-11ee-b2eb-b6dd5e28a521?shareToken=14b1c3a4aee68b4d45e1dc2c2420252f

Good article from Joanna Williams today - following from yesterday’s piece on Dawn French. Matthew Parris, who helped to found, and later left Stonewall also has a column today doesn’t mention Cass or Ruth Hunt/ Stonewall and I don’t think he has done so elsewhere. He’s not afraid of controversy, so I assume just not interested then?

Really enjoyed this podcast and agree with your comments OP. As soon as the conversation turned to 'brave individuals' standing alone and her potential cowardice my mind immediately went to JK. Then Dawn specifically brought her up.
I also enjoyed both Fearne and Dawn discussing the Witch Trials podcast.

Just catching up. It's excellent. I think it's important to remember that this was recorded before the release of the Cass report (I'm assuming based on date), which has changed the climate a little. Dawn and Fearne were pretty brave (although I kind of hate that term) to be happy to do this pre-Cass

I just listened so thank you for the heads up. I thought they did it beautifully and I'm another who was delighted at them talking openly about the witch trials podcast.

Dawn French is getting a lot of flack on Instagram for this so it would be good if people who are on there can give her some support.