Grayson Perry..

[CurlewKate]

I’ve always had a lot of time for Grayson Perry- but I saw a couple of pictures on a thread, bizarrely enough, about Sewing Bee,of him wearing what appeared to be an erect dildo at a charity event. While I am prepared to believe anything about the behaviour of men, this does seem distinctly out of character. Is there a background story I need to know, or do I have to add him to my list of shits

Male artists anyway

The photo of him in the OP with the children’s cancer charity picture just behind him makes me feel sick.

Utterly sick of having mens' disgusting creepy fetishes shoved in women's faces. Gay men started it a "Pride" marches, wearing cheek baring chaps and going topless with straps etc. With every bit of disgustingness they get away with they come up with something worse,making the rest of us unwilling audiences for their grubby little vices. Hate them all.

You’re not alone @Bertiebiscuit

Yep. Absolute dodgy creeps the pair of them.

Frankly he's one of the biggest shits, sorry. How didn't you know that? He's a creepy fetishist who gets away with his disgusting behaviour because the arty luvvies clap like seals and his handmaid wife makes him look respectable, which he really isn't.

Another one, hiding in plain sight as pp said already. He’s revolting. 🤮

The only ‘crumb’ I am grateful for is that by openly proclaiming he gets off on shocking people by trampling over women’s boundaries other can not deny that this fetish exists and is a driver for such behaviour.

Oh it’s always our fault isn’t it. Him building up his image as a national treasure would make it even more difficult for her to leave, if she did want to.

Oh pshaw. The woman is a successful psychotherapist, author, journalist and broadcaster in her own right and doesn’t need to hang onto his coat-tails (or frock-hem or whatever). Like a few other “national treasures” everyone can see he’s a bit unsavoury and probably more people wonder why she’s with him than envy her.

I agree she may find it difficult to end it or may even be happy with him, and as I suggested below I wonder how much that might have to do with her own issues and low self-esteem that she has publicly hinted at herself. But it is her responsibility that she goes along with behaviour like the public dildo-wearing especially as she can’t fail to have an understanding of the effects of that kind of behaviour on women, abuse victims etc.

I do actually think he is an intelligent, interesting person with some great insights into art, and I like some of his art too. This is possible alongside thinking him to be a selfish, creepy fetishist. I can understand her getting involved with him. But I do think she’s far from a helpless victim with no choices. In her shoes I hope I’d have the guts to leave him and condemn his conduct in imposing his perversion on others and enjoying making people uncomfortable to feed a fetish.

But we can criticise a wife who covers for an abusive husband, who stays with him even though she has a good job and plenty of money, lots of resources, staying with him is a clear choice, making him look far more respectable than he really is. He's just another disgusting old pervert, who happens to have the title of "Artist" which seems to always allow men to be abusive and not judged, whereas female artists who are rarely abusive get harshly judged anyway. The double standard is alive and well. She is certainly his enabler.

He's a good, respected, and interesting artist. As well as being a fetishist. Two things can and often are be true at once. And it's not on to blame his wife for his behaviour.

'we can criticise a wife who covers for an abusive husband'

Read that again, and think about it.

Abusive, coercive and controlling relationships are complex and difficult. Women who stay are not lacking in bravery, intelligence, or capability.

MVAWG cuts across class, age, privilege, etc.

Women need not be blamed for their partner/husband's wrongdoing, or be blamed for being trapped in a controlling or coercive or abusive relationship.

I agree with this, and I'm not saying her professional standing or personal wealth or whatever makes it easier to leave if she's in an abusive, coercive and controlling relationship. Do you think she is? I know we can't know, but I wasn't making that assumption at all. I was just objecting to the idea that because he's a national treasure her agency is reduced.

Melinda Gates has said she left Bill Gates partly because of his friendship with Epstein, whom she found gross and deplorable. That doesn't mean BG's behaviour was her fault or her responsibility. But I do applaud her for making it clear.

I also think it is reasonable to criticise a woman who stands by a husband's gross behaviour, turns a blind eye/sweeps it under the carpet, and/or aids and abets it, and I include my mum in that so I know of what I speak.

Understanding that it can be hard to leave an abusive/controlling relationship does not absolve a woman (or a man) from any and all criticism.

😮

I was annoyed a couple of years back on visiting my local branch of Jigsaw to see that they’d done some teaming/ promotion event with him. A dummy was at the store entrance garbed in one of his dresses.

I told them that I thought choosing to promote him was a strange look for a clothing store whose core customer base is middle aged educated women not really ‘in to’ promoting or accommodating fetishists.

1st rule of misogyny- women are responsible for what men do.

Well done. What did they say?

Gaped at me and just said ‘he is a renowned artist’. I should really have written to head office. The poor shop staff have little say in the matter. However two other customers spoke up too One said his persona as a little girl made her feel physically sick.

Where is the image from originally?

LONDON - MARCH 23: Artist Grayson Perry arrives at the Childrens Cancer Charity's Annual Chocolate Ball at the Dorchester hotel on March 23, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)

He's always given me the ick. Yet so many people rush to bat for him.

Is he going to be another creep that we find was hiding in plain sight? 🤢

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/artist-grayson-perry-arrives-at-the-childrens-cancer-news-photo/73686429

Image link. He had a phase of wearing codpieces and dildos.