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Post by ellie on Oct 31, 2017 19:54:06 GMT
Is it just me who feels a little uncomfortable at the rush to judgement on Kevin Spacey & at the potential unfairness of "trial by media."
Let's just look at the Kevin Spacey issue:-
1. Man accuses Spacey of making sexual advances to him at a party which took place over 30 years ago when he was 14 and Spacey 26.
2. Spacey says he has no recollection of the incident but apologises if it did happen. Given the three decade time lapse and given it was a party and he was probably drunk and/or high, it seems reasonable to me that he doesn't recall the incident. And maybe he doesn't recall it because it didn't happen.
3. Netflix drop House of Cards and halt production on current series and issue a statement condemning Spacey, he is stripped of his Emmy and hundreds take to Twitter to convict and condem him.
All of this without any investigation into the allegation, without any involvement of police or courts. Everybody has decided Spacey must be guilty on the basis of no actual evidence whatsoever.
Don't get me wrong, if evidence emerges that points to his guilt then that is a different scenario.
But right now it seems that all you have to do is say somebody sexually abused you to be instantly believed and for that person to be "tried and convicted" by media.
I think that is wrong and dangerous.
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Post by coolclearwaters on Oct 31, 2017 20:08:10 GMT
I agree that it’s too much if based on this one incident. Unfortunately, rumors about his aggressive, predatory behavior have been very widespread for decades. Even here, I remember a local independent movie reviewer complaining bitterly about Spacey aggressively, publically coming on to him during the promotion for American Beauty. I suspect that companies who have and do employ him are finally concerned about their own complicity. They should be.
I suspect HOC is worried about liability. There have been reports for years about him insisting that young PAs be sent to his trailer and then having them fired if they didn’t comply.
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Post by igs on Oct 31, 2017 20:19:56 GMT
I read that HoC was ending anyways, they just hadn't announced it yet. The show's been going downhill for 3 seasons already anyways.
I agree that the whole "trial by media" is problematic, there should be a real investigation (though in a 30 years old case it's of course impossible.) But I have a hard time trying to dredge up sympathy for Spacey at the moment, never have I seen a deflection so massive as his. "I'm sorry if I tried to assault this teenager but hey everyone, I'm gay! Rainbows and Pride yeah, let's forget about everything else, right...?" Not saying my sympathy or lack thereof means anything in the grand scheme of things, of course.
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Post by ellie on Oct 31, 2017 20:22:39 GMT
But nobody should be found guilty of anything on the basis of rumours and gossip. That presents an appalling vista of potential consequences. If we are not to descend into mob rule there must be due process applied.
Right now we have a situation where that is simply not happening.
Let the rumours and gossip around Spacey be properly investigated. Then if actual evidence emerges let action be taken. But until then hold fire and reserve judgement.
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Post by ellie on Oct 31, 2017 20:29:16 GMT
I know what you mean IGS. I think he should have stopped at I have no recollection of the incident. The rest was unnecessary and inflammatory.
For me it isn't about having sympathy for Spacey but about the importance of due process being applied when allegations are made. Because otherwise where will it end? Twitter replaces the judicial system? I exaggerate I know but not all that much!
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Post by coolclearwaters on Oct 31, 2017 20:33:44 GMT
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Post by igs on Oct 31, 2017 21:05:15 GMT
For me it isn't about having sympathy for Spacey but about the importance of due process being applied when allegations are made. Yeah, it's a weird situation. In a way it likens the entertainment business to politics which is a bit troublesome in itself. Politicians have a lower protection against such things as defamation, and have a different type of job security to regular people. But actors aren't politicians. But if Netflix had already decided to end HoC, well, the timing of their announcement is certainly opportunistic but I can't really blame them for making a statement now.
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Post by coolclearwaters on Oct 31, 2017 21:11:34 GMT
There Is no evidence that due process wasn’t followed by Netflix in investigating harassment claims. So far, Spacey hasn’t been charged with a crime, but harassment is a serious civil matter for which a company can be held liable if they don’t investigate properly. There are required procedures to go through. Not all investigations are public. He can sue them if he felt that his rights were violated.
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Post by mllemass on Oct 31, 2017 21:13:11 GMT
I'm not judging Kevin Spacey solely on the allegation - his statement is a problem, too. He didn't deny it. He didn't say it didn't happen or that he has never done anything like that and never would. He said he didn't remember and must have been drunk. I would be shocked and outraged if I had been accused of trying to molest a child. I didn't read any shock or even surprise in his statement. I take that to mean that he's not surprised and it's probably something he did on a regular basis.
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Post by ellie on Oct 31, 2017 21:14:17 GMT
Should not Netflix have first made an announcement that they were undertaking an investigation before announcing they were dropping HOC which they must have known would be linked to the Spacey allegation.
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