Jian Ghomeshi on CBC fired for BDSM

[Noilly]

4 counts of sexual assault......just been arrested! Bye bye Ghomeshi

[Jo]

He was just arrested, or rather, he has surrendered himself to police.

[kgcayenne]

I hope everybody in this gets the help they need to both receive justice and move forward. Too bad this wasn't initiated a decade or more ago.

I still think that all the people who remained quiet about this are guilty of enabling. The entertainment industry appears to be full of opportunists willing to take advantage of ambitious women, of which there appear to be many.

Remember, a number of these women sat on this and threw other women arriving on the scene after them under the bus (so to say) so as not to jeopardize their own careers.

[Fancy]

Former radio host Jian Ghomeshi was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault on Wednesday, exactly one month after he was fired from the CBC over allegations of physical abuse.

Ghomeshi — who sparked a national conversation on sexual assault and hasn't been seen or heard from in weeks — surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, police said.

He is facing four charges of sexual assault and one charge of what police called "overcome resistance - choking."

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-st ... htm#127670
Wow.

[Sige]

This is good news!!!

[Captain Awesome]

This is good news!!!

Especially for Ghomeshi. I heard jail is a great place to be if you're into forceful sex acts. He'll be in paradise.

[Treblehook]

Too funny Captain Awesome. He should apply for a change of venue to the USA. Maybe he could then spend his time in jail, laughing his sore *bleep* off with Bill Cosby. Their reported behaviors are pretty similar.

[Piecemaker]

I hope everybody in this gets the help they need to both receive justice and move forward. Too bad this wasn't initiated a decade or more ago.

I still think that all the people who remained quiet about this are guilty of enabling. The entertainment industry appears to be full of opportunists willing to take advantage of ambitious women, of which there appear to be many.

Remember, a number of these women sat on this and threw other women arriving on the scene after them under the bus (so to say) so as not to jeopardize their own careers.

I think that's a bit harsh toward the women he allegedly assaulted. Remember they were young and lacking the life experience (confidence) to speak out. They may have thought they were the only one, filled with shame and thinking that they would be blamed for what happened to them. (They went home with him, gave signals they were attracted to him, would be accused of lying, etc., most of which has already been written on this forum!)
Ghomeshi did not "date" confident women of his own age and station in life.
Women have had to shut-up and put-up forever in many careers and employment situations to keep their jobs and/or advance in them. This situation is not unique to the entertainment industry.

As to the other people who remained quiet, I would say none of them knew the extent of the matter. It's when you put it all together that the bigger picture is revealed.

[Atomoa]

Great, now he's charged. Let's see what happens.

Is everyone charged with sexual assault guilty?

Watching everyone dance on a accused man's grave is troubling.

[Jo]

You mean, like in the Peachland Porn thread?

[Captain Awesome]

Oh, snap!

[kgcayenne]

I'm still stuck on the idea that the way these women played it out in the media belittles all the women who have had the courage to set an example and seek justice at the time of an incident.

Yet at the same time I understand what you are saying about inexperience and lack of confidence along with fear.

I am most sad for the women who may have been victimized by him and emotionally destroyed, while I suppose I should also be sad for these other women who stifled their own hurt to reach higher before reaching a comfortable status of success to speak out.

The entertainment industry is especially toxic. Look at how Rhianna has gone back to the man who beat her; he may still beat her.

What does this tell women: You have no power. Don't say anything until you are more powerful. Don't worry about anyone else who may get hurt after you either. Success means enduring being hurt.

[daria]

Great, now he's charged. Let's see what happens.

Is everyone charged with sexual assault guilty?

Watching everyone dance on a accused man's grave is troubling.

Nine women coming forward with allegations is a lot of smoke, and where there's smoke there's fire....

[rustled]

I'm still stuck on the idea that the way these women played it out in the media belittles all the women who have had the courage to set an example and seek justice at the time of an incident.

But it's never that simple, is it?

I think when a woman has been violated, it's sensible for her to prioritize her own healing over the greater good. IMO, she should make her decision based on what will be most likely to ensure she gets her own sense of power back. For some, that may be speaking up and ensuring justice. Too many women have discovered that once they speak up they have no control whatsoever. The media will have their way with them, public opinion will have their way with them, the court system will have their way with them. When you're already feeling your power has been taken away from you, setting yourself up to face one smackdown after another probably isn't the best way to get it back. Finding out who else has been hurt, gathering forces, and uniting to stop the perpetrator once and for all (as these women did) probably makes a lot more sense.

And I can't say I fault those who knew something was going on, either. Stopping someone in the act of violating someone is one thing. Whistle blowing to prevent what might happen to a stranger in the future is another thing entirely. Even those who may have the courage to come forward know how their actions will impact the lives of others (family, friends). In some cases, staying silent may actually be the least selfish thing they can do.

[Piecemaker]

I'm still stuck on the idea that the way these women played it out in the media belittles all the women who have had the courage to set an example and seek justice at the time of an incident.

Actually, most of the women have remained anonymous. One woman, who may have been the catalyst for a reporter to pursue the matter, posted on Twitter, I believe at the time an alleged assault happened last April. The media pursued the story and then women came forward as a result of hearing they were not the only one. The two women who came forward and publically identified themselves, only did so, after they realized they were not the only one AND after Ghomeshi's emphatic denials and claims of consensual rough sex and a jilted lover being out to get him. Maturity and increased self-confidence empowered the two who allowed themselves to be named. They in turn empowered other alleged victims to come forward. It "played" out in the media because of Ghomeshi's high public profile. Seeking justice at the time of an incident works much better on TV than it does in reality. It's a lot of "he said, she said". There is lots of date rape and other uninvited physical contact that goes unreported. Had the alleged victims needed to seek medical attention, an investigation may have commenced then.

Yet at the same time I understand what you are saying about inexperience and lack of confidence along with fear.

I am most sad for the women who may have been victimized by him and emotionally destroyed, while I suppose I should also be sad for these other women who stifled their own hurt to reach higher before reaching a comfortable status of success to speak out.

Many women, some very successful and competent by all standards, NEVER speak out. Therapists will tell you that many (women and men) have an assault of some kind that they have never spoken of to anyone until years, sometimes decades later.

The entertainment industry is especially toxic. Look at how Rhianna has gone back to the man who beat her; he may still beat her.

If he beat her before, he will beat her again. I wouldn't say the entertainment industry has any more domestic/relationship violence than anywhere else. I'd say we hear more about it though. There are shelters and transition houses overflowing, and that's just the ones that seek escape. Our province has put a big pot of money and instituted protocols for RCMP, MCFD and other service providers to deal with domestic violence. Counselors have myriads of clients from the very young to the very old who have been sexually and/or physically assaulted.

What does this tell women: You have no power. Don't say anything until you are more powerful. Don't worry about anyone else who may get hurt after you either. Success means enduring being hurt.

Lots of women, especially young ones, have no sense of having any power. They don't say anything because of the reasons I stated before. They are not in any emotional shape to be worrying about anyone else. Plus, there's a surprising number of victims who think they were the only one and that the assault was somehow their fault. One of the last things someone who has been victimized is thinking about is that they should "set an example". Some women do speak out when they realize someone else may get hurt. Older siblings will often come forward to protect a younger sibling, for example.

It does take courage to report being sexually or physically assaulted. It also takes strong support. It is particularly difficult when the alleged offender has a high public profile and is held in high regard by his peers. It is also particularly difficult when you are a young woman and it's not the bad guy in the back alley, but someone you admired and thought was charming and nice that assaults you.

Edit to add: I note some of my thoughts were posted by someone faster at the keyboard than I, but I will leave them anyway.