The "Please No" Sexual Misconduct + Assault List

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:42 pm

As a mature grownup with an extremely low loyalty factor (granted and expected in return), there aren't that many famous people I would care if I had to immediately abandon them in this ongoing mess, but I came up with a few ...

- Michael Stipe: The only non-universal one I can think of off-hand, in part because of him and in part because of what a scandal involving him would look like. I really don't want to stop listening to REM ever so lets hope he's a good dude.

- Barack Obama: For legacy and historical importance reasons more than anything else.

- George Clooney / Paul Rudd: I'm not even really a fan of either of them, but they've always seemed kinda decent? I don't know. Maybe I feel the need to have a list longer than two.

I think those are the only two where I'd really be "pained", if that's the right word. I wouldn't throw up some kneejerk defense, but it would suck.
I really don't think there are any athletes who qualify. I grew up idolizing Lenny Dykstra so the whole "bursting of the childhood hero bubble" thing happened a long time ago. I wouldn't be thrilled with Messier or Jeter but I wouldn't be conflicted or specifically more upset. I'm going to keep thinking while you dipshits rush to be the first to post Jason Isbell.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:48 pm

Your first two are pretty good choices.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:48 pm

Addison Russell.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:49 pm

As a cynical bastard there aren't many that would cause me anguish.

I loved Woody Allen before he was revealed as a pedophile. That one stung because I had grown up loving his movies and his books.

Post by **brian** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:55 pm

List pretty much begins and ends with Obama for me.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:03 pm

Dave, obviously. Barack too. That's about it.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:14 pm

This brings up a few things:
1) I've loved the 25 yr anniversary stuff about Automatic for the People that's been out lately, and yes, a Michael Stipe scandal would be both disheartening and ugly as hell. Barack too.
2) I'm not surprised in the least by who's been outed recently (Trump, Weinstein, Spacey, Piven). I mean, it's not like I expected it about any of them, but I'm not surprised.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:21 pm

Piven seems like a guy I'd be surprised if he didn't. He just seems like a prick. (I've never watched Entourage).

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:23 pm

I always thought he was playing himself in Smokin' Aces.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:28 pm

L-Jam3 wrote:Piven seems like a guy I'd be surprised if he didn't. He just seems like a prick. (I've never watched Entourage).

There's plenty of stories that he is. I know a couple good people who have worked with him who have nothing good to say about him (and his buddy John Cusack).

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:31 pm

[See my avatar.]

Post by **brian** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:32 pm

Johnny Carwash wrote:[See my avatar.]

He's already been accused of sexual harassment.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:33 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:
L-Jam3 wrote:Piven seems like a guy I'd be surprised if he didn't. He just seems like a prick. (I've never watched Entourage).

There's plenty of stories that he is. I know a couple good people who have worked with him who have nothing good to say about him (and his buddy John Cusack).

Has John Cusack been accused? He might be on my list.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:36 pm

brian wrote:
Johnny Carwash wrote:[See my avatar.]

He's already been accused of sexual harassment.

I thought it was just extramarital affairs? I know it was skeevy, but I didn't think in Weinstein/Spacey territory.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:38 pm

Yeah, I remember reading an article about Piven in GQ about a dozen years ago when Entourage was hot. I can't remember the details, but the general consensus was that he worked for a while in Hollywood before he hit it big, and instead of being appreciative of getting there, he was carrying on like he was doing Hollywood a favor by being there. Like I watched Piven in movies before and thought he was the second coming of fucking Olivier.

Post by **brian** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:39 pm

I don't think he forced himself on anyone physically, but there was definitely sexual advances on staffers. Some of those were consumated, but you have to assume there were many that were not and were unwanted. There were stories stating as much when the story originally came out.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:44 pm

Had a friend that worked for Letterman, from probably 2001-end of the show. She started as an intern, moved to accounting, then became a writer for the last 5-6 years or so of the show. I remember hearing that when she first got there no one at her level (intern) was allowed to talk to Dave, or (I think) be in an elevator alone with him. I believe that was for his protection after he had been sued. Other than that, I don't remember ever hearing anything bad from her about him.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:46 pm

Giff wrote:
DSafetyGuy wrote:
L-Jam3 wrote:Piven seems like a guy I'd be surprised if he didn't. He just seems like a prick. (I've never watched Entourage).

There's plenty of stories that he is. I know a couple good people who have worked with him who have nothing good to say about him (and his buddy John Cusack).

Has John Cusack been accused? He might be on my list.

Cusack would be on my list, too. Maybe the only actor (other than Morgan Freeman).

duff · Post by **duff** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:47 pm

Didn't Morgan Freeman ditch his wife for a younger (possibly related lady)?

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:49 pm

duff wrote:Didn't Morgan Freeman ditch his wife for a younger (possibly related lady)?

Step grand daughter.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:52 pm

That's what he should have said!

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:54 pm

Thought of some more, maybe too many:

George Lucas
Steven Spielberg
John Williams (composer)
anyone major involved in Star Wars, really
Wes Anderson
Michael Jordan
Super Dave Osborne
Norm Macdonald
anyone involved in Seinfeld
any of the Beatles

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:55 pm

I mean, we're getting really close to someone getting out in front of this to look like a real stand-up role model, right?

Post by **brian** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:58 pm

A_B wrote:I mean, we're getting really close to someone getting out in front of this to look like a real stand-up role model, right?

With benefit of hindsight, that might have been the move for CK, but he missed that boat.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 6:41 pm

Vin Scully

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:13 pm

brian wrote:
A_B wrote:I mean, we're getting really close to someone getting out in front of this to look like a real stand-up role model, right?

With benefit of hindsight, that might have been the move for CK, but he missed that boat.

Definitely would have been the move. Based on the times article, I'd say the guy was downright respectful for asking. I don't think a woman should feel disrespected because someone asks for sex. I only wish more women would ask. To me, the line is trying to use leverage to get the sex. A no strings attached request is totally ok. I guess some women just get bombarded with dick offers and I'm sure that gets old, but would they rather the opposite? Don't know. At least there's a discussion.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:21 pm

Eddie Vedder
Jerry Seinfeld
Stephen Colbert
The Rock
Will Ferrell
Rachel Bilson

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:14 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote:
Giff wrote:
DSafetyGuy wrote:
L-Jam3 wrote:Piven seems like a guy I'd be surprised if he didn't. He just seems like a prick. (I've never watched Entourage).

There's plenty of stories that he is. I know a couple good people who have worked with him who have nothing good to say about him (and his buddy John Cusack).

Has John Cusack been accused? He might be on my list.

Cusack would be on my list, too. Maybe the only actor (other than Morgan Freeman).

He hasn't been accused, to the best of my knowledge. My previous post was that people I know who have personal experience with those two have stated they are pricks. My apologies for any confusion with the intended aim of the thread.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:19 pm

Ellen.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:27 pm

Sorry for it being YouTubers, but outside of The Rock (already stated) I really don't care that much about celebs.

Philly DeFranco
Sean Evans
Wil Wheaton
Rodney Smith (Has the board game channel called Watch It Played. Like, the nicest of nice Canadians ever. Literally the stereotype.)

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 8:59 am

brian wrote:
A_B wrote:I mean, we're getting really close to someone getting out in front of this to look like a real stand-up role model, right?

With benefit of hindsight, that might have been the move for CK, but he missed that boat.

Yeah, I knew it was coming. Surely he did too.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:03 am

For me, I'd include any artist whose work I still enjoy. I don't want to have to make a moral choice any time I listen to some music or watch a movie because it turns out the artist is a dangerous asshole.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:07 am

I find the perpetual love of Michael Jackson weird for that reason. Its almost impossible to believe he wasn't a pedophile.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:08 am

Bourdain would be a sneaky bad one too, because he does mostly solid work and seems to be masculine posturing over the worst of masculinity.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:26 am

I hope this doesn't come off condescending, but I don't think there's anyone in terms of being a celebrity that I'd be devastated to find out about. Even if, for example, someone I found out to be a true hero like Mandela or Albert Schweitzer, they are still men in positions of power. It almost seems like par for the course. There are few more admired people in 20th Century America than MLK, and he was an obvious horndog.

Now if I found out my Dad did some sexual bullying in his past, then I'd be crushed. But a celebrity? Naah.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:27 am

Saw a few tweets this morning, post-Louis, saying that it's often the ones who proclaim to be feminists that are actually offenders. Perhaps a few, (and Louis for sure), but in my opinion, (and Brenda Tracy's too) what this movement needs is more men saying how wrong this all has been.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:28 am

Let me also mention that if you haven't read the Brenda Tracy article this week in The Ringer, take 20 minutes today to do so.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:31 am

L-Jam3 wrote:Let me also mention that if you haven't read the Brenda Tracy article this week in The Ringer, take 20 minutes today to do so.

It's great. And by great, I mean important and moving and hard to read.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:41 am

L-Jam3 wrote:I hope this doesn't come off condescending, but I don't think there's anyone in terms of being a celebrity that I'd be devastated to find out about. Even if, for example, someone I found out to be a true hero like Mandela or Albert Schweitzer, they are still men in positions of power. It almost seems like par for the course. There are few more admired people in 20th Century America than MLK, and he was an obvious horndog.

Now if I found out my Dad did some sexual bullying in his past, then I'd be crushed. But a celebrity? Naah.

I think Obama would have crushing effects.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:45 am

If I found out Howard was a sexual bully, I think I'd be crushed then, too.