How does one accidently put one’s hand six inches up another person’s shirt?
What a ridiculous overreaction.
I’ve said it before out here: We need to hear the story from the woman who complained. As far as I am concerned, it can be anonymous. But if she does not come forward with an account, many people (me included) are likely to conclude that the incident was blown way out of proportion and that Keillor did not deserve to have his reputation blown up over it.
Everything about this person is over-inflated and just plain boring. Glad he’s gone. Zzzzzzz…
“Tales of Lake Male Ho Be Gone?”
Yet more Puritanical silliness. Also, the attitude that it’s alright to be awful to people based on spurious charges just if you don’t like their art is pure trolling.
If people are going to be metaphorically hung over these accusations we need some standards.
This is getting to be Puritanical and humorless and that’s what I do not want women to get accused of. Again.
Sadly, we don’t know what the charges are, we don’t know anything except Keillor’s explanation. While I like Keillor (although I was never a fan of his show) and I am very sorry to see this happen to him, I cannot judge whether he got what’s coming to him or is a victim of overreaction.
Possible Garrison misread what he thought was a signal on her part and stopped when he realized his mistake by her reaction. If so, he’s not the first one to make a mistake like that. One would have to stretch a bit to call it harassment. Why was her shirt open? Wardrobe changing perhaps? I’m sure MPR did not take this decision lightly because of what he meant to their success.
Sure would be nice to hear an account from both sides.
ETA: Maybe it was more of financial decision on MPR’s side being as his popularity was waning.
Exactly
Who was the Lawyer
When did this happen
What is alleged
All of Moore’s accusers came forward
All of Franken’s accusers came forward
All of Trump’s accusers came forward
Guardian went a bit further than this piece. O tempora, o mores.
In a statement Keillor expressed gratitude for a long, rich career. He sounded wistful. “I’ve been fired over a story that I think is more interesting and more complicated than the version MPR heard. Most stories are. It’s some sort of poetic irony to be knocked off the air by a story, having told so many of them myself, but I’m 75 and don’t have any interest in arguing about this. And I cannot in conscience bring danger to a great organization I’ve worked hard for since 1969.”
He told a local newspaper he had been accused of inappropriate touching. “I put my hand on a woman’s bare back. I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She recoiled. I apologized. I sent her an email of apology later and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called.”
I agree with you about whose story we are really hearing. And the man is a compelling story teller. I’m thinking it’s not as innocuous, but until the other side is told, I have to trust MPR did the prudent thing.
So he is being fired over a wardrobe malfunction.
But good for him for standing up for public broadcasting.
Not a big financial issue for them since he has retired from APHC and only did The Writers Almanac.
IMHO it is mostly an excuse to rebrand A Prairie Home Companion since the new format has lost many of the loyal listeners and not generated enough new ones!
We definitely need to hear more details, If this is how the incident took place, it does not sound like anything intentional on his part. If she truly had accepted his apology for his hand on her bare back, then I wonder why she had her lawyer contact him?
Going by this bit of info, it just doesn’t square with the outcome.
It reminds me of the original reporting on Kevin Spacey where something didn’t add up.
My approach is, always believe the accuser and hold-off judgement on the accused.
We shouldn’t rush to judgment but we should also acknowledge false accusations and termination worthy ‘misunderstandings’ of this nature are very rare. Along with the harm that has and can be done by certain types of disbelieving.
There’s been some weird stuff around the Franken allegations, I haven’t blamed people for holding back judgment who’ve been quick to judge others but some of the ways people have expressed how/why they’re doing so in the comments section here has been disappointing to me because it’s sometimes too similar to some of the unfortunate ways very serious true allegations have been dismissed. Sadly, it can make us look like hypocrites even if those making the comments tend to believe accusers (especially when it’s later revealed there was more to the accusations).
When there are allegations that appear less serious &/or credible, I think saying less and waiting is the best move.
We aren’t seeing prominent men losing jobs over misunderstandings. We are seeing that often the employer is aware of more than is made public.
I also prefer to wait until there is more information. We need both sides of this story before concluding that he is a victim.
Yes. It also is serving to make people tired and tune out and then not a damn thing will change except men will lose their jobs. I don’t believe this is the intended result. I always thought it was accountability and awareness but what do I know?
We haven’t even gotten to the rock stars yet.