I loved Rolf's Cartoon Club; it was epic. Actually got excited when it came on telly. Rolf was a legend and there was no argument. Even during his trial he was a legend in my eyes and I found the whole thing a farce because, after all, it was Rolf - he's not a beast like Saville was. Then the guilty verdict came and my first reaction was, "They've made a mistake." This guy became such an icon of kindness, fun and creativity it seemed impossible that he could be associated with paedophilia.
Now clearly entering into any sexual behaviour with children is wrong and thankfully it's one taboo in Britain that will always be abhorred no matter how other countries treat their children. But what happens when someone, like Rolf Harris, encounters a situation where he cannot distinguish between right and wrong because of the celebrity blur? I still don't believe Harris is a sexual predator - misguided yes - predator, no. Unfortunately also is how people instantly use the spotlight to make money and infamy for themselves. Look at Vanessa Feltz. Harris may have 'groped' her but let's not forget Feltz had no qualms about sacrificing dignity and decency for the limelight. An abused and scared victim she is not. A money grabbing charlatan she is.
In this culture of fear I don't know what to believe anymore and Harris is either a tragic result of an abusive culture from the 70s, a scapegoat, a fool or all three. I want him to be the legend I remember because it is sad everyone is seen as a potential deviant nowadays but maybe the trash media has finally won and we have to be afraid of everything and everyone.
I hope not.
Peace. x
It's difficult to know how reliable these celebrity cases are. There is potentially a lot of child abuse compensation money to be had for a historic claim, from the individual themselves and from any publicly-funded institution they set foot in. The accusers are believed and the more of them there are, the more believeable they seem. The model was Savile, who was dead when the revelations emerged. He may have looked creepy in retrospect (it didn't stop people from watching him on TV) and there may be truth in some of the allegations. But some of the reports are difficult to credit. Did he really make jewellery from dead men's eyes, when that kind of jewellery can be found on Google images?
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