Disgusting

[ceebeegee]

On ATC, someone posted about James Barbour, asking how it was possible that he hasn't stopped working even though he "plead[ed] guilty to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child." Quick update: The guy fondled a 15-year old girl on several occasions. It's a complicated story--apparently she specifically requested to meet with him and pressed charges a few years later before the statute of limitations had run out. From his fans' reaction, you'd think she signed away her virginity to the nearest bidder. The flood of fierce, indignant posts on ATC supporting him and excoriating her--A CHILD--was absolutely nauseating. Guys, a refresher in, oh let's call it pedophilia law. When there is sexual contact between someone who's underage and someone who's much older (Barbour was at least 20 years older--ewww! Nast-ay) the minor is innocent BY DEFINITION. Because a minor doesn't have the right to say yes. A minor doesn't have the adult sensibility to agree. This is why the burden of responsibility is ALWAYS on the adult. It doesn't matter if she stripped naked and threw herself at you--YOU are responsible if you respond. Because you're the adult. She doesn't have the capacity to say yes.

So, someone asked the question above. This, I think, is a worthwhile question--frankly I've been wondering about it myself. His career doesn't seem to have suffered at all--he did the lead in Tale of Two Cities (although it could be said that was a unique form of punishment!) and a few others, and is now in 1776 at the Paper Mill. I personally would not buy a ticket to see him--I had the opportunity to see 1776 with Michael, and would've gone if I could've, but not to see him. I would certainly never buy a ticket where I thought he was the headliner. I do agree with the reasoning that a person can pay their debt to society and move on--my problem is that he and his lawyer practiced a particularly "blame the victim" style of defense, wherein she was called a gold-digger. His lawyer acted appallingly. No, I don't want to hear that he was only acting as a good defense lawyer should. There are ethical and unethical ways to defend your client. Smearing the victim is despicable. Basically I just get a very slimey feeling from the guy, I strongly disapprove of his recent actions, and I would act on those feelings.

However I concede that others might not feel the same way--they might truly believe he has served his debt to society, or that he has a right to earn a living. These are valid arguments. What bothers me are the several posts that say, in effect "how dare you even bring this up?" Don't talk about it. This entire discussion should be nullified. "Talk about a topic that's been beaten to death..." and "Why is this still being brought up???" (Well, you responded, so clearly it's still relevant.) Somebody actually posted (it's since been deleted--ha!) "STOP YOUR VENDETTA. It's despicable. STOP IT." The hell? How is an honest question a "vendetta"? How about a respectful exchange of views? How about a thoughtful counter-argument? Oh, I forgot, one of the mighty heroes has slipped, a la Mike Tyson, Kobe Bryant and Roman Polanski, so the fanboys and girls have to rise squealishly to their defense and attack the girl in question. Boys will be boys, you know--that lying bitch was just after his money.

And in keeping with the earlier posts, someone just wrote "someone on this board has an animus against this performer....I might add that in our sex-drenched culture a calculating 16-year-old is not exactly a 'child.'" Lolita lives and breathes! That manipulative temptress FORCED him to molest her, she made herself IRRESISTIBLE. How could any man be expected to act like a responsible adult when a sex-drenched 16-year-old (ENNNNH! Wrong, she was 15. Thanks for playing!) put herself in his way, with her alluring, man-weakening ways. Those crazy teenagers. It's kind of fascinating, the moral and ethical contortions on display--anything to attack that gold-digging whore, anything to absolve the 40-year-old married man of responsibility. The responsibility he accepted when he pled guilty to the laws that make this a civilized country, as opposed to, say, Saudi Arabia, where children of 8 can marry.

If I were registered on ATC, I would post that as well. And I applaud the poster who had the courage to brave the fans. Because no, it hasn't been neatly categorized and resolved and tucked away. This case was just settled a few years ago, and if someone wants to bring it up, more power to them. I just love how we're all "oooh, sex offenders are sick individuals who should have to register and wear the scarlet letter"...until it turns out to be R. Kelly. Or Kobe Bryant. Or James Barbour.

Comments

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

The lawyer wanted to set up a phone line or publish her name, to encourage people who knew her, (http://gothamist.com/2006/12/21/1800_gross_idea.php) to come forward so he could use them against her in court. The judge, obviously, said no. Barbour accused her of gold-digging, of only coming forward because he'd inherited some money from his mother. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/01042008/news/regionalnews/beast__i_pawed_gal__15_811048.htm) I love how he admits he knew she was 15 in the second encounter.

Also this charming tidbit:

Barbour also admitted luring the victim to his apartment by promising to introduce her to theatrical producers - and then engaging in oral sex with her. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/01/03/2008-01-03_type_casting_broadway_beast_james_barbou.html)

And this:

"She left NYU, she's working in a bakery, she's completely out of money," his lawyer Ronald Fischetti had claimed. "The motivation has to be because he's coming into money, and because he's becoming a Broadway star."

But prosecutors produced a secretly recorded tape in which Barbour referred to himself as "unethical." They also revealed that another woman has come forward accusing Barbour of sexually assaulting her in California when she was just 13.

where the age of consent is 16

As far as the moral, not legal, argument goes, that is still far too young. IMO, if you're not old enough to drink, you're not old enough to have sex with a man 20 years older. Toeing the line of the law but still pushing it is still considered sketchy behavior--look at Woody Allen. Obviously at some point the age differences equal out but that's when it's well past 15--that is, after the child has become an adult.

As far as personal connections, scroll to the bottom of the Gothamist link--someone who knows the girl and backs her. I imagine if you look around, you'll find pockets of support for both sides based on personal acquaintance, none of which really proves anything. I would take from Barbour's support on the Broadway message boards the same way I take Roman Polanski's support in imdb, or the sports fans who made their online rage very clear when Kobe Bryant was accused (her life was threatened), or those who attacked the Mike Tyson rape victim. People do not want to believe their hero has feet of clay. And did you really think people who support her are going to come to ATC? People outside the industry don't even know that board exists. Maybe they're posting elsewhere, or maybe they're keeping their mouths shut out of respect for the girl. Online support can't really be quantified.

[dry-2olives.livejournal.com]

Yes, the lawyer's actions were objectionable, but as far as Barbour's admission goes, remember that what he admitted to was part of the plea bargain. Whether he did it or not, his admission to the actions was very possibly part of an all or nothing offer.

Also, maybe I wasn't clear before, but while the accuser may not have been a big star, at the time the case was made public she was the central character in a high-profile television commercial, she was favorably reviewed for a Broadway show and was in rehearsals for a major Off-Broadway production. She was known in the industry. It wasn't a case of Barbour being the theatre person and her being the outsider.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

So he perjured himself? He gave a lot of details for someone just gaming the system. I'm sorry, I just can't accept that interpretation. If you're are willing to assume that, then remember the prosecution said they had another victim who came forward but the statute of limitations had run out. She was 13.

If she was doing so well, why did the lawyer claim she was a destitute exploiter grabbing at his fame?

[dry-2olives.livejournal.com]

I don't know what the truth is but I do know that plea bargains can include admitting to things that you didn't exactly do. That's the bargaining. I have no idea what her financial situation was at the time. I just know she wasn't an outsider to the New York theatre community.