In an increasingly scandalous and distasteful story, British police arrested one-time glam rock superstar Gary Glitter on Sunday, as part of the ongoing and expanding pedophile case that surfaced around a legendary BBC DJ and TV host called Jimmy Savile. This is a story that has shocked Britain and has rocked the hallowed corridors of the BBC itself like almost never before.
The 68-year-old Glitter (Paul Gadd) is no stranger to such controversy, having been convicted and jailed for possessing child pornography in Britain in 1999, and later convicted in Vietnam for obscene acts involving children as young as ten, in 2006. In a move which I am sure not many people were delighted about, Glitter was deported back to Britain in 2008.
The involvement of Glitter only hardens the swirling flames around Savile, who was a popular presenter on the BBC's "Top of the Pops" and who later had his own show aptly called "Jim'll Fix It". He was known for his involvement with fundraising for various children's charities and on his TV show he would grant the wishes of mainly children who would write in with a wish, and he would then make it happen and present them with a badge to record the fact that Jim did indeed fix it.
That show ran for almost 20 years between 1975 and 1994 and it is accurate to say that Savile was regarded as something of an angel by many; one whose purpose in life was helping disadvantaged children. It is thus shocking today that after some women came out after Savile's death last year at the age of 84, a firestorm began that expanded to include now hundreds of claims and witnesses.
The BBC is under fire because some believe that they withheld or turned away evidence raised by the staff who produced the "Newsnight" documentary that exposed some of the claims against Savile. That documentary was shelved by the BBC last December, but BBC rivals ITV released their own expose which shone an even brighter spotlight back onto the BBC. Facing a massive public outcry they have appointed former Sky News head honcho Rick Pollard to chair a new investigation, to include claims that various BBC personnel were aware of the abuse, and that some of it transpired in dingy dressing rooms on the BBC premises.
Many women have complained that they were abused by Savile when teeenagers, on the BBC premises, but some have extended the claims as "abuse by Savile and others". This is where Glitter comes in, because one witness claimed she saw Gary Glitter having sex with an underage girl in Savile's dressing room at the BBC, while Savile himself was abusing another.
Police have stated that they are looking into the possibility that Savile may have been at the center of a pedophile ring and used the BBC's legitimacy as an ideal cover for the nefarious activities. British police have labeled Savile as potentially the worst sex offender in UK history, with several hundred victims abused over four decades, and more than 300 direct witnesses at their disposal.
They have also issued a warning to all of Savile's cronies and "accomplices" as far back as the 60's/70's and it's been said that many other celebrities are now in fear of facing charges themselves. The ominous words from the police were clear: "we are coming for you."
I can remember seeing Jimmy Savile on both "Top of the Pops" (along with Gary Glitter, on certain shows) as well as playing the angel on "Jim'll Fix It". It's shocking to me to imagine what was going on once the cameras were switched off, and I cannot imagine what it was like for the hundreds of victims, then or today.
This investigation is going to rifle through the past, into many celebrity lives and the BBC itself, whose own management and personnel are not going to be exempt from potential criminal charges if appropriate, according to the police.
This story is only going to get worse, and it inevitably raises a new-found degree of suspicion today around anyone who chooses to be exclusively around children as part of their professional lives. While that may indeed be unfortunate, if it prevents the disgraceful targeting/abuse of children from occurring so easily/frequently, then that is a necessary side-effect of such horrifying cases. - Kevin Mc
No comments:
Post a Comment