Now I’m not the biggest David Bowie fan, nor do I really even care much for his music nor work. His music just exists to me. But I do acknowledge and understand he is a huge icon to people.
Today I saw a text post that genuinely shocked and surprised me, the first time I’d ever heard of it. An allegation was made against David Bowie that he is a Pedophile/Rapist and assaulted (allegedly) a 13 year old girl. Now I must begin with the fact that I for one am not in any way, shape or form a Rapist sympathizer, apologist or defend in any way rape or pedophilia. I despise and hate those who do such things and have deep personal experiences with these issues which I’m not going to divulge. So when I ask out of curiosity about how he is I get told to google it, so I did. Upon googling it I find a few disturbing pages where people seem to support the idea Bowie raped a girl and seem to enjoy the idea almost egging the idea on. So I dismiss this as sick filth from the offset. I carry on looking and can find not one reputable source on the subject. Now I studied media and had one of the best teachers I could’ve hoped for, and we were taught the importance in journalism of finding and validating sources. Now I couldn’t validate one, I’m definitely not the worlds best at research and evaluating sources but honestly after a page and a half I found nothing. So I continue to say that if the allegation was made and that it was investigated if any of it was found to be fact based aka time/date or whatever that it would’ve been a court case. Now this allegation never made it to court at all and although I do understand all to well that in too many cases that rape crimes do not make it to court since this was a high profile allegation the Police would’ve put resources into the investigation. Please do note that the British and American justice systems are different and that the British justice system although the penalties for crimes are stupidly low the majority of crimes are investigated properly without prejudice. So no matter his status or wealth the allegations against him would’ve founded basis for an investigation. Hence why the Jimmy Savile case was carried out and found him guilty and also the Rolf Harris case to which he was found guilty and prosecuted.
Following this I was to an extent personally attacked by the blog in question, being seemingly labelled a Pedophile/rapist apologist or sympathizer. The hashtags accompanying the reply's to my asks also being a bit upsetting. Now I’m not easily upset by things especially not online but when someone tries to make a personal point against me using rape or pedophilia as a way of trying to show I’m somehow prejudiced or defend the people who do that saddens me. As I stated before, within the last few years I have had experiences with Rape that have changed me forever, as much as I need to stress that I was nor perpetrator or victim I had a very close to home experience of it and the issues surrounding it, including the way it is dealt with. So for me to be branded or attacked in such a way has not only saddened and upset me but also brought back a lot of issues that I had buried deep.
The main point I’m trying to stress through this post is really that I respect David Bowie, I respect his work and him. I understand and accept there are allegations against him and I wish I knew more as most likely do most people about it. If he is guilty then I do not stand for his actions, nor condone. I’m fully on the side of the victim. But after I looked and tried to find for myself if he was guilty or the details of it I concluded for myself, in my mind that he is just what he was before. A man whom made music that neither really interested me or grabbed me, I respect he died, I respect his life and his legacy. I respect that his death means a lot to many people and that this allegation exists. My personal view with what I found is he’s neither guilty or not guilty but as neither can be proven I will respect his passing and Its meaning to others.
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