Singer death column sparks Twitter rage

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: Associated Press

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's press watchdog said Monday it had received a record 21,000 complaints about a newspaper column on the death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately after critics used Twitter to brand the article homophobic and insensitive.

Gately died Oct. 10, aged 33, while vacationing on the Spanish island of Mallorca. An autopsy found he had died of natural causes from pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs.

Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir wrote in a column Friday that Gately's death was "not, by any yardstick, a natural one" and said he died in "sleazy" circumstances, She noted that Gately, who came out publicly as gay in 1999, had been to a bar and invited a young Bulgarian man back to his apartment the night before he died.

Moir concluded that "under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see."



Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BRITAIN_GATELY_TWITTER?SITE=INEVA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Didn't know of Gately. So I youtubed him when he died.

Very first comment on the most-watched video was "FAGGOT".

Doesn't matter what his lifestyle ( as in "style of life") was. It's his sexuality that bugs some people.

Reminds me of a Malcolm Xism:

Q. "Do you know what straight people call a gay guy who goes to church, is celibate, gives to charity and is kind to animals?"

A. "FAGGOT"

[roguevalley]

9. if Moir wants to see ooze, I suggest a mirror.

[Posteritatis]

10. To be fair, that's probably the first comment on most youtube videos

As interesting as the videos can be, the comments on them are typically not quite the apogee of human discourse.

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. True; and that alone speaks volumes.

They didn't call the poor (very recently and tragically deceased) guy a creep, rat, slime-ball, Mick, Paddy, scumbag etc. etc. etc.

Just this: "Faggot".

[Jkid]

11. I'll give you some insight to that question

Q. "Do you know what straight people call a gay guy who goes to church, is celibate, gives to charity and is kind to animals?"

A. "FAGGOT"

Why is that? Because even if a gay male celibate, in some communities, being celibate is not enough. Being attracted to the same gender is a sin itself. They expect you to marry a female and not only that, have sex with a female to prove that you are no longer gay.

I call it the "Get a *****" mentality.

[xultar]

2. Hey Sweetie. How you doin? Thanks for posting this article. Apparently the Brits

are more sensitive about a persons death than we are.

They seem to respect the dead and their families. How refreshing.

xoxo

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Hey you! Doing OK, I guess.

I posted this because of the response to an obvious homophobic article. How thousands of gay and allied people responded to obvious hate and the charge was led by an openly gay actor.

(Personal note: we are looking to add another chi to the Zoo Krewe. :))

hugs and kisses, BtA and the NOLA Zoo Krewe

[saracat]

8. Indeed they are, unlike some recent posts here. Good for the folks who spoke up!

Homophobia and disrespect should never be tolerated.

[closeupready]

4. Like I said in the other thread, straight women can be just as promiscuous as gay men.

Further, as a resident of the UK, she must be aware that her own Royal overlords almost always have marriages of convenience with concubines on the side. Just what, I'd like to know, does she think Charles was referring to when he told Camilla he wanted to be her tampon?

No, this Moir woman is an idiot.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

5. The Royal family are not overlords.

[closeupready]

6. And their shit doesn't stink.

n/t

[Boudica the Lyoness]

17. What is an overlord

and what has it to do with the British Royal Family?

[me b zola]

12. What about straight men?

[Bluenorthwest]

7. That vile article made me so mad. Happy I am not alone.

The lovely and talented Mr Fry can always be counted upon to make some well timed noise.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Very interesting. Veeerrry interesting.

[T_i_B]

15. Moir wrote her column on Friday

Today is Tuesday and it's still going strong on Twitter.

Of course the fact that Twitter played a major role in the Trafigura/Carter-Ruck affair has made people on Twitter more confident about kicking up a stink and being heard! Check out the UK forum for more info on both matters.

[redqueen]

16. Good... I'm glad this hateful ugliness is still being called out.

K&R

[T_i_B]

18. As an update...

....Jan Moir attempts to "clairify" her views and ends up digging an even bigger hole for herself.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1222246/The-truth-views-tragic-death-Stephen-Gately.html

[DainBramaged]

19. Twitter rage, somehow I just can't envision that........