A veteran Guardian writer tried to joke about Diane Abbott getting sexually harassed. It didn’t end well for him [TWEETS]


Support us and go ad-free

Now retired Guardian writer Michael White should have known better than to use the sexual harassment of Diane Abbott for laughs. Instead, it was left to Twitter users to put him right. And they did.

The Secretary of State for Brexit is alleged to have sexually harassed Home Secretary Diane Abbott. This incident reportedly took place in a House of Commons bar, after Wednesday night’s vote to trigger Article 50 and leave the European Union. But rather than meeting it with outrage, the media has spun the incident as a case of comical Benny Hill shenanigans.

The incident between Diane Abbott and David Davis

The incident allegedly took place in a popular parliamentary watering hole called Strangers’ bar. Eye witnesses claim Davis leaned in to kiss Abbott, who recoiled and told him to “fuck off”. Davis then walked off laughing.

For those who might be sitting on the fence, let us be clear: this is what sexual harassment looks like. Many women have endured moments like this. In fact, a recent study found one in every two women in the UK has been sexually harassed in the workplace. And we know there is nothing funny about it.

The media disagreed.

The Express decided to recreate the incident as David Davis winning a cheeky victory over ‘sourpuss’ Diane Abbott.

The Daily Mail followed the same pattern, exclaiming in mock horror that:

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott launched a four-letter tirade at Brexit minister David Davis as he tried to kiss her in the Commons bar after she helped vote through the Article 50 bill.

The Sun, of course, also reliably stuck the boot in.

The Spectator, meanwhile, managed to turn it into a Mills and Boon tale of thwarted romance.

https://twitter.com/frances_frankly/status/829664063466651649

This paved the way for all sorts of knuckle-draggers to come out of the woodwork with their views on the incident. None of which were particularly kind to Abbott.

https://twitter.com/DavidJo52951945/status/829588462844178432

https://twitter.com/Cockney_Atheist/status/829664311844941824

Not everybody is a knuckle-dragging idiot

Imagine being Diane Abbott in that moment. You’ve had a hell of a day, then some smug creep comes over and tries to plant a kiss on you in front of your colleagues and the press. Then those gleeful spectators turn around and make you the asshole.

But thankfully, not everybody is a knuckle-dragging idiot. Those who have empathy for a woman being sexually harassed in her place of work came out swinging on her behalf.

https://twitter.com/stavvers/status/829645780927598592

https://twitter.com/boglestone/status/829649713611866112

Zero tolerance for sexual harassment should not be predicated on the ethnicity, religion, or political views of the person being harassed. It shouldn’t matter whether we love them, like them, or hate them. It is never funny. And a person acting to reclaim their physical space from harassing behaviour is not cute, funny, or rude. It is their most basic right.

Get Involved!

– According to guidance by Citizen’s Advice, sexual harassment can include:

  • sexual comments or jokes
  • physical behaviour, including unwelcome sexual advances, touching and various forms of sexual assault
  • displaying pictures, photos or drawings of a sexual nature
  • sending emails with a sexual content

– If you or someone you know is experiencing this behaviour in the workplace, please advise them to follow the Citizen’s Advice guidance. They are not alone, and it is vital to hold those responsible to account.

Featured image via Wikicommons/Wikicommons

Support us and go ad-free

We need your help to keep speaking the truth

Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.

Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.

We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.

In return, you get:

* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop

Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.

With your help we can continue:

* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do

We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?

The Canary Support us

Comments are closed

Related articles