Shock, I Tell You, Shock

"There began a campaign of harassment, vengeance and demonization against me that would lead to months of anxiety. [His former girlfriends' claims of sexual abuse] reframing what had been an ongoing consensual relationship as something nefarious."
"She found some sympathetic ears by painting herself as a victim and turned this into a campaign. The writer boldly started contacting my friends, acquaintances and even work colleagues -- all of whom came to me to tell me this was happening and all of whom recognized it as a trumped up way to attack me and undermine my reputation."
"The writer tried to peddle the story and, at one point, a major Canadian media publication did due diligence but never printed a story."
"I am being fired in my prime from the show I love and built and threw myself into for years because of what I do in my private life. Let me be the first o say that my tastes in the bedroom may not be palatable to some folks. They may be strange, enticing, weird, normal, or outright offensive to others We all have our secret life. But that is my private life. That is my personal life. And no one, and certainly no employer, should have dominion over what people do consensually in their private life ... I am still in shock."
CBC "Q" radio host Jian Ghomeshi

Former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi

"It's always difficult when an employer has to sever ties with an employee. Information came to our attention recently that in CBC's judgement precludes us from continuing our relationship with Jian Ghomeshi."
"Whenever a decision is made to end employment with an employee, for privacy, terms of separation are never disclosed."
Chuck Thompson, CBC head of public affairs

Keith Beaty / Toronto Star     All that remains of a large promotional poster of Jian Ghomeshi is a freshly painted white wall in the atrium of the CBC headquarters on Front St. W. 

So sad. A Canadian celebrity brought low by ... his celebrity. Someone who is constantly in the public eye, someone who has groomed himself to catch public attention, someone who preens himself as a celebrity, someone whom some people find personally obnoxious, detesting his public persona, reflective no doubt of an inner need; someone whom most people admire, emulate, and were happy to support his career, are now rather thrown off balance.

Actually, big deal. Most people couldn't care less. He's right, it's his own personal, intimate affair how he conducts himself in the bedroom, with whomever he wishes, in whatever style appeals to him. On the other hand, the CBC is known to attract a certain kind of client and a certain sobriety is expected of CBC hosts, even with those hosts like Jian Ghomeshi whose joie de vivre is considered refreshing and appealing.

Sordid, violent sex? Not so much. Even though, as Mr. Ghomeshi himself stated in his mea culpa confessional, his sexual adventures are not entirely unknown and unappreciated to and by many others within society. Who, with good enough reason, don't make it a matter of public disclosure. Not that Mr. Ghomeshi would have, had he not been backed against the wall. And the reason for that is also personal; a break-up with a former girlfriend, he contends.

Nothing so vicious as a woman spurned. Or, a number of women seething that they were the unwilling victims of a sex-sport they don't enjoy, hadn't anticipated, and didn't want. With the bruises, psychical and physical to prove it; the former lingering, the latter long gone. Or so the imagination would lead one to conclude. In any event, this is a made-in-the-Ghomeshi-bedroom scenario.

He has taken the bullcrap by the horns and come out front and swiftly in expectations of sympathy and understanding from devoted fans. Livid that his livelihood has been so rudely interrupted by allegations of violence perpetrated by him against the gentler sex. If indeed there was no consensus and gratuitous violence resulted, he's been a very wretchedly nasty boy, but then, boys are always boys, that's the thing of it.

As for the ghastly revelations and the resulting firing leading to a $55-million suit against the CBC? Hey, the CBC equates with taxpayer funding like it or not, doesn't it? The taxpayer paid for his no-doubt munificent salary, enabling him to lead the fabulous lifestyle he adored. No need for the taxpayer to pony up for his rude awakening.

In any event, according to employment and labour lawyer Howard Levitt, "In an age of social media -- tools that Ghomeshi uses skilfully -- there is no such thing as private time versus work time. He had to know that." And: "If the CBC has convincing evidence that Ghomeshi was involved in non-consensual activities that constituted violence against women, he becomes a poisoned chalice and executives had no choice but to release him."

And, finally: "This suit ($55-M) has everything to do with strategy and PR -- but nothing to do with legal entitlement. This suit, which alleges breach of confidence, bad faith and defamation by the public broadcaster, will almost certainly be quickly struck down by the courts without Ghomeshi recovering a penny."

See what I mean? Too bad, so sad....