It would be quite a show if the guitarist came out and suggested he felt violated and held it in for so many years.
Without question, abuse seems to be a one way street and it's not fair.
It's not fair to who?
To any men facing abuse. Physical, mental and career-wise. It happens, I assure you.
I assume this guy didn't care, any more than Janet Jackson had a costume malfunction, but the fact is that it does happen. Worse, there is nowhere to turn in most cases as men are just expected to welcome or enjoy it.
I as a man have had my but grabbed and not enjoyed it. The difference is I did not fear she could take what she wanted. I knew this six foot eight 320 pound gay dude that if he had grabbed my ass, I would have likely shot him on the spot just to make sure there was no confusion. So, lets admit there is a difference. I once had a six foot two, blonde haired blue eyed boss with $20,000 tits. She could have grabbed where ever she wanted, I likely would have just said more please. I guess it boils down to the eyes of the reciever.
Of course it does. If there is a relationship or if it is welcomed, that's entirely different from unwelcome.
If Franken looked like George Clooney and had some class, he probably gets away with alot more. Thats the way the world works for all of us mere mortals. Being a power tripping fool and using comedy as an excuse to stick his tongue down another human beings throat is not acceptable and I suspect even Clooney wouldn't get away with that too often.
In either case, you still don't attack a woman. If he is good with the ladies, he would know the signs and it would naturally form into something more and/or he would know what he is invited to try or not. People can look, flirt or do whatever, but to engage in these tactics with a woman (or man) when not invited and there is no friendship between them? Not cool. She could have accepted it and shrugged her shoulders, or, she could have been rightly offended. That's the dice he rolls. He's not a rock star being hounded by his groupies.
I've been on a dance floor back in my younger years and had women touch me, it was consensual to some degree as we were all just partying though I never touched back out of respect for my "position" as a man if you will. As you suggest, I am not threatened physically, where she
might be (though would have no reason to be). I've even had a kiss planted on my cheek and what have you. No big deal. Alcohol, dancing, partying. Not welcome per se, but I didn't mind.
I would not accept any strange woman sticking her tongue in my throat (other than maybe Raquel Welch). There is no humour there, and no mistaking his intention. There probably was a great deal of "me Tarzan, look at what me can do, me comedian!" Cowardly really. He abused his position and he knows it.
In fairness, kudos to him for apologizing. He's older and wiser now and reflecting back he knows he was wrong. He didn't murder anyone and he might have even misread the situation. I find it hard to believe, but I give him some benefit of the doubt. Ultimately, she accepted his apology, which is all that matters as she was impacted.
