# And Now Chris Hardwick \[domestic abuse allegations\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 15, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153 "2018-06-15T15:28:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/101 "2018-06-15T20:52:28Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Which…you have no evidence of,right? It’s possible, so therefore “two bad people found each other” and the sheer fact that she told her story means she probably is loathsome? > Assume for a moment that is possible that there are no distortions, and everything she wrote is absolutely true. Instead of assuming the worst about her, based on a woman telling her story, try starting from the point that you don’t have any idea if she is loathsome, but there is some evidence - if nothing else, the story she told- that \*maybe \*he is. > But hey, no shackles, she should have left. I feel like this shit needs addressed. My mother stayed with an emotionally abusive man for 28 years, first out of fear of being alone (her family wasn’t exactly sunshine and daisies), and then in the belief that her sons needed a father around. Using “she should have left” as a reason for calling an accuser loathsome is disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/102 "2018-06-15T20:53:49Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > She could have taken this to the next level by actually suing him. If he harmed her career she has a solid foundation for a lawsuit. I think that’s a lot easier said than done. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/103 "2018-06-15T20:56:05Z")
[Moderating] I’ve edited the title of the thread to make the topic clearer. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/104 "2018-06-15T20:58:27Z")
I was a huge fan of @midnight, and was surprised when it was cancelled out of nowhere. Wondering if there’s more to that story now. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/105 "2018-06-15T21:03:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I kind of liked his @midnight show. But that’s irrelevant to my opinion of these accusations, and especially to how wrong it is to cast aspersions on accusers for nothing more than the way they tell their story. I adored @midnight - I think I watched every single episode (I had a backlog of several dozen on my DVR when the show ended, but I watched them all). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/106 "2018-06-15T21:05:39Z")
The last few years (and especially the accusations against Al Franken, who was my favorite politician) have taught me the “no heroes” rule. It doesn’t matter how talented a public figure is, or how much I like them – this stuff has no bearing on whether or not they might secretly be an abuser or harasser. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/107 "2018-06-15T21:08:18Z")
I didn’t really care that much for @midnight, and have never seen Talking Dead, but I’ve been a pretty huge fan of the Nerdist/ID10T podcast, I’ve listened to dozens of them. Having not been aware of any accusations like this it does seem kind of shocking in that he always seemed to be pretty open and honest in the podcast (both introspectively and with the guest) about dealing with mental health issues and just kind of generally trying to be a good person. I suppose he had me fooled, if these accusations are true. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/108 "2018-06-15T21:30:29Z")
FWIW, and perhaps this is a little late, but Chloe Dykstra wrote her Medium post in order that other women see and notice the red flags. She didn’t do it to hurl random accusations to “get” her abuser. She did it so that other women will be able to better recognize manipulative controlling behavior from their partners, especially when those women are in their early 20s and seemingly hot shot guy 20 years older than them shows interest. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/109 "2018-06-15T21:32:54Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > FWIW, and perhaps this is a little late, but Chloe Dykstra wrote her Medium post in order that other women see and notice the red flags. She didn’t do it to hurl random accusations to “get” her abuser. She did it so that other women will be able to better recognize manipulative controlling behavior from their partners, especially when those women are in their early 20s and seemingly hot shot guy 20 years older than them shows interest. And thank goodness someone can use her fame and power to do that, knowing that she could be a lightening rod for negative reactions. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/110 "2018-06-15T21:41:39Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > I feel like this shit needs addressed. My mother stayed with an emotionally abusive man for 28 years, first out of fear of being alone (her family wasn’t exactly sunshine and daisies), and then in the belief that her sons needed a father around. > > Using “she should have left” as a reason for calling an accuser loathsome is disgusting. I wouldn’t call her loathsome, but she admits he was a _terrible_ boyfriend within two weeks. _Two weeks._ Seriously, how much could she have invested in that relationship in two weeks. Unless Chris Hardwick is some extra-smooth Don Juan svengali rasputin dracula type, I fail to see why she stayed for week 3. Somethin ain’t adding up here. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/111 "2018-06-15T21:43:40Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I wouldn’t call her loathsome, but she admits he was a _terrible_ boyfriend within two weeks. _Two weeks._ Seriously, how much could she have invested in that relationship in two weeks. > > Unless Chris Hardwick is some extra-smooth Don Juan svengali rasputin dracula type, I fail to see why she stayed for week 3. Somethin ain’t adding up here. Because women are often conditioned to think they can “fix” the guy, he treats you that way because he just likes you so much, things will get better, he doesn’t really mean it, once he trusts you it will get better, I must have done something to make him not trust me, he makes me doubt he meant it that way etc etc etc ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/112 "2018-06-15T21:46:40Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Because women are often conditioned to think they can “fix” the guy, he treats you that way because he just likes you so much, things will get better, he doesn’t really mean it, once he trusts you it will get better, I must have done something to make him not trust me, he makes me doubt he meant it that way etc etc etc THIS. She wrote it off as he was just coming out of another relationship, that those worrisome red flags might only be temporary, etc etc. It’s goddamn easy to Monday Morning Quarterback that shit and say “Well she should have known better.” ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/113 "2018-06-15T21:52:50Z")
The fact that she didn’t mention Hardwick by name isn’t a defense against a libel suit. I can’t just make shit up and attribute it to “a short-fingered vulgarian” and figure I’m home free just because I didn’t say the name “Trump”. When you’re specific enough that your words can only apply to one person then the fact that you didn’t use the person’s name isn’t relevant. This isn’t an anonymous accusation. It applies to only one person, and if anything she said would be libelous if she named Hardwick, it’s libelous in this form as well. That being said, suing someone for libel isn’t that easy. You have the burden of proving that they made false statements about you, that they knew the statements were false, and that you were damaged by those statements. If it’s just a he-said/she-said situation, then proving the statements to be false is pretty difficult. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/114 "2018-06-15T21:57:15Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > THIS. > > She wrote it off as he was just coming out of another relationship, that those worrisome red flags might only be temporary, etc etc. It’s goddamn easy to Monday Morning Quarterback that shit and say “Well she should have known better.” I just wish guys would work from the place that maybe there is something they don’t understand about being raised female in this society, rather than explain what a woman should have done (and if they didn’t do it there s something wrong with them). ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/115 "2018-06-15T21:58:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Because women are often conditioned to think they can “fix” the guy, he treats you that way because he just likes you so much, things will get better, he doesn’t really mean it, once he trusts you it will get better, I must have done something to make him not trust me, he makes me doubt he meant it that way etc etc etc According to her though, there were actual rules within 2 weeks she had to submit to, 5 of which she mentions. Which is less of a gray area. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/116 "2018-06-15T21:58:48Z")
> [@Covfefe](#): > > According to her though, there were actual rules within 2 weeks she had to submit to, 5 of which she mentions. Which is less of a gray area. That doesn’t contradict anything I said. I’d like to think I’d be smart enough and strong enough to walk away too. Maybe I would be. But I refuse to judge someone who did’t becasue I wasn’t there, I know the emotional crap I was put through by even nice guys, and I wasn’t there. It safer to believe something was wrong with her that she didnt leave, than to realize that strong women sometimes get sucked into the mindfuck that is emotional domestic abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/117 "2018-06-15T22:11:17Z")
“Starfishing”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/118 "2018-06-15T22:17:52Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Incel Twitter! Now available on The Straight Dope! > > Anyway… he’ll be fine. He literally married an heiress and never has to work another day in his life. While that may be true, on principle one would hope enough of the court of public opinion is cautious before being okay with casting arrows at his reputation. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/119 "2018-06-15T22:34:48Z")
> [@Covfefe](#): > > According to her though, there were actual rules within 2 weeks she had to submit to, 5 of which she mentions. Which is less of a gray area. Good for you! You wouldnt be sucked into anything like this because you would know better. Great! Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153/120 "2018-06-15T22:48:35Z")
If she didn’t name Hardwick, how do we know that she is writing about him? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-chris-hardwick-domestic-abuse-allegations/816153.md?page=7)