# Jian Ghomeshi, host of Q on CBC, fired.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 27, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645 "2014-10-27T13:31:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 12
### Author:  [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/221 "2014-11-06T00:46:41Z")
That Slate article is very introspective. Maybe it’s making more people think and “not play nice” in the future.
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### Author:  [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/222 "2014-11-06T00:47:53Z")
Freelancer Jesse Brown was working on the matter and brought it to the Toronto Star, so he and Star reporter Kevin Donovan have been working on it together for months. Everyone else is playing catch-up.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/223 "2014-11-06T02:10:39Z")
> [@EmilyG](#):
>
> Out of curiosity, has American media been covering this story much? Anyone know?
If Rob Ford gets involved in any way, it could explode.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/224 "2014-11-06T02:31:57Z")
I’m on my phone so can’t search the thread easily, but early on (maybe a week ago Monday?) I posted a link to an article in the Washington Post, which had links to a few other US sites which were covering the story.
In particular, it linked to an article by Savage, who was expressing scepticism about the BSDM defence.
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### Author:  [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/225 "2014-11-06T02:44:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#):
>
> If Rob Ford gets involved in any way, it could explode.
There has been an article (opinion piece) that mentions both.
[Jian Ghomeshi, Rob Ford and the cost of Canadian politeness](http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/madeline-ashby-jian-ghomeshi-rob-ford-and-the-cost-of-canadian-politeness), from the Ottawa Citizen.
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### Author:  [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/226 "2014-11-06T05:02:08Z")
I’ve read most of the links here to the women’s stories, and the stories of the women who knew those women, and I’m losing track of who is whom, but I think it’s fairly clear that the man has done what the women claimed. When I first heard of the story, and read a link to his Facebook post, I thought just maybe he was the victim (since I’ve seen women lie about men in order to exact revenge) but now I’m convinced otherwise. But one thing puzzles me a bit: not one of the women has said, when describing being suddenly struck, or choked, or smashed against the wall, that they were afraid of being raped, or that he might kill them. They describe being startled, and scared, but not afraid for their lives. Am I missing something in their recounting, or has this been covered in an article I’ve missed?
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/227 "2014-11-06T06:46:36Z")
The closest I remember is the lawyer, Ms Seth, who described being digitally penetrated against her will.
If proven, that would be sexual assault under Canadian criminal law (we no longer have an offence of rape).
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### Author:  [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/228 "2014-11-06T07:16:45Z")
> [@EmilyG](#):
>
> Guys, I’m not actually going to burn any books, so I suggest maybe we drop the whole subject of book-burning and Nazis and get back to the thread subject.
As the person who didn’t know what to do with her copy of _ **1982** _ who brought the subject up, can we not detract from talking about the implications of Jian’s dismissal, the allegations, what it means to the CBC and also to us as a culture, to discuss book burning. Neither \*\*EmilyG \*\*nor I were seriously ever going to burn our books, but it becomes a legitimate questiion: When someone whom you respect and support by buying his books and albums (not to mention being a taxpayer supporting the CBC) no longer has your respect, what _do_ you do with the memorabilia?
I agree that our rule of law begins with presumption of innocence. Still, as the number of allegations increase, as the stories all have similar details, as so many former employees and co-workers… preyed upon, abused, harassed, demeaned or otherwise , say “We all knew about Jian” I am less and less likely to believe his spin. Too many women have had their stories discredited at the hands of male abusers. So now I am no longer proud to own his egocentric and narcissistic biography.
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### Author:  [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/229 "2014-11-06T11:20:16Z")
> [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](#):
>
> …I agree that our rule of law begins with presumption of innocence. Still, as the number of allegations increase, as the stories all have similar details, as so many former employees and co-workers… preyed upon, abused, harassed, demeaned or otherwise , say “We all knew about Jian” I am less and less likely to believe his spin. Too many women have had their stories discredited at the hands of male abusers. So now I am no longer proud to own his egocentric and narcissistic biography.
As mentioned in the Steve Faguy piece I linked above, hardly anyone is on Ghomeshi’s side anymore. (Except maybe his lawyer?)
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/230 "2014-11-06T12:01:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> The only reason I know about it is from here, and I listen on and off to Q. (I was in the car yesterday when an announcement for it came on, but of course nothing was mentioned and I’m sure if I heard the program, I would’ve just assumed he’s on vacation.) I haven’t seen any US media on it.
I’ve seen brief mentions on CNN and the NYTimes, I believe, but buried in the bulleted list of smaller stories below the headlines.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/231 "2014-11-06T12:27:49Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Quoth a litigation partner I work with, in his analysis of his statement of claim last week: “I will turn in my licence to practice law if the CBC does not bring a motion to dismiss”. Before describing the reasons such a motion would likely succeed.
Predicting a motion to dismiss in a civil proceeding is like predicting that the sun will come out tomorrow. It’s almost malpractice if you don’t move for dismissal immediately.
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### Author:  [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/232 "2014-11-06T13:14:37Z")
A [pdf of the motion to dismiss](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jian-ghomeshi-lawsuit-dismissal-sought-by-cbc-1.2824814) at the bottom of the article.
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### Author:  [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/233 "2014-11-06T16:44:44Z")
kittenblue - I think it is possible to assaulted without being in fear for your life. That has happened to me. Until more of the women accusing Ghomeshi are interviewed, there will still be questions.
I’m ashamed to admit that as a “Q” fan I initially fell for his Facebook post. Now, I’m so cynical I’m wondering if his heartrending post about his father’s death was posted to get sympathy when the reporter came out with his story. From what I’ve read he needs to hit somebody to get his rocks off. Just take a blue pill, already.
Another point about this story - I’ve followed this story pretty closely & I must say I’m sick of comments coming from Americans making fun of Canada. As if other countries can’t have cultures and issues of their own that matter.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/234 "2014-11-06T16:51:42Z")
**Everyone** – the following is all off-topic.
> [@74westy](#):
>
> Or you could just donate to a women’s shelter and leave the book burning to the Nazis.
> [@hajario](#):
>
> Now that was just nasty and amazingly fucking ignorant or maybe you can explain to us how someone burning their own personal property is in any way like something perpetrated by Nazis.
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> How about you name one book burning that wasn’t held by assholes?
> [@hajario](#):
>
> I can’t. What does that have to do with Nazis?
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> What doesn’t it have to do with Nazis?
>
> Eta: someone saying “leave the bookburning to the Nazis” doesn’t need someone else running in shrieking ZOMG the Nazis were horrible! How dare you bring them up!
> [@EmilyG](#):
>
> Guys, I’m not actually going to burn any books, so I suggest maybe we drop the whole subject of book-burning and Nazis and get back to the thread subject.
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Sigh. Let’s kill this hijack - the original comment was to ‘leave book-burning to the Nazis’. Meaning, book-burning out of hatred of the authour is an inherently bad thing to do, beneath people - the sort of tactic that sould be _left_ to people like Nazis. Not that anyone who does it _is_, in fact, a Nazi.
>
> There is room to debate as to whether the premise is correct (that is, whether book-burning is or is not a bad thing inherently), but it isn’t an insult, and it isn’t stating that anyone is a Nazi.
> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> Regretfully, I must disagree with you, **malthus**. It seemed a pretty clear suggestion that **faithfool** was Nazi-esque for suggesting a book-burning.
> [@faithfool](#):
>
> I’ll say one last thing about the idiotic hijack that **74westy** started and then I’ll desist… I was trying to think of something good to come out of a horrific situation, one in which [most] people probably wouldn’t ever want to read an abuser of women again. As thus, I totally couldn’t care less about the stupidity of believing “That all books are sacred OMGZ!!1!” is a valid approach in light of this guy’s antics. So, he can trivialize the heinous acts of the Nazis with my suggestion. On here, it’s to expected. If the person I was offering it to ain’t interested, that’s all I need to know. Now, I’ll let that guy tilt at windmills and let everyone else go back to discussing that creeper Jian. Sorry for my part in this. It wasn’t my intention.
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> Yeah who knew calling for a book burning would be controversial?
> [@faithfool](#):
>
> Yeah, still don’t care _in context_. Nice try though on keeping the hijack alive!
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> Pffft. You made an obnoxious suggestion and i no more continued the hijack than you.
> [@EmilyG](#):
>
> I have now lost count of how many times I and other people have tried to stop the hijack and steer the thread back on course. I don’t want to say anything nasty about other posters, so I won’t. I’m not a mod, but can I just ask us to please stay on topic? Can we just drop whatever the hijack was about, and stop insulting each other?
> (I hope I’m not “junior modding.” I just want to get back on topic.)
> [@CarnalK](#):
>
> For fucks sake. No one who says " I’m stopping the hijack by getting the last word in" is even remotely trying to stop the hijack.
Unfortunately, I was out doing stuff IRL and have been offline since mid-afternoon yesterday, so didn’t see any of the reports.
I’m not issuing any warnings, but everyone concerned needs to drop the hijack now.
**twickster** , MPSIMS moderator
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### Author:  [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/235 "2014-11-06T17:12:07Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#):
>
> Another point about this story - I’ve followed this story pretty closely & I must say I’m sick of comments coming from Americans making fun of Canada. As if other countries can’t have cultures and issues of their own that matter.
What sort of comments were Americans making? I hadn’t seen anything like that.
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### Author:  [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/236 "2014-11-06T17:26:28Z")
L C Strawhouse - I’m sorry I don’t have time to dig up specifics right now, but I saw a lot of comments along the lines of - Why should we care about what happens in Canada, and comments implying that Canada is a cultural backwater that Americans don’t need to bother read about.
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### Author:  [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/237 "2014-11-06T17:39:35Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#):
>
> L C Strawhouse - I’m sorry I don’t have time to dig up specifics right now, but I saw a lot of comments along the lines of - Why should we care about what happens in Canada, and comments implying that Canada is a cultural backwater that Americans don’t need to bother read about.
Oh. Well, that’s just content-free brainless trolling - it would be “worse” (better?) if they actually managed to make some incisive points about Canadians. If Americans need a frame of reference, you can always tell them it’s a bit like the Don Imus scandal.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/238 "2014-11-06T18:13:50Z")
> [@EmilyG](#):
>
> Yeah, I guess he’s not as well-known in the US as he is in Canada. I don’t know how many people in Canada had heard of him either, actually. Though perhaps he’s more famous now?
I speak only for myself, but I’m guessing I’m far from alone: I only became aware of him during the Billy Bob Thornton incident. I was and I remain on Team Jian on that one: Billy Bob was a sullen psycho a-hole- I don’t give a damn what Q had been “instructed” (what an arrogant word) not to mention- and I was extremely impressed with how well he handled it and said so [at the time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=513449&page=2). I so wanted him to ask Billy Bob to “Here’s a great idea: when your suck ass band plays, why don’t you sing in that funny retarded voice you did in SLING BLADE!”
After that I listened to/watched his show on YouTube occasionally, I liked his page on Facebook and learned of some good interviews that way: Dan Aykroyd discussing his real life ghost chasing, Al Gore, Lewis Black, and others- he was/is a good interviewer. I’m not dissing Canada at all when I say I wondered a couple of times if he planned to move to the U.S. and go on television where the earning potential was far higher, but I figured that like Chris Hardwick he’d found his niche and was about the level of fame he wanted to be and while Toronto isn’t the boondocks it probably does have a more big fish/small pond feel.
Then I did a “Hmmm?” doubletake when reading his FB post about his sex life. I assumed his big reveal was going to be that he was gay (which I can’t imagine being that big a deal anywhere anymore for someone who’s not a romantic lead) or that he was straight and got a 19 year old pregnant maybe, but quickly went :eek::eek: at the TMI and then the pile-on.
And I totally see this inspiring an L&O episode.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/239 "2014-11-06T18:20:11Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#):
>
> Oh. Well, that’s just content-free brainless trolling - it would be “worse” (better?) if they actually managed to make some incisive points about Canadians. If Americans need a frame of reference, you can always tell them it’s a bit like the Don Imus scandal.
Way worse than that, actually; Don just made an ill thought ornery-old-white-jackass comment, but he “did not use his hands”.
I’ll use the (scandal free to my knowledge, and adorable) Chris Hardwick again: it’s similar to if we learned the same thing about Chris Hardwick. He’s probably fairly close in popularity and recognition to Americans as Ghomeshi is to Canadians (i.e. well known but not a superstar).
I don’t minimize Canadian culture, but I do keep in mind the airwave geography of most Canadians living within American TV range while only a small percentage of Americans get Canadian shows, so it’s not surprising that we’re not as up on Can-pop-cult as Canadians are on US.
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### Author:  [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jian-ghomeshi-host-of-q-on-cbc-fired/702645/240 "2014-11-06T18:49:04Z")
I didn’t mean to compare the wrongdoing of Ghomeshi and Imus - obviously they were completely different, and their audiences were very different as well.
But I think that (pre-scandal) they both had a similar level of popularity in their respective countries, and both of them seemed to aspire to be respected cultural commentators (beyond just a talk show host) who hobnobbed with politicians. I remember Imus referring to George Bush Sr. and Jr. as “41” and “43” (gag), implying they were friends who met socially.
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