Yee Haw Bob Sexual Harrassment

[mummabear]

As well, for anyone who says she should have handled it at the time: That's nice for you to say. Very often in these situations, people are shocked into silence. It is hard to speak out at all, but often somewhat easier to do it when you're out of the moment and have time to reflect and realize it was NOT OKAY.

Sure someone grabbing your butt is not okay, and maybe we shouldn’t be so okay with people grabbing others people butts. But seriously she was so shocked by this that the blood drained out of her head and she just froze.
A little dramatic.

I think the word sexual assault is being over used.

So I have never been to his show so I am not sure of the set up. But he was sitting on his piano bench, she and others all gathered around for a picture and she sat with him on the bench? So I am assuming the friend who took the picture was behind them? And they were all there only a couple of minutes while taking the group shot? So in the group shot, would it not have been obvious that one person was taking a picture of something?

And I have to say, I think if this is true she has every right to feel how she feels and to be upset but so traumatized that she can't even look at the picture? I have to agree with the pp on that, it's a bit much. Sorry, I would have slapped the stew out of him at the time.

Feel upset, think he is a creep sure. But tramatized?!? Has this women never been in a club or at a concert?

I also think when you decide not to come forward at the time, it makes it pretty difficult for you to decide to do so years later, it also makes it impossible for the accused to defend themselves.

 

[OhMari]

This type of thinking just absolutely blows my mind. That's not how any of this works. So many people become predators and get away with it because others trust and like them. When allegations first came out, people didn't want to believe Bill Cosby and Stephen Collins (7th Heaven dad) were like that, so they made excuses. And they had MANY victims. Larry Nassar, a doctor from USA Gymnastics, has HUNDREDS of victims and when he was first accused he was backed up as trustworthy by many people. This kind of thinking is the exact problem in our society.

Did you see 60 minutes tonite? These girls want some answers why the Committee is doing nothing to acknowledge what this Dr. did.

 

[Kaytie]

So, that is why we have to resort to the court of public opinion now.

No. Nobody has to be or resort to the court of public opinion.

When they contacted her, as she stated, did Disney say they did not believe there was an impropriety, but were sorry she felt there was and wanted to reimburse her for what she paid for the show.

No charge for the show.

So now this woman is victimized twice, once by a loser grabbing her butt and now by the public because she told

• A Walt Disney World, and unrelated location, performer allegedly placed his hand firmly on her buttocks and allowed it to remain there for however long the picture-taking took.
• It's completely inappropriate to refer to, well, anyone as a loser. Certainly inappropriate to refer to a CM with a single, virtually unsubstantiated, accusation as such unless/until proven guilty.
• Most of the responses here side with the alleged victim.

 

[Sue M]

I want to say first and foremost that I recognize that to have your butt, or any other part, grabbed/pinched or groped unwanted is never ok, in any circumstance. It shouldn't be accepted or brushed off as ok no matter who did it or how old the guy is (or gal)
But I also have to say, I can't imagine that it's so traumatic to any adult woman she can't stand to see a photo of it. I'm honestly asking any other adult women here, what your thought on that is. Could you really not even see a photo of a hand on your butt?

I was thinking the same thing when I read that.

No one on this thread has said "boys will be boys" or "locker room talk" or anything similar. I do think "maybe he didn't mean to" is a perfectly valid argument. Intent is the lynchpin. I am NOT making excuses for inappropriate sexual behaviour. If he did indeed grope Michelle then he should be fired immediately. I do believe that Michelle felt violated however, I am also NOT convinced that intentional inappropriate sexual behaviour happened. I admit that my giving Yehaa Bob the benefit of the doubt is because I like him and I find it difficult to accept that he intentionally groped Michelle. I'm not ready to immediately tar and feather him.

Agree, I’m not convinced either, what someone thinks is intentional is so subjective.

Michelle is now encouraging her followers to write to Disney's President and the Orlando Sentinel with email addresses helpfully provided. This isn't going to end well for Bob.

This is just so wrong. Not the right way to go about doing things and very irresponsible.

Neither do I...which is why I kind of think if this Michelle person was just lying and looking to hit the big time, she would have chosen someone/anyone else lol.

Bob is fairly well known around WDW, and locally. Many locals come to see his show too. If you don’t get to River Roosr at least 30 min before his show you likely won’t get a seat.

 

[ashley0139]

Did you see 60 minutes tonite? These girls want some answers why the Committee is doing nothing to acknowledge what this Dr. did.

I haven't watched it yet, but I'm pretty well versed in the situation and I totally agree. It's a disgusting situation. I hope Aly blows them up.

 

[mummabear]

I want to say first and foremost that I recognize that to have your butt, or any other part, grabbed/pinched or groped unwanted is never ok, in any circumstance. It shouldn't be accepted or brushed off as ok no matter who did it or how old the guy is (or gal)
But I also have to say, I can't imagine that it's so traumatic to any adult woman she can't stand to see a photo of it. I'm honestly asking any other adult women here, what your thought on that is. Could you really not even see a photo of a hand on your butt?

This is really my issue with it. I can’t imagine it impacting me more than being a bit peeved and not wanting to go to his show again.
The usual reaction would be to tell them where to go and then move on. Maybe a sharp elbow to their side.

We need to teach our kids to speak up for themselves, in the moment and loudly if we really want to stop inappropriate touching in situations such as these alleged accusations against Bob. I don't know what he did or didn't do, but as an adult woman, I just cannot imagine myself not reacting verbally and physically ( moving away). I would never just stand there with a hand on my butt. I am not particularly confrontational, and am quite shy, but no one is touching me and getting away with it. You may think I'm victim blaming, but I mean to empower them to say NO! And DO something, a real something about it. Which they can, and it will be a much more effective and satisfying defense.

I agree. Imagine if in this situation, she had turned and told him off. If the manager had been spoken to them and there, photo proof in hand.

 

[Kaytie]

Whether it was photoshopped or not. For some people there is never enough proof.

Oh, I "know" that if the picture exists, it was Photoshopped. I "knew" that as soon as I read the original post. But to the other line I quoted, well, any proof - especially where the alleged attacker has never so much as been accused previously - would be better than what exists now.

And I don't see why she should have to produce a picture of someone touching her inappropriately so that the entire internet world can stare at her butt and discuss it.

Most people would be staring at the hand and trying to determine the course of events. And discuss same. The discussions exist.

Wow - that makes me sad, so people are allowed to sexually assault someone as long as they don't leave any proof behind? I can't believe this is the world we live in.

Wow - that makes me sad, so people are allowed to accuse someone of sexual assault via social media without any actual proof? I can't believe this is the world in which we live.

 

[Kaytie]

Sexual assault has always been a tricky situation. Rape can most likely be proven if the woman goes to the police and hospital immediately. Harassment can't always be proved.

Just to clarify - sexual assault is not the same as [sexual] harassment.

 

[ashley0139]

Oh, I "know" that if the picture exists, it was Photoshopped. I "knew" that as soon as I read the original post. But to the other line I quoted, well, any proof - especially where the alleged attacker has never so much as been accused previously - would be better than what exists now.

Most people would be staring at the hand and trying to determine the course of events. And discuss same. The discussions exist.

Wow - that makes me sad, so people are allowed to accuse someone of sexual assault via social media without any actual proof? I can't believe this is the world in which we live.

Because these things happen in private. They happen when there's no one else around. That's WHY men do it then. So that there won't be proof. So what would you have women do? Shut up and take it? That's what we've been doing.

 

[CinderDuffy]

I hope every predator who has ever "accidentally" groped someone's butt (or other body part) is lying awake at night wondering if they will be next on the #metoo hashtag.

This new era of predators facing consequences, even if just in the court of public opinion, is definitely something I could get used to.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Because these things happen in private. They happen when there's no one else around. That's WHY men do it then. So that there won't be proof. So what would you have women do? Shut up and take it? That's what we've been doing.

Just to be fair while women are the majority of victims it happens to men too.

So for me I would say "Because these things happen in private. They happen when there's no one else around. That's WHY people do it then. So that there won't be proof. So what would you have victims do? Shut up and take it? That's what we've been doing."

If this was a female WDW performer with a male victim I would hope it would be treated the same if the "bias" commented about in this thread was to automatically side with the victim.

 

[Sue M]

And that's the way it should be in a legal setting. But before it goes to a judge or jury, people have the right to say what's happened to them. I don't think it should stop her or others from speaking out about their experiences in hopes to inform others.

I agree with you, people have a right to talk about their experience. But I don’t believe they have the right to start up an internet smear campaign against another person. As she is asking her followers to do. And ruin someone’s life. This is very serious and something doesn’t add up. She was sitting on the piano bench with him? I’m sitting down now and if someone was sitting next to me, they wouldn’t be able to grab and squeeze my butt, hip, or upper posterior yes. And to be so traumatized she couldn’t look at a photo? I agree with Angie on that, the reaction is a bit odd.
Maybe she misinterpreted the situation, not saying it’s right to put your hand on someone’s anything, We just don’t know. It was a group shot and we don’t know that it was Intentional. That it was interpreted by her as such is all we know.

 

[hippiechicken]

I didn't know who either of the people were. I have worked with Asperger kids though, so I checked out Bob's FB. I found the newer pictures interesting because Bob is holding his hands out. In earlier photos, like this one from 2013, Bob is hugging, touching, and even being kissed by guests. My Asperger kids have been very clingy at times. I have to remind them of boundaries. I can assume that WDW talked to Bob after this allegation in 2013, and he changed the way he does photos. Looking at the photos on his FB, I believe he did not purposefully assault this lady.
I have been falsely accused at my job when I did not do anything wrong. I feel like if there's proof, it will be easier to solve the issue. I'm not sure if I would agree that he should be fired because of my understanding of Aspergers... if he was told it was wrong and has not done it again. Since I didn't do anything wrong, there wasn't any evidence to support the false accusation against me. But I learned that just because someone claims something, doesn't make it true.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I am all for victims coming forward .. TO THE POLICE .. she declined that invite.

Exactly.

If a crime was committed, you start with the police. Not with Twitter.

If a crime was committed, the accused it tried in a court of law. Not on social media.

 

[mummabear]

If this was a female WDW performer with a male victim I would hope it would be treated the same if the "bias" commented about in this thread was to automatically side with the victim

Going by the Mariah Carey threadthe answer would be no

 

[LSUmiss]

This type of thinking just absolutely blows my mind. That's not how any of this works. So many people become predators and get away with it because others trust and like them. When allegations first came out, people didn't want to believe Bill Cosby and Stephen Collins (7th Heaven dad) were like that, so they made excuses. And they had MANY victims. Larry Nassar, a doctor from USA Gymnastics, has HUNDREDS of victims and when he was first accused he was backed up as trustworthy by many people. This kind of thinking is the exact problem in our society.

But that’s when I am more willing to believe a story when MANY victims come out. If he is a predator, he’s done this many times before. But, on the other hand, if no one else ever comes forward, I’m reluctant to believe he did it to one person. And, the fact that WDW didn’t seem to take her story seriously makes me wonder if there have never been any allegations before. He’s not that important to WDW that they would keep a liability like that after multiple complaints. Ppl are not flocking to WDW from around the world to see HIM. The average guest doesn’t even know who he is. I only know b/c of this board & I frequent WDW multiple times a yr.

 

[yoopermom]

At a casual golfing event we went to last summer, people were squeezing onto the carts to get from one area to the restaurant. A woman we know plunked herself down on my DH's lap, with her feet dangling sideways (since he was driving). I was LIVID, not because I thought anything inappropriate WAS happening, or WOULD happen, but because she COULD say that something happened. DH, who has been married for 26 years was like "really?" when I explained it to him, but he was careful the rest of the day.

Not saying this is the case with Bob, but unless you are there, how do you really know? And how does the accused ever truly defend himself?

Terri

 

[mummabear]

I didn't know who either of the people were. I have worked with Asperger kids though, so I checked out Bob's FB. I found the newer pictures interesting because Bob is holding his hands out. In earlier photos, like this one from 2013, Bob is hugging, touching, and even being kissed by guests. My Asperger kids have been very clingy at times. I have to remind them of boundaries. I can assume that WDW talked to Bob after this allegation in 2013, and he changed the way he does photos. Looking at the photos on his FB, I believe he did not purposefully assault this lady.
I have been falsely accused at my job when I did not do anything wrong. I feel like if there's proof, it will be easier to solve the issue. I'm not sure if I would agree that he should be fired because of my understanding of Aspergers... if he was told it was wrong and has not done it again. Since I didn't do anything wrong, there wasn't any evidence to support the false accusation against me. But I learned that just because someone claims something, doesn't make it true.

The change is almost comical.
To me it comes across as someone who feels he has been falsely accused and is going to great lengths to ensure it doesn’t happen again

 

[LSUmiss]

I think this may be the only crime where the burden of proof is on the defendant. The defendant has to prove it did NOT happen... think about that for a minute.

And it’s said to be impossible to prove a negative.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Because these things happen in private. They happen when there's no one else around. That's WHY men do it then. So that there won't be proof. So what would you have women do? Shut up and take it? That's what we've been doing.

Given that the title of this thread specifies one particular person, the discussion is, reasonably, primarily focussed on that one person. Not every alleged sexual assault incident.

I have to remind them of boundaries. I can assume that WDW talked to Bob after this allegation in 2013

Not sure why you'd assume that, since the alleged victim only recently contacted the alleged attacker's employer. Nobody reported anything to anyone about an alleged incident from four* years ago.

*or six years ago - a number also claimed in the original tweets, which also makes it harder to beleive.