#BelieveAunty about ‘boof’, not rumours about sex, harassment and flying beverages

Actress and presenter Zindzi Okenyo. Photo: Supplied

#MeToo? ABC’s Q&A, October 29:

Question: How does the #MeToo movement affect relationships between men and women on stage …?

ABC Play School presenter Zindzi Okenyo: … I’ve experienced … (and) witnessed bullying. I have consoled … colleagues who have been sexually harassed at work and not believed …

Host Tony Jones: Are you talking about in the theatre? … The ABC is another possibility? …

Actor Toby Schmitz: … (In) film and television, I’ve experienced it a lot — bullying … sexual harassment, on all sorts of level … for half of my life.

How do we stop sexual harassment from occurring in the Arts? Neil Armfield, @nakkiahlui, @fallofasparrow, Miles Gregory, and @okenyomusic respond. #QandA pic.twitter.com/EMCVUBnUdB

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) October 30, 2018

#BelieveHer, Aunty? Matt Denholm, The Australian, October 26:

(The) ABC … confirmed it had “followed up on … a small number of complaints relating to (a) journalist’s professional conduct towards colleagues” … The spokeswoman would not confirm … claims … (of) 11 other complaints … mostly from female journalists with the ABC … (and) said there were “rumours and some misinformation surrounding” the allegations … it is alleged (the man) made persistent sexual advances to a … reporter … verbally insulting (her) … and threw the contents of his glass at her.

#BelieveHer? Deborah Cornwall, The Australian, October 29:

The ABC reporter allegedly harassed by … (a Labor leader apparently fears reporting it) will damage her career …

#Believehim? Zoe Daniel, ABC News online, September 29:

Is a Devil’s Triangle a drinking game or a sexual act involving two men and one woman? … (Is “boof” a fart joke or anal use of drugs?) … These are all questions arising from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s … behaviour in high school … If he’s caught out in even one lie, it’s over.

ABC News online, October 5:

Thousands of protesters, some holding signs saying “Believe Survivors” … rallied in front of the Supreme Court in opposition to Mr Kavanaugh, whose nomination has become a flashpoint in the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment … (A protester) told the ABC’s … Zoe Daniels … “We are here to support women, be with women and believe survivors” …

Nothing to gain. Transcript, The Washington Post, September 27:

Senate hearing on nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court, Senator Richard Durbin, Democrat, Illinois: Dr Ford … You had absolutely nothing to gain by bringing these facts to the Senate Judiciary Committee …

Senator Kamala Harris, Democrat, California: Dr Ford … I want to thank you because you clearly have nothing to gain for what you have done …

Nothing to gain? Phil Sperry, RealClearInvestigations, October 29:

(Dr Christine Blasey) Ford … is said to be fielding book offers … Two GoFundMe accounts have raised more than $842,000 … a third account (is) collecting $120,000 for an academic endowment in her name … (Costs) associated with Ford’s testimony … were covered by (Democrats).

Believe her? Robby Soave, reason.org, October 15:

A cell phone video of a white woman calling the cops on a nine-year-old black boy outside a Brooklyn convenience store went viral … “Cornerstore Caroline” … (claimed the) kid grabbed her butt … Surveillance footage … (proves the) accusation was, without question, 100 per cent false.

Don’t believe her? Associated Press, October 25:

The European Court of Human Rights says an Austrian woman’s conviction for (claiming the Prophet Mohammed’s marriage to a young girl was akin to “pedophilia”) … didn’t breach her freedom of speech.