Many entertainers are protected in our culture. They are called “artists.” They are called “talented.” They are called “important.” So whe
Many entertainers are protected in our culture.
Photo by Susan Wilkinson/Unsplash
They are called “artists.”
They are called “talented.”
They are called “important.”
So when they harm children, or support people who harm children, people hesitate.
They wait.
They “separate the harm from the person.”
They say things like:
“That’s just their personal life.”
“But they make great work.”
“I don’t want to judge.”
Meanwhile, children are still hurting.
Predators recruit this.
Predators.
They learn where consequences stop.
They learn who gets protected.
They learn that fame can act like a shield.
They do not need everyone to defend them.
They only need people to stay quiet.
What hurts most is this:
Often, people only speak up after adult feelings are hurt. (sexism, misogyny, racism, homophobia, betrayal-against adults; but we all keep laughing, dancing, and watching the screen when the offense is against a child or children.)
After reputations are threatened.
After careers are affected.
Not when the child first cried out.
Not when the child was ignored.
Not when the child disappeared into silence.
This teaches a dangerous lesson.
It teaches that children matter less than comfort.
Less than talent.
Less than status.
Children are not ideas.
Children are not rumors.
Children are not inconvenient truths.
Children are living people.
Their pain is real.
And delay causes damage.
This is not about canceling people.
It is about clarity.
It is about refusing to pretend that influence has no weight.
It is about saying that being close to harm is not neutral.
Where accountability is blurry, harm can move freely.
The children matter. They would start a movement too but I’m not sure we would listen.