Savile & the can of worms

Image courtesy of Dailymail.co.uk

For those who don't know the story: a recently deceased top celebrity, Sir Jimmy Savile, has been accused of a number of vile crimes against children, for a period spanning decades.

I suspect, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this suspicion, that Child Abuse in parts of the entertainment is, and always has been, rife.

In the 80’s and 90’s Children’s Homes, Boarding Schools and Church institutions have all been ripped apart by scandal after scandal.

In the Education world we have learnt these lessons: - not to provide easy access and opportunity to those who would do children harm, not to leave both child and adult in vulnerable situations, where abusers can abuse or false allegations can be construed; we have learnt the hard way. The world of Education is now so risk averse that many would say we've gone too far, no longer being able to physically comfort an upset child for fear of how it appears; no longer organising trips where we know children will benefit but are told by the teaching unions that they will not support us should anything go wrong. We've come out from a painful process of self-examination…but at least we've been there.

Image courtesy of IMDb

For many years we have heard stories of child stars that end up so psychologically damaged by their experiences that they have life-long therapy, battling demons like drug dependency, mental health issues and relationship problems. Many lose this battle early on and die before their time.

Those of my generation will remember teen idols like River Phoenix, who starred in many classics including ‘Stand by me’, he died of a massive drugs overdose aged 23; also, Cory Haim, famous for his role in films like ‘The Lost Boys’ (how apt!), or Gary Coleman from  ‘Different strokes’, or Dana Plato, his co-star who committed suicide. Michael Jackson, the most famous child star did more than just hint at being a recipient of abuse whilst a ward of the industry.

What was it about their lives and the lives of others like them in these formative years that has messed them up so badly? I suspect I know what…but I would never take on such a powerful industry with so little proof; is this how some felt about Savile?

But what of the countless others? What of those who didn't even get to be stars? Do we think for a second that they weren't attracted by the ‘what might be’ spin of the countless faceless representatives of the rich and famous?

Remember that catchphrase from the 90’s show ‘the Word’:-“I’d do anything to be on TV”.

What were pushy parents prepared to allow for sake of their child’s future career? What were career minded executives prepared to ignore for the sake of their own? Haven’t many in the industry bought and sold the lives of children, for decades, peddlers of the last great bastion of child exploitation in the West. Haven’t we all been complicit in our unquestioning cult of celebrity?

So perhaps, Sir Jimmy’s exploits are only the tip of a very deep and dark iceberg?

So perhaps, it’s time we learnt the whole sordid truth, no matter how unpalatable that may be…

The greatest revelations, I’m sure, are yet to come.