Dec 14, 2018 06:10 AM
Comedian refused to sign 'behavioural agreement' before gig
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46541002
EXCERPT: A comedian has turned down a gig at a university after being asked to sign a "behavioural agreement" first. Konstantin Kisin was warned about a "no tolerance policy" on topics [...] The full list of topics listed by the organisers were "racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia or anti-religion or anti-atheism". [...]
Konstantin told Radio 1 Newsbeat the experience reflects a growing trend of free speech becoming stifled on university campuses across the UK. He shared the "behavioural agreement form" online, saying the title "nearly made me puke".
"I just think it reflects an attitude among a group of people, people at university particularly, where it seems that they have become places of indoctrination rather than learning," he said. "Students are being taught to prevent offence rather than to seek truth and pursue experiences. Universities used to be all about that, but now it seems they're places where students are being taught to be woke. I think it reflects a broader issue, where increasingly there are people who value safety, or what they perceive to be safety."
[...] Konstantin, who was born in the Soviet Union, says that he's since referenced the experience on stage. "I was performing at Comedy Unleashed. It's a comedy night specifically focused on ensuring that comedians have a place where they don't self-censor," he explains. "I read [Unicef on Campus]'s letter and it got a lot of groans and frustrated responses from the audience."
MORE: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46541002
CBS paid $9.5M settlement to Eliza Dushku after she confronted 'Bull' star Michael Weatherly about sexual harassment
https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen...story.html
EXCERPT: . . . Feeling “disgusted and violated,” [Eliza] Dushku allegedly approached producer Glenn Gordon Caron, who told her that they would talk to [Michael] Weatherly together. Weatherly, who previously starred in CBS’ flagship “NCIS” then texted network president David Stapf to “talk about Ms. Dushku’s sense of humor,” according to the Times.
Days later, the actress was written off the show, despite plans for her to become a series regular.
Weatherly, 50, apologized in a statement to the Times, but denied that he had anything to do with Dushku’s firing. “During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script,” he said. “When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized. After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza.”
Dushku said she relayed her concerns to Amblin Television, Steven Spielberg’s production company and the team behind “Bull,” then went into mediation with CBS rather than sue the network. When a lawyer for CBS attempted to use behind-the-scenes footage of Dushku cursing to discredit her, investigators instead pointed out that he had provided visual evidence of the actress’ claims, according to the Times. Dushku and CBS settled in January for $9.5 million....
MORE: https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen...story.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46541002
EXCERPT: A comedian has turned down a gig at a university after being asked to sign a "behavioural agreement" first. Konstantin Kisin was warned about a "no tolerance policy" on topics [...] The full list of topics listed by the organisers were "racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia or anti-religion or anti-atheism". [...]
Konstantin told Radio 1 Newsbeat the experience reflects a growing trend of free speech becoming stifled on university campuses across the UK. He shared the "behavioural agreement form" online, saying the title "nearly made me puke".
"I just think it reflects an attitude among a group of people, people at university particularly, where it seems that they have become places of indoctrination rather than learning," he said. "Students are being taught to prevent offence rather than to seek truth and pursue experiences. Universities used to be all about that, but now it seems they're places where students are being taught to be woke. I think it reflects a broader issue, where increasingly there are people who value safety, or what they perceive to be safety."
[...] Konstantin, who was born in the Soviet Union, says that he's since referenced the experience on stage. "I was performing at Comedy Unleashed. It's a comedy night specifically focused on ensuring that comedians have a place where they don't self-censor," he explains. "I read [Unicef on Campus]'s letter and it got a lot of groans and frustrated responses from the audience."
MORE: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46541002
CBS paid $9.5M settlement to Eliza Dushku after she confronted 'Bull' star Michael Weatherly about sexual harassment
https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen...story.html
EXCERPT: . . . Feeling “disgusted and violated,” [Eliza] Dushku allegedly approached producer Glenn Gordon Caron, who told her that they would talk to [Michael] Weatherly together. Weatherly, who previously starred in CBS’ flagship “NCIS” then texted network president David Stapf to “talk about Ms. Dushku’s sense of humor,” according to the Times.
Days later, the actress was written off the show, despite plans for her to become a series regular.
Weatherly, 50, apologized in a statement to the Times, but denied that he had anything to do with Dushku’s firing. “During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script,” he said. “When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized. After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza.”
Dushku said she relayed her concerns to Amblin Television, Steven Spielberg’s production company and the team behind “Bull,” then went into mediation with CBS rather than sue the network. When a lawyer for CBS attempted to use behind-the-scenes footage of Dushku cursing to discredit her, investigators instead pointed out that he had provided visual evidence of the actress’ claims, according to the Times. Dushku and CBS settled in January for $9.5 million....
MORE: https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen...story.html