B'Way Beauty Sex Bust- Page 10

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 2:38pm

SERIOUSLY????? That is interesting. Many of my friends turned into pyramid head (oh, sorry that's that religion in Bowfinger) and I must admit that practitioners don't usually get accused of pedophilia. They prefer to screw with the minds of adults who have financial resources. Hmmmmmm.....

Resist. Resist...

Let's get back to trashing Wicked.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 3:51pm

I don't agree that we should refrain from making comments on our thoughts. It is a given that he will have a fair trial; but we should be and are able to comment on the undisputed facts, that he laid in bed with a teenager and kissed her. While that is not enough to convict someone in a court of law, it is certainly enough to condemn him in a court of public opinion.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 4:35pm

Here Here Marlo!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 5:59pm

Then clearly you have no concept of how "the court of public opinion" is a farce that can be manipulated by anyone with an axe to grind against anyone else for any reason whatsoever.

The court of public opinion has been used to persecute gays, blacks, jews, socialists and basically anyone that bozos with loud voices want to smear. That's why we have the court of law to supercede the court of public opinion. The public opinion court usually ended up with the lynch mob of public opinion against, well let's see... gays, blacks, Jews...

And considering there are so many gay and/or Jewish members in our group (and black and socialist, too I am sure) maybe we should be pushing more for the day-in-court style of justice than the lynch mob.

[stonewall2]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 6:10pm

This whole thing is disgusting! If it is a rumour started to "boost" circulation- that is bad enough, but if is is true, then we must feel for the young lady concerned. I was molested at that age, and younger, and trust me one this one- NO ONE believes you if the people comitting the crime are well known.
Kids ARE afraid to tell and we don't know the facts of the situation, but the whole thought brings back memories that I would rather not have to deal with at this time-again....

[Marlothom]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 6:44pm

As a gay/minority lawyer, I am more than able to seperate the courtroom from the chatroom. This is the latter, thus I will speak my peace. You are also welcome to speak yours, even if that is telling us to shut up. The court of public opinion is worthless, which is why we are able to express our minds. I believe the "court of public opinion" tends more likely to reach the undesirable results you describe when only ONE side is able to speak. I think the good thing about this chatroom is that it welcomes all opinions.

I don't think anyone is asking for his day in court to be taken away from him, in fact I eagerly await to hear his side. However, some facts are now undisputed and if, any adult who is in the Broadway public, lays in bed with a teen and kisses them, he or she would get the same low opinion from me on this board, whether they be gay or hispanic (as I am) or Jew, black or otherwise.

Updated On: 12/10/06 at 06:44 PM

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 7:06pm

This whole thing is just unfortunate, and it will be interesting to see how it pans out in this case. I doubt the motives of the original accuser, but her motives don't really matter if he did in fact commit these crimes. And with this 2nd girl stepping forward, it really doesn't look too promising for Mr. Barbour. What's most interesting to me is to see how such an occurence within the Broadway indsutry will pan out as compared to when this happens in the more high-profile worlds of sports, music, film, politics, etc.

Theatre has become very marginalized compared to these other entities, so it's sad that this is the one bit of theatre news getting major press. When the average reader of the Post who doesn't follow theatre at all opens up the paper and sees a full-page color photo of an iconic Disney character, this scandal is going to be what they associate with Broadway and that show for a long time. It's the kind of case that people like to follow, and this is going to bring the wrong kind of attention to Broadway. Who knows how/if this will have any impact on ticket sales, but it is bad in terms of public opinion.

So it brings about the big question: is Broadway high enough on the social radar to allow Barbour a pass due to the fact that he's extremely talented? Obviously if you're near the top of your profession, you can generally get away with this stuff (Kobe Bryant, R Kelly, OJ, Michael Jackson). Barbour is certainly a major talent, but is theatre important enough on the grand scale to give Barbour this ridiculous and embarrasing amnesty allowed these other criminals? I'm not saying I think he's guilty, but I really don't think he's totally innocent either- and when it comes to this sort of crime, there isn't much of a forgivable grey area.

He'll get his "fair" trial and get to plead his case, use some of that charm on the jury. But what might tip the scales is: how many of the jurors have ever even heard of the guy, much less seen his work? It's sad, but it matters.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 7:09pm

How could so many people dismiss the man's own statements?
How could so many dismiss the other accuser?

I am not saying that this board should be judge, jury, and executioner, but let's not pretend that certain things have not been admitted.

It is also a very interesting story. Today there was an article in the New York Daily News. It seems that the anti-accuser smear campaign has begun.
His Lawyer is saying that she is now working in a bakery and hasn't had an acting job in a year. He also speculates that she is coming forward now because Barbour just inheirited some money.
Strangely enough, he points to the answering machine messages, where Barbour claims that the relationship was "inappropriate" ,as proof of barbour's innocense!
The (then) 13 year old accuser from California has stated that she will testify at Barbour's sentencing if convicted. No matter whatthis is going to be an interesting case to watch.

Updated On: 12/10/06 at 07:09 PM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 7:15pm

This morning's Daily News

BY BARBARA ROSS and DON SINGLETON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

James Barbour, here with Toni Braxton after her debut in 'Beauty and the Beast,' denies sex rap.
Broadway "Beast" James Barbour roared back yesterday at the young actress who has accused him of sexually abusing her at age 15 - calling the beauty a conniving gold digger.

Barbour, who once played the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast," said through his attorney that the actress only leveled the charges against him after learning he had inherited a large sum of money.

"She left NYU, she's working in a bakery, she's completely out of money," attorney Ronald Fischetti claimed. "The motivation has to be because he's coming into money, and because he's becoming a Broadway star."

The now 20-year-old actress, who could not be reached yesterday, has not filed a civil lawsuit against Barbour seeking damages. But Fischetti said he expects her to sue.

Barbour, 40, had been mentoring the actress for the past five years, trying to help her break into the theater business, Fischetti said.

But last spring she accused Barbour of inappropriately seducing her in 2001. She contacted authorities just within the five-year statute of limitations, the lawyer said.

"She hasn't had stage work for some time," Fischetti said.

Despite landing a role in a stage version of "Les Miserables" and bit parts on the "Sopranos," the woman has been forced to work at a bakery in Cherry Hill, N.J., to pay her bills, Fischetti said.

Barbour attended high school in Cherry Hill and when his mom, who worked many years as a nurse, died this year it was covered prominently by a local paper, Fischetti said.

Barbour inherited a sizable amount of cash, though Fischetti would not say exactly how much. The young actress, whose identity is being withheld by Manhattan prosecutors, contacted authorities a short time later, Fischetti said.

Barbour is accused of groping the actress in July 2001 in his dressing room at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre where he was performing in "Jane Eyre."

He is also accused of fondling her under a table at a restaurant that same night and a month later performing oral sex on her at his Manhattan apartment.

During a court hearing last week, Manhattan prosecutor Maxine Rosenthal said Barbour's secretly recorded words bolstered the actress' case.

"He himself refers to it as 'unethical,'" Rosenthal said.

Prosecutors also revealed that another woman has come forward accusing Barbour of sexually assaulting her in California seven years ago when she was just 13. She has volunteered to tell her story at Barbour's sentencing if he is convicted.

But Barbour has insisted he did not have sex with the Cherry Hill actress - even though he says she was willing to.

Fischetti claimed the audiotape the prosecutor referred to last week undercuts the woman's allegations.

On the tape, Fischetti said, she mentions her financial problems and says a psychiatrist told her that some of her problems stem from the fact that her relationship with Barbour ended.

"What relationship?" Barbour asks, according to Fischetti.

When she refers to the night at his apartment, Barbour says, "I know that was wrong."

But Fischetti said, "She's talking about oral sex, and he's talking about kissing.

"She's using the DA's office and the criminal justice system to sue my client for money for something that's never happened."

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 7:22pm

It'd be one things if this was a matter of insider trading or assault or even rape of an adult. Sex with minors is the hot-button issue in this country, and there won't be much sympathy for him regardless of how the defense might smear the credibility of a 15-yr-old girl. It would also be another thing if he was a famous multi-millionaire. You can understand why an opportunistic "victim" might go after someone with the profile and wealth of Kobe, but you're not going to get rich or famous by taking a Broadway performer to court (unless she gets a book deal).

And as much as the average citizen is repulsed by a pedophile, the guys in jail take that hatred to a whole new level and want nothing more than to harm or kill those sorts of criminals. If he is convicted, I propose that he serve his sentence in a solitary cell/recording studio. That way he won't get physically harmed by other inmates, and he can continue to contribute his greatest asset- his voice- to society by recording albums all day.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 8:05pm

I am also ashamed that his lawyers have leaked so much information about the victim...borderline unethical.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:13pm

Yeah it seems pretty obvious what they are doing.
Trying to portray her as an unhappy out of work actress who is tryig to take his money. I have no idea of the details but how much money could he have inheirited?
And how many more details could they leak about who she is. We know her hometown, her age, her college, and the kind of place she is working at right now. Really classy!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:18pm

"When the average reader of the Post who doesn't follow theatre at all opens up the paper and sees a full-page color photo of an iconic Disney character, this scandal is going to be what they associate with Broadway and that show for a long time."

I honestly doubt that. Unless the actor is still playing the role, there wouldn't be a reason for that at all.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:23pm

this scandal is going to be what they associate with Broadway and that show for a long time. It's the kind of case that people like to follow, and this is going to bring the wrong kind of attention to Broadway. Who knows how/if this will have any impact on ticket sales, but it is bad in terms of public opinion. ~ Broadway Matt.

Thank you! This is exactly what I am eluding to when I called this an "embarassment to the Broadway community". Don't beleive me? Talk to some Braodway actors familiar with what's going on...and it so prevelant, it was coming up in conversations at the Prince Theater and the Walnut in Philly.

The fact that it continues to be exploited by media and the internet is not only tabloid trash, gossip,speculation...but it is SO damaging to both sides of this case.

The public, including the press, needs to butt out and let the case go to trial.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:27pm

People don't give Broadway that much thought. It is not going to ruin the reputation of the entire industry.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:36pm

Fischetti is a pretty incredible lawyer...I'll wait to see how things pan out.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 9:54pm

Again, no one said the entire industry will be affected. We all know this is not a startling new issue. Sure, once it goes to trial and the verdict is decided; like bad gas it will eventually pass. But this one is turning into a circus, overnight.

People don't give Broadway that much thought? Really? Tell that to the papers ,TV interviews, not to mention the growing number of actors 'pricking up their ears' to this one and probably thousands of theater fans that visit Broadway regularly and/or follow live arts.

Hell, this post alone has been viewd 10,000 times in FIVE DAYS. Sorry, but if this were happening to me I'd sure feel differently.

Updated On: 12/10/06 at 09:54 PM

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 10:50pm

even if the public doesnt give it that much thought, that just may mean theyll see a headline & picture and refuse to see B&TB ever again and not even bother to read the article to find out the guy isnt currently in the show...

youd have to be stupid, but I try not to underestimate peoples ability to be stupid. then a month or so after whenever B&TB does happen to close, someone will be posting in the 'overheard on bway' topic how a tourist said the show closed because the star was a child molestor.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 10:58pm

"Prosecutors also revealed that another woman has come forward accusing Barbour of sexually assaulting her in California seven years ago when she was just 13. She has volunteered to tell her story at Barbour's sentencing if he is convicted."


Wow, this is what worries me. Just because she said it happened, they are going to use it in the case against JB? What happens if any person who felt like it just comes out and says, "Yea, it's past the statue of limitations, so there's no proof, but I'm going to say what ever I want."

This sounds very fishy. And a shot in the dark by the prosecution.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 11:01pm

I would imagine that there was an investigation done to determine the veracity of the claim.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 11:16pm

Even people in the business think this has to do with someone in the current cast (which it does not).
The use of the words BEAST and BEAUTY (which we don't know if she is)
Is troubling, but to be expected,
The use of pictures of him in Beast costumes can't help.
Barbour's own words at this point are enough to convict him of something, he needs to shut up and wait for a trial or plead out, which the so-called victim is obviously hoping for.

Updated On: 12/10/06 at 11:16 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 11:17pm

They don't do any investigating if a claim isn't filed. It sounds like someone just saying whatever they want.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 11:33pm

She stands to gain nothing from saying anything at the sentencing. The District attorney will have to have clear it with the judge before she is allowed to speak and that will involve some sort of offer of proof as to the relavance of her statement.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 12:04am

Rath, I can't even begin to speculate as to the possible longevity of this scandal's influence- but it's hard to imagine how it won't have some effect on the way people look at that particular production for some time. There are lots of people who give less than a crap about anything Broadway related, but even they had to be intrigued by the reportage of a huge sex scandal involving Disney and that particular show. Intrigued enough to at least read the article.

And for many people, that's the kind of thing they'll choose to remember and associate with that show, that company, and even Broadway as a whole. Mr. Barbour himself is almost immaterial in that respect- the key points for some of the public reading this press will simply be Disney, the Beast, and statutory rape. All of those things are larger than Barbour himself. I'm not saying this will have any major impact on the industry, but I do think there will be a lot of people now who will henceforth know BatB as the Disney show that at one time hired a sex offender to star in a children's classic.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 12:07am

"She stands to gain nothing from saying anything at the sentencing."

Uhm, publicity. Why do you think every mouth breather is trying to get on reality shows.

Some folks just like to see themselves in the paper.