Jamaican dancehall star Elephant Man arrested on rape charges

[RZM]

'Popular Dancehall recording artist Elephant Man has been arrested on rape charges in Jamaica. According to local media, Elephant Man aka O'Neil Bryan, known widely for collaborations with popular stateside Hip Hop acts, was arrested earlier this week and is in court Wednesday over charges that he raped a woman at his home in St. Andrew.

"Elephant Man has been taken into police custody and is being questioned by detectives from the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA)," reports The Jamaica Observer. "The entertainer, whose real name is Oneil Bryan, was arrested at his St Andrew home on Monday after a woman filed a police report alleging that she was sexually assaulted by the artiste."'

http://www.examiner.com/urban-pop-in-national/dancehall-artist-elephant-man-arrested-court-on-rape-charges

Elephant Man has previously been in the news for his homophobic lyrics, which include several songs where he boasts about his desire to kill gay people. Here are some examples:

http://jasmynecannick.typepad.com/jasmynecannickcom/2007/06/homophobic-regg.html

[yardwork]

1. Figures. Violent homophobic fantasies, violence against women, they usually go together.

[RZM]

2. He has denied the charges

He has already posted bail and is out for now (his bail was less than $5,000 US, BTW).

I don't know if he's guilty or not. All I know is that he's been charged. Could be that he's innocent. But he's certainly a nasty piece of work.

Too bad. Back in 2003 I thought his big hit 'Pon De River' was kind of catchy.

[malaise]

3. We're no fans of that asshole Elephant Man but

here in Jamaica there is much skepticism about this charge - the alleged victim is a 31 year old who was at the entertainer's home and apparently not for the first time.

[yardwork]

4. Are you saying that a 31 year old can't be raped? And she was asking for it because she was there?

Ever heard of date rape?

[malaise]

6. I knew this response was coming

Let me suggest that we all wait for more details. Word on the ground is that this charge is highly suspicious

[yardwork]

7. In other words, you knew what you said was insensitive and indefensible.

Of course the justice system needs to work. This is a discussion board. We talk about things here. Your comment suggested to me that you thought the woman was lying (1) because she is 31 years old and (2) because she was in the man's house and had been there before. Neither of those facts would have any relevance whatsoever to whether or not she was raped.

[malaise]

9. Not in the least

It may be that I know more about the culture

[yardwork]

10. Don't hide behind "this is my culture." Rape is never ok and neither are excuses for it.

[obamanut2012]

11. So, date rape doesn't exist in some cultures?

I'm confused.

[yardwork]

13. Sort of like gay people don't exist in Jamaica. Or so I've been told.

[Mira]

12. Blatantly offensive. The remark about "knowing the culture" gets

under my skin the most in this exchange. It is so tinged with prejudice my hair stands on edge.

[obamanut2012]

14. +1

[redqueen]

53. +1

[Tuesday Afternoon]

61. +2

[MADem]

17. This post--full of false accusations--is the one that deserves to be hidden in this thread.

"In other words" you're inventing a scenario about what malaise means to suit your preconceived notions.

How DARE malaise tell us what people in Jamaica are saying, even if what she is reporting is unpleasantly FACTUAL? "Insensitive and indefensible?" Please. What--she should lie, and say "Oh yes, everyone is Jamaica is absolutely OUTRAGED about this case and they believe the alleged perpetrator is guilty before a trial has been conducted, and they know, for a fact, that the woman is innocent--I am hearing this around every water cooler and in every dance hall on the island?" when that is NOT TRUE?

She's not "endorsing" the conduct of the celebrity. She is simply reporting what happened, and what people IN JAMAICA are saying about it.

You are begging for offense, and you clearly have no problem putting words in peoples' mouths in order to get it. For shame.

[obamanut2012]

8. What you said has nothing to do with whether or not he's guilty

Like Yardwork, I read it as you denying a 31-year-old woman can be raped if she's at an acquaintances house. You seem to be denying the existence of date rape.

Your statement has nothing to do with whether or not this guy is guilty.

[RZM]

5. I guess that's what trials are for

Not an expert on the Jamaican justice system (I'm no expert on the American justice system either). But apparently he was questioned with his lawyer present and it was decided there was enough evidence to charge him.

We'll see I guess.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. you make me sick. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

16. So you think this was a groupie just looking to cash in?

I understand that logic and it is a possibility, but we have to wait for more details.

[DevonRex]

19. That could be.

I think there may be a problem with sentence construction, too.

[MADem]

26. There's no problem with sentence construction.

The problem here is with the reading comprehension of the people making accusations against miss malaise.

They should be ashamed of themselves. Malaise was quite clear--she told us what an asshole the accused was, and she told us the opinion of many people in Jamaica. She referenced the island culture, accurately.

She never said a word about her views on this issue....yet everyone was way too quick to jump on her with accusations.

Very ugly.

[DevonRex]

31. Ok. I'm gonna rethink this

because I don't want to be unfair.

What I meant about sentence construction is that by beginning with we, some people think it applies to the whole post. Second, some people thought tha age and knowing the accused were the only things to cause suspicion about the accuser. Had there been more damning evidence it would have been mentioned.

But I'm going to read it as simply reporting a couple of known facts and see if that fits with the rest of the poster's replies in the thread.

You have made a pretty good case for reading it differently. Thank you.

[MADem]

33. Any time.

Miss malaise does not deserve this--she's never said or done anything to merit this kind of Lord Of The Flies attack on her reputation or attitudes. I really think apologies to her are overdue.

[Raine1967]

36. Agreed. N/T

[MichaelMcGuire]

49. I agree (nt)

[malaise]

21. What I think is irrelevant

but that is certainly a significant view in Jamaica

[HipChick]

23. I know what malaise is referring to..

We're talking about Jamaica right...

[SwampG8r]

46. the problem is indeed cultural

dont be offended that you were misunderstood
and its not just jamaican culture being referenced
it is pretty basic to the islands
i read the post that got everyong worked up and i got
"there are a lot of questions and we are still trying to get the answers to them in the meantime people are talking"

[malaise]

50. Some folks have their agenda

I say let 1,000 flowers bloom

[DevonRex]

18. That doesn't even make sense.

Last edited Sat Feb 4, 2012, 04:04 PM - Edit history (1)

1. Is there an age at which women can no longer be rape victims?
2. Does that age render them fair game to any man who wishes to rape?
3. Does any woman who knows any man give up the right to say NO to any man she knows?
4. Does any man get a free pass to rape, as long as he knew his victim beforehand?

Edit to add that I'm inclined to wait and see on this. Maybe you didn't mean this as it came out. I can bend over backwards to be fair. I'm still troubled by the remark about culture, though.

And I wish you indicated strongly that you disagreed with it, if it is a cultural thing going on.

[uppityperson]

20. malaise, please tell me you didn't mean this the way it sounds, that a woman can't be raped if

she was at a house "apparently not for the first time". I hope this is just a communication on the internets problem and you didn't mean that in general. Thank you.

[MADem]

25. That is not what ***she*** said, at ALL.

That is what she said the prevailing sentiment in Jamrock was.

Please, people, read what is written! Stop making assumptions about how people feel about things without any damn evidence!

She is REPORTING, not endorsing. She is telling us what people in Jamaica are saying--she hasn't given us one single solitary word about what she "thinks" about this matter. She does point out that she knows the culture on the island, and while I haven't been back for years, I have to say that from what I know she has a point--it always was a "boys will be boys" type place, a few years behind in terms of sensitivity and progressiveness in a number of regards.

I think the over-eagerness of many on this thread to pile on her, and accuse her (without any shame) of sentiments she does not possess, say a lot about the perpetually enraged accusers--and none of it good. There are people on this thread that owe miss malaise a heartfelt apology, and these same people need to learn to READ before they shoot off their mouths and accuse a woman of sexism for simply telling us what an ASSHOLE (her words) was accused of doing, and how the island is reacting to it.

I'm very disgusted at some of the comments on this thread--not yours, mind you, but this is broad brush piling on at its worst.

[obamanut2012]

27. I have read it, many times, and still raed it that way

I honestly don;t know how anyone can read it any other way. I am not calling your or her a liar, but my perception and understanding of her posts are very different than yours.

[MADem]

32. You need to work on your reading comprehension, then.

She was very plainly telling us what the "word on the street" was--you know, what people around water coolers, in dance halls, on radio talk shows are saying. That was very plain from her words. There was ZERO ambiguity. She also took the time to point out that she thought the guy was an asshole--but no, that wasn't enough. The pack here had to surround her and unfairly accuse her of something she didn't do.

How you could take another meaning--and then be accusatory about it--is beyond me. Your perception of her remarks is completely and totally OFF the mark. She is owed an apology by many here.

[uppityperson]

29. Which is why I ASKED her to answer. Thank you. It could simply be one of those internets

communication things. I'd like to hear from her before becoming outraged. Thank you.

[MADem]

30. She never once said she agreed with the prevailing sentiment in JA.

NOT ONCE. And she opened up the discussion by calling the accused an ASSHOLE.

What is wrong with you that you assumed the worst about her?
Are you truly looking for a fight? Not just you, but others, as well? Is that why all of you attacked her without reason or cause?

No one said--"Hey, uh, say, malaise, those aren't your views, are they?" if they were somehow "unsure." No--they attacked. And she's not a stupid woman--she knows how to write "I think" or "I believe" ahead of a sentence to make it very clear what SHE -- not the interested population of Jamaica--are thinking or feeling about this case.

Fuck no, no one "asked"--they frigging ACCUSED. Everyone who was eager to be "poutraged" about a suspected "assault" against women RACED to the bottom to eagerly assume the worst. It was a pile-on of disgusting proportions, without evidence, without reason, without any damn excuse.

I'm horrified. NO ONE bothered to read what she actually said.

And it's all down to smug, angry people with pitchforks and torches who CANNOT READ.

[uppityperson]

35. Yes, I did ask that. Here, since it may be confusing who you are replying to, will copy/paste

malaise, please tell me you didn't mean this the way it sounds, that a woman can't be raped if she was at a house "apparently not for the first time". I hope this is just a communication on the internets problem and you didn't mean that in general. Thank you.


-----------------------------
"No one said--"Hey, uh, say, malaise, those aren't your views, are they?" if they were somehow "unsure." "
"Fuck no, no one "asked""
"and it's all down to smug, angry people with pitchforks and torches who CANNOT READ."
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please read what I wrote as I did ask rather than assuming as you are going off on my for. Then please self delete or edit your post I am replying to. Self delete posts do not count against us like hidden ones do. Thank you.

[MADem]

39. She NEVER SAID THAT, though. Read the doggone sentence.

She is very plainly communicating that the prevailing sentiment on JA is that there is more to this story than meets the eye.

In NO PART of her post does she say "Gee, I think that 'old whore' who had come around that asshole's house previously was asking for it!" Never. Not once. It is quite clear that she is communicating the opinion of the majority of people on the island who have weighed in on this matter, and not her own opinion.

If you cannot understand that, you have serious reading comprehension issues. I will not delete a damn thing--you're wrong on this and you're wrongfully piling on malaise for something she did not do or say.

If you'd read what she had said in the first place, and not followed along with the rest of the torch-and-pitchfork crowd, you would have had no need to accuse her of having an unsavory POV.


This was an over-enthusiastic pile-on. One person who could not read got poutraged, and everyone else with an axe to grind followed along.

Not DU's finest hour.

[uppityperson]

41. I asked, politely. And I am waiting to hear directly from the person I politely asked.

You bash me in a couple posts saying "no one has asked, you all assume" etc. I have asked. You are putting a lot of false accusations on me.

I am "wrongfully piling on Malaise" by politely asking for clarification, which you say no one has done. I have also politely shown you what I asked and politely asked you to please delete your attacks on me. You have refused to. Thank you for clarifying that you won't.

[malaise]

51. I never said what is being suggested here

[uppityperson]

54. Thanks for that Malaise, it seemed like a really really odd thing for you.

I'd rather check than assume, thanks for checking in.

I know there are people who believe along those lines, but couldn't wrap my brain around you being one of them. Figured it was one of those internet-communication difficulties. Hope things are going well down there this winter. We finally got some snow but am looking forward to getting out and digging in my garden today.

[malaise]

60. No snow here

Just delightfully pleasant weather - cool and windy

[Texasgal]

38. Why don't you let Malaise

answer for herself?

[MADem]

40. She has. Go look for it. nt

[Texasgal]

42. I'm not finding

the defense of her comment. Sorry. Do you have it?

Can you post it? Maybe I am just missing it?

[MADem]

43. She didn't have to "defend" it.

She said nothing wrong. See the links in Help and Meta on this topic.

[Texasgal]

45. Then why are you?

Maybe you should let her respond is what I am saying.

[obamanut2012]

44. She never answered any of our questions in this thread

[MADem]

55. Yes, she has. nt

[SwampG8r]

47. i read it this way too

people are getting off topic over nothing
she said what she hears not what she thinks

[sabrina 1]

34. I didn't take that from what she said. She merely provided 'information'. People are jumping all

her for reporting some facts about the case. I eg, knew nothing about either the accuser or the accused, and sure don't know what happened as I was not there.

I appreciate Malaise's perspective and do not understand the attacks on her at all.

[uppityperson]

37. I. Am. Not. Attacking. But. ASKING. for clarification.

I would like clarification, which is why I ASKED.

Yes, I am uppity but oddly enough I try to get clarification before going off on someone for something like this. I haven't gone off, but HAVE asked for clarification. From Malaise.

Thank you.

[HipChick]

48. RatidClaut...Do you have access to Google?

What clarification do you need? Malaise is just reporting the same facts, that you can google from JA Newspapers..

[malaise]

52. Just laugh

[MADem]

56. HA!

Haven't heard that expression in years, you know!

[redqueen]

22. What exactly does her age have to do with it?

Or whether or not she'd been to his house before?

[Odin2005]

24. Never heard of date/acquaintance rape???

Most rape victims know their attackers.

[arely staircase]

28. what does any of that have to do with anything? seriously? nt

[MellowDem]

57. Sounds like Jamaica...

has a pretty homophobic and sexist culture. If their skepticism is simply because the alleged victim was 31 yearls old and at the home not for the first time, then the ignorance is just staggering.

[Sea-Dog]

58. that's a nasty and offensive generalisation of Jamaicans.

and not called for either

[MellowDem]

59. Really?

And why is that? I think it's perfectly acceptable to criticize cultures, and I think it was quite called for in this instance.

Why, I've seen many a topic and OP criticize American culture on here every day. I even criticize American culture.

In other words, I think you are being hypocritical and oversensitive, as I doubt you care much to post when American culture is criticized.