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'The Room Had Started To Smell. Really Quite Bad': Stephen Fry Exits Twitter (betanews.com)

Posted by timothy on from the humorless-phonies-at-work dept.

Mark Wilson writes: For a man so readily associated with words — and certainly for a wordsmith so enamored with technology — Twitter seems like something of a natural home for Stephen Fry. Over the years he has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, but last night he closed his account. Fry's latest exit from Twitter (there have been several over the last few years for numerous reasons) came about because of the backlash he received for making a joke at an award ceremony. Hosting the BATFAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) on Sunday, he referred to costume designer and award winner (and, indeed, friend) Jenny Beavan as being 'dressed as a bag lady'. 'Offended' Twitter users attacked Fry in their droves, and he fought a valiant battle, before eventually giving up and terminating his account. It comes just days after Twitter set up a new Trust & Safety Council.

11 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Who's Steven Fry? by Sax+Russell+5449D29A · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have no idea, but I'm happy he chose to leave Twitter. For whatever reason.

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    -SR
  2. Re:Who's Steven Fry? by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

    He's the guy from Futurama

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    rewriting history since 2109
  3. Listen to George by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

  4. DNA by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    BATFAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)

    Brought to you by DNA (National Dyslexics Association).

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  5. Re:These people don't stop existing, though by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Twitter might end up looking like nothing more than a place where whiners go to whine

    I doubt it. Even Twitter's management isn't stupid enough to position themselves as a direct competitor to Facebook.

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    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  6. Re:These people don't stop existing, though by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Funny

    Surely it's just as stressful dealing with all the contrarianism here.

    No it isn't.

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    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  7. Re:These people don't stop existing, though by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes it is.

  8. Re:These people don't stop existing, though by serviscope_minor · · Score: 4, Funny

    No it isn't!

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  9. Re:These people don't stop existing, though by JustOK · · Score: 4, Funny

    it *might* be. Further govt funding is needed...to uh, well, funding is needed, study, things, money. needed.

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    rewriting history since 2109
  10. Re:These people don't stop existing, though by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1, Funny

    I love how an AC came out of the woodwork to illustrate my point.

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    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  11. Re:This is why Twitter is "write only" for me by cardpuncher · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn't worry about Twitter, I'd be more concerned about having a job description of "thought leader". That's just a pink slip waiting to happen.