Taiwan's #MeToo moment, week 3: As allegations expand into showbiz, media-savvy perpetrators begin to pioneer new tactics, eg. going preemptive. June 21, a survivor convened a press conference to make his accusations. 20 seconds in, the alleged persecutor crashed the presser./1

The Taiwanese pop star showed up & gave what can only be described as a #FlashMob of an apology. He crashed the victim’s press conference, said he's sorry, took a long bow, and then exited the premise. All within 2 minutes. /2

While at the presser, he said nothing of substance about the case, therefore left no evidence for legal culpability. Then on his way out, the alleged perpetrator denied the allegations on camera (just not in front of the victim, so better optics). /3

One effect was that he silenced the victim -- likely emotionally destabilized the victim enough to prevent him from telling his side of the story properly. /4

One imagines the message the survivors get is fear: "I know where you are and when you're gonna come out against me. And when I show up, I'm the star, I am the one with the microphone. You're nothing but a side story." So another effect is sheer #deterrence against survivors. /5

If this manoeuvre goes unsanctioned, it'll potentially embolden other alleged perpetrators to imitate (a potential 'Broken Window'). Which would deter other survivors to come out in the future. Fuller story from Straits Times./6 https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/taiwan-s-metoo-movement-comedian-nono-stops-work-actor-aaron-yan-apologises-to-his-ex…

It reminds one of a recent testimony about survivors' common fears about coming forward. /7 E.g.: https://www.facebook.com/TannieHuang/posts/pfbid02J7nLk7YW5PPY1FQ5Qyvghhn5Fk6LjEFB8uMVikeiLnSJAQC7mYXXhPvK4TgL1iK2l…

If survivors go public, and fail: - Will people ignore me? - Will people ridicule me for making it a big deal? - Will internet mobs blame the victim? - Will the perpetrator or their friends backstab or boycott me professionally? /8

If survivors go public, and 'succeed': - Will my name be permanently tied to that person on people's mind for the rest of my life? - Will I be riding on the newscycle? (= A morally uneasy feeling about indirectly benefiting from & building on fellow victims' miseries) /9

- "What if the perpetrator's life gets destroyed after I step forward? I want them to apologize but I don't want to be responsible for destroying them & their family members' lives?" /10

And yet, even if survivors don't go public: - Am I failing my duty of care? What if more people (esp younger people) get hurt in the future because I didn't come forward & alert them? With experience/power comes responsibility -- If not me, then who?" Tough no-win situation./11

A useful summary of Taiwan's sexual harassment legal framework & complaints processes, from @報導者 The Reporter. From the article (in Chinese): 台灣#MeToo十問 /12. https://www.twreporter.org/a/sexual-harassment-10-key-questions…