Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Ariane Sherine

Journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is joined by comedy writer and journalist Ariane Sherine to debate the truth about the Me Too movement – is its voice still strong or has a media backlash now framed it as a witch hunt and vilified victims?

Me Too is a movement against sexual abuse. It grew following the allegations made against Harvey Weinstein by several actresses. The hashtag #MeToo went viral soon after, and many high-profile celebrities have since offered their own #MeToo stories. The appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court was fraught with allegations of sexual assault. During the hearings, President Trump said it was now a ‘difficult’ and ’scary’ time for young men in the US, adding: ‘Somebody could accuse you of something and you’re automatically guilty.’ The founder of the Me Too movement, Tarana Burke, has said the movement she began has become ‘unrecognisable’ and that a media backlash has now framed it as a witch hunt. ‘Suddenly, a movement to centre survivors of sexual violence is being talked about as a vindictive plot against men,’ she said. ‘Victims are heard and then vilified.’

Alibhai-Brown is a British journalist and author who has written extensively on issues of diversity and social justice. In 2016 Alibhai-Brown won the Columnist of the Year Broadsheet at the British Press Awards. Her books include In Defence of Political Correctness (about which she speaks at another festival event), Refusing The Veil, and Exotic England: The Making of A Curious Nation.

Sherine is creator of the Atheist Bus Campaign, with adverts across the world saying ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’. Her latest book is Talk Yourself Better, a beginner’s guide to therapy. She has written for BBC1’s My Family, Channel 4’s Countdown and BBC2’s Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as well as for many national newspapers and magazines.

Discussions are chaired by Dr Stephen Law, philosopher, editor of The Royal Institute of Philosophy Journal Think – Philosophy for Everyone and author of The Philosophy Gym and The Complete Philosophy Files.