Things aren’t looking too good for John Barrowman.
Last week, the actor was accused of repeatedly exposing himself to cast and crew members while working on Doctor Who as well as its spin-off series Torchwood. Now, his future on the hit British reality competition Dancing on Ice appears to be in doubt.
Barrowman first joined the show’s judging panel in 2020 after appearing as a contestant way back in 2006. Now, a spokesperson for the network won’t say whether he’ll be returning for Season 14, which is scheduled to air in January 2022.
“Dancing on Ice is not in production at present,” ITV said in a statement. “As such, on-screen talent won’t be attached for the forthcoming series until closer to the time.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But people are calling for Barrowman to be fired from the show.
You know what, it should be same rule for all. John Barrowman faces calls to be axed from Dancing on Ice after flashing claims https://t.co/GMCdRKh4Nh
— Liz O'Brien (@lob2512) May 9, 2021
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke said he shouldn’t return, saying producers have a “responsibility with the standards they set” and that it is “incumbent on broadcasters to show they are not condoning such behavior in any way.”
Meanwhile, the BBC says it’s investigating the accusations against Barrowman, as well as his Doctor Who co-star Noel Clark, who is also accused of sexual misconduct on set.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the network said:
The BBC is against all forms of inappropriate behavior and we’re shocked to hear of these allegations. To be absolutely clear, we will investigate any specific allegations made by individuals to the BBC — and if anyone has been subjected to or witnessed inappropriate behavior of any kind we would encourage them to raise it with us directly. We have a zero tolerance approach and robust processes are in place — which are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practice — to ensure any complaints or concerns are handled with the utmost seriousness and care.
After Barrowman initially apologized for his “tomfoolery” and “high-spirited behavior” on set, his lawyers claimed he “could not recall” the specific allegations made against him, which include flashing people, slapping his penis against a car window, and draping his genitalia over an actress’ shoulder while she was sitting in a makeup chair.
But producer Julie Gardner certainly remembers. She told Out that she received complaints about the actor’s inappropriate behavior in 2008 and that she “reprimanded him” and made “clear to both John and his agent that behavior of this kind would not be tolerated.”
Barrowman, who has gone radio silent on social media since the scandal broke, recently returned to the Doctor Who franchise and was rumored to be returning again next season; however, producers have not said whether that will happen.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
talktalktalk
There is no way this creep can be allowed to come back from this. Exposing yourself to any male or female you want in the workplace is neither normal or acceptable, under any circumstances. It’s irrelevant how many formal complaints there were at the time (we know there was at least one formal complaint in 2008)……If any normal person did it in an office they could expect to be instantly fired and a visit from the police. Also, the talented Noel Clarke (the other Doctor Who actor accused of sexual msconduct) has DENIED all the claims against him, yet has already been cancelled by the entire industry. Why the deafening sience on Barrowman, when he admits the claims against him?
Cam
You have posted multiple times on every thread about this guy, calling him fat, old, a queen, etc.
This seems far beyond any normal discussion, you seem to have something personal going on.
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam/talktalktalk: Since you posted exactly 49 & 1/2 minutes after talktalktalk, obviously that PROVES you’re the same person. Now you’re just trying to make yourself look reasonable. Your troll game is tired and weak, sweetie. 🙂
Seriously, Cam, why are you defending Barrowman? You seem to think the mere fact of his gayness is more important than his offense? At any rate, talktalktalk doesn’t call him “old,” “fat” or a “queen” here.
(I don’t use other screen names here. Anyone who’s concerned about multiple accounts can urge Queerty to check IP addresses and ban anyone doing that.)
(I don’t use other screen names on Queerty. Anyone who thinks that’s a problem here can urge Queerty to check IP addresses and ban anyone doing that.)
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
1. You seem very defensive about an accusation I hadn’t yet made at you. Kinda gave things away. And since you are using a different name than the one I accused of having multiple screenames, again, ya kinda gave yourself away. It’s embarrassing how bad at trolling you are.
2. You’re welcome to look for anywhere I have defended Bowerman and point them out.
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam: You accused me of being “rural queer socialist,” just last week, and you declared that the timing of the post somehow “proved” the multiple screen name. You do this sort of thing over and over and over and over. Do you make these accusations totally at random and immediately forget about them?
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam: As for the John Barrowman issue (it’s not “Bowerman”; you managed to get it wrong twice) – even if talk3 in another comment thread called Barrowman “old,” “fat” & “queen,” he doesn’t do that here. Gee, it’s almost like YOU are talk3 and you enjoy arguing to yourself. Kind of gives it away!
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam: I may as well try to make a case tonight, before you pop up tomorrow morning with your usual insults.
I agree with your politics about 96% of the time, and think you’re a good cultural critic. But any time anyone disagrees with you even a little bit, you accuse them of being a “right-wing troll,” etc. Your wacky “multiple screename” obsession is damaging your effectiveness here. There are a few right-wing commenters here, of course, and there always have been (yes I’ve been here longer than you have), but there is no particular reason to believe they’re all the same person. You can’t ever “prove” that, however much you declare it. At the same time, you have a suspiciously detailed amount of knowledge about how to do that, as if you’re doing it yourself. If you’re really that concerned about the supposed problem, join me in urging Queerty to check IP addresses and ban anyone doing that… unless you have something to hide?
And making that accusation routinely does NOT help your arguments. Sometimes it even damages your arguments. It often looks like a cheap way for you to avoid making an argument entirely: yeah, just accuse them of being someone else. I suspect you vastly underestimate the resentment you’re creating here and how much damage you’re doing to what you (supposedly) believe.
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
Wow, 3 comments, seeming a bit triggered there.
Al without being able to point out aywhere I defended Bowerman, so that was a lie.
Also, you say you aren’t a troll under a different name, yet you came on to a thread you weren’t already on and tried to preempt a comment about the obvious right wing troll who has been posting on multiple threads under that name for days.
Why so defensive of that account name, on a non political thread where I was merely pointing out that that account had used anti-LGBTQ comments, ageist comments, etc…
Yet you, who isn’t that same account under a different name……..came onto that silly thread desperately trying to preempt any response I was going to make.
Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhh, not multi-account troll behavior at all.
There, now you can make 6 responses to me to show how unconcerned you are.
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam: Hmm, you ignored every single one of my points (and got Barrowman’s name wrong a THIRD time).
I never saw talktalktalk comment before. I just wondered why you were calling him out for saying “fat, queen” etc when he’s not doing that here. He’s criticizing Barrowman like anyone else here, but you declare he must have a personal obsession that’s not on display here.
Innumerable times I’ve seen you attack someone as “defending” the wrongdoer, or even as “defending” haters if LGBT etc blah blah blah.
Even if there were a lot of trolls here (I doubt it), your memory of who’s doing what here is unreliable. You don’t even seem to care who you’re attacking, never mind keeping notes on who is who. Random.
Again, if you really have a s*** about the “multiple screename” issue you could urge Queerty to check IP addresses and ban anyone doing that. But no – apparently you wouldn’t want THAT because you’re doing it yourself.
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
So let’s see, the troll that was so triggered it posted multiple deflection attempts, couldn’t respond to my comments, now feigns outrage that I spelled a name wrong and copies my comment crying that I didn’t answer it.
Ugh, your trolling is worse than usual. Did you use all the better material under your “TheREALTruth” screename this week?
Heywood Jablowme
If Cam were REALLY concerned about the “multiple screename” issue, logically he would urge Queerty to check IP addresses and ban anyone dong that. But notice how he doesn’t want to, and doesn’t even acknowledge the suggestion. Why? Cam knows that HE would be the one who would get banned.
And probably no one else would. 🙂
Queerty, please check iP addresses!
BoomerMyles
All this fuss over showing a little willie.
Kangol2
Would you be fine with having a co-worker expose her vulva to you? Flash her labia? Her breasts? Over and over? All while claiming it’s a joke?
What about a male co-worker you did not find attractive? Who was trollacious and obnoxious and repellent? And he kept flashing it, and his asshole, etc. to you over and over? Ha ha, it’s a joke, etc.
Barrowman should keep his damned “willie” in his pants unless someone consensually wants to see it. Boyfriend, husband, f*ckbuddy, hookup, FWB, whatever, because it’s not like he’s doing sex work. If he is that anxious to show his meat off, post it on Twitter, Snapchat, a blog, someplace his colleagues don’t have to see it if they don’t want to.
I mean, one time, OK, you screwed up, but twice or more? Grow the f*ck up, Barrowman, and act like an adult!
Fahd
Still the picture with the Haring in the background. It would liven up the website if there were a change in the accompanying photo when a story was updated from day to day.
My ongoing advice to Mr. Barrowman and to his advisors is that he should check into sex addiction rehab. Compulsive exhibitionism falls under the umbrella of sex addiction and using the disease model is his best line of defense at this point. If there aren’t any such sexual rehab facilities that would be appropriate for a celebrity like him in the UK (or Switzerland) yet , there’s one in Arizona, I think.
He can’t deny what he did and they are coming for him. If he wants to try avoiding being “cancelled” he needs to acknowledge that he has a problem that needs treatment.
This approach might work in avoiding being cancelled since he doesn’t seem to have committed any crimes, or at least any crimes for which the statute of limitations hasn’t run.
Lancealot
You should check out all his sci-fi convention videos on youtube. The audiences seem to love his “tomfoolery”. Find “John Barrowman flirts with a marine”.
Fahd
But if it’s on youtube, he can’t have say taken out his dick and slapped the Marine in the face with it or otherwise exposed himself. Youtube is pretty careful.
Chrisk
Yeah I’ve seen them and he does get a little raunchy on stage. The audience loves it though.
Cam
This was the problem with the entertainment industry. For a long long long time, people were allowed to do anything as long as they were popular.
Seth Rogen is now saying he won’t work with James Franco again, but the actress Charlotte Yi said that Rogen was part of the crew that was enabling Franco back when she quit the film they were working on together.
MissTerri
Here come the usual suspects making excuses for this Creepy Old Queen! Hi-LAR-ious!!!
Cam
Sweetie, if you’re going to switch names and try to troll, you may want to use different wording.
But it is interesting, you’re usually on here defending bigots and people who attack LGBTQ people and yet you seem to be personally enraged about Bowerman.
Ohhhhh right, you need to attack anything every LGBTQ person does to try to make a false equivalence. Too bad you aren’t slick enough to pass it off.
MissTerri
And there she is, right on cue, arms all a’flapping!!! Hi-LAR-ious!!!
Cam
@MissTerri
Doesn’t matter what screename you’re under, your trolling is the same old boring repetitive stuff.
MissTerri
She’s still a-flapping!!! Hi-LAR-ious!!!
Cam
@MissTerri
Awwww, the troll found a line it thinks works and darn it, it’s going to stick with it! LOL
SPEEDOSWIMMER
He has always come across as a JERK.
KellyRobinsonJr
Seems like every reformed backroom, tree trail queen has an opinion of John’s Tomfoolery. I just ordered his Christmas album. I heard if you play Oh “come” all ye faithful in reverse, it says GET OVER IT.
theaterbloke
Considering that Barrowman’s 1st season of Doctor Who and the last two series of Torchwood required him to drop trou, it seems at least a little hypocritical of the BBC to complain about John’s exposure. I also saw Eve Myles at a SF convention years ago and she was telling Barrowman stories for the audience’s amusement, while apparently having no problem with his antics. The point is that this has been common knowledge for well over a decade and, if it posed problems, it should have been addressed a long time ago. If one formal complaint resulted in action at the time which resulted in Barrowman covering himself up, that should have been the end of it. It’s a little late for faux outrage when the BBC stands to be embarassed and subsequent cancelling of the actor.
Ellipse Kirk
I tire of 21st Century prissy prudery.
southernway
He had no power over anyone if they didn’t appreciate his display, they should have said so -having worked backstage on Broadway for years -you’d be surprised what has been witnessed by your most beloved stars- get over it – love him or leave him but don’t persecute him for this -he’ll stop now because he’s been called on it
Cam
Well that comment is ridiculous. The lead actors obviously have more power than production assistants and others like that.
mudgeguy
OMG, all these triggered little weirdos running around squealing! What’s the word for simps that can never let go of the past or forgive people who have made a mistake?
Executive Producer Julie Gardiner states, he was called out and reprimanded for his behaviour in 2008 and he’s been a good little boy ever since. Who da fark are you lot that you can’t let someone move on with their life? It’s now been 13 years since he last offended and as far as I’m concerned, he’s proved himself capable of redemption by his change of behaviour.
cuteguy
Well there goes that theory that sexual harassment is only put upon ugly ppl. Then again, if he was straight would we be having this convo?
talktalktalk
don’t understand your point, he is ugly
Jake123
My thing is this was obviously coming from a place of humour but it made people uncomfortable, I get that, that’s ok. But why if you know the intention was not sexual or a power display would you want to try and destroy a man. What ever happened to a reasonable discussion and apology behind closed doors.