"I Woke Up in a Parallel Universe"
December 22, 2015 8:54 AM   Subscribe

 
I was especially surprised by a voicemail I got from someone who had not had just known Kim, but who had been very close to him for decades. “I feel sorry for what happened to you,” he said. “I’m on your side.”

When I returned his call a few days later, we spoke for 45 minutes, reminiscing about how crazy the ’70s had been, how young we all were, how much fun we’d had. Finally, as we prepared to say our goodbyes, his voice dropped to a whisper. “Can I ask you a question about the story?”

“Of course,” I replied.

There was a brief hesitation.

“Was I there that night?”
Good lord. Maybe the implication is that some nights he was too stoned or drunk to remember what had happened after the fact. But since he had been close to Fowler, a more likely conclusion is that hers wasn't the only rape he might have witnessed.

Thanks for posting this. Jackie Fuchs is incredibly brave.
posted by zarq at 9:37 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]


Man....

terrible as it may be that these things have happened to so many people? I feel like (and she mentions that) these things are finally getting traction, getting talked about, openly and frequently, thanks in large part to people like her

very grateful for that.
posted by suddenly, and without warning, at 11:30 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]


I appreciate the follow-up and am both glad to kearn that the initial piece had a positive impact while at the same time sad that it has widened the wounds. I feel like there's no possibility of justice for her but I hope in the long term that her coming out will be a net positive for her.

I was disappointed and surprised that her four most vicious trolls were all women.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:52 AM on December 22, 2015 [2 favorites]


I had the pleasure of hanging out with Jackie in August at a trivia thing. Even after months of the fallout from her story -- and reliving it all -- she was gracious and friendly. I have so much respect for her; there's so much more to her life than the crap that she's gone through.

For example, she knows Fabio. And she is willing to introduce people to him. HOTCHA.
posted by St. Hubbins at 1:24 PM on December 22, 2015 [2 favorites]


I was disappointed and surprised that her four most vicious trolls were all women

The first time I prosecuted a rape case (repeat male offender, very damaged and vulnerable lesbian victim, all night assault), I picked a jury with an eye to including all the women I could. And those women hung that jury, because all but one voted to acquit.

I learned the hard way that women are often merciless to other women who have been assaulted. It is such a terrifying crime that it is common for women to want to reassure themselves it could not happen to them -- and it is a short step from that to denying the crime at all and victim blaming. I am sure the trollers who targeted Fuchs had persuaded themselves she invented it all . . .. and that protected them from realizing how wrong they were to idolize her rapist, who was not at all a safe focus for their fantasies.
posted by bearwife at 1:35 PM on December 22, 2015 [26 favorites]


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