08/21/2007
Darren Hayes Arrested for Alleged Racist Attack
Singer Darren Hayes was arrested Friday night for an alleged racist verbal attack on a waiter at a Thai restaurant in London last month, the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting:
"Hayes fronted police in London last Friday night, where he was arrested for racially abusing a member of staff at Busaba Eathai in Wardour Street on July 22. The attack did not involve physical violence, but is believed to have been directed at a male member of staff. Hayes was released on bail. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We can confirm that a 35-year-old man was arrested by Westminster police on suspicion of racially abusing a member of staff. 'He was arrested after voluntarily attending a Central London police station by appointment. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries, until the 21st of September.' The spokesman would not comment further."
Hayes' new double album, This Delicate Thing We've Made, came out in the U.S. today.
UPDATE: Hayes lawyer released this statement on his MySpace blog today: "Darren is unable to comment to any extent as the incident is presently under investigation by the police, with whom he has cooperated fully. However he is deeply upset at the allegation which he strenuously denies and anyone who knows Darren will recognise that the particular nature of the allegation is totally abhorrent to him and contrary to everything for which he has stood"
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Just for the record my partner and I were nearly arrested at this very same restaurant (Busaba on Wardour Street) accused of racism too!
The bouncer shoved me unnessarily when I was in line, and my partner used the word 'black' when describing him in what happened to someone else. He screamed 'racism!' The restaurant pushed the robbery alarm and we were swamped with cops accusing us of racism. So we called the gay liason police officers and they let us go home.
I've told all my friends to avoid Busaba since then.
Posted by: Adam Kennedy | Aug 22, 2007 5:13:16 AM
I don't think I've read such utter rubbish in a long while. Not only has Darren Hayes advocated gay rights but he's always advocated human rights as well, anti racism being one of them. As someone else said, this was a man who sported the aborigine flag at the Olympic Games in Sydney.
Reading some of the comments here, whatever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'.
Posted by: Joyce Brown | Aug 22, 2007 5:50:13 AM
I do not believe darren is racist but i do not think this should be used as an attack on being PC. If people make racist slurs then yeah they should be punished for it, no matter who they are. Saying that i find it hard to believe that darren is racist, he is very tolerent and i hope this thing is a complete misunderstanding.
Posted by: Alison | Aug 22, 2007 5:54:18 AM
i so love how everyone is waiting for his side of the story, when it was washington's turn NO one here was waiting.
i always say this, EVERYBODY CARES FOR ONLY THEIR OWN, that's why the minority is always powerless.
Posted by: johnosahon | Aug 22, 2007 6:07:18 AM
JOHNOSAHON,
We didn't wait for Washington's side of the story because there were multiple witness (cast and crew of Grey's Anatomy) who immediately came forward to corroborate Patrick Dempsey's allegations of PHYSICAL ASSAULT and HATE SPEECH at the hands of Isaiah Washington. The only people taking Isaiah Washington's side of the story were Isaiah Washington himself and that crazy bitch Jasmyne Cannick who wasn't even there to witness the alleged events. That's why we didn't wait for Isaiah's side of the story.
Now that Isaiah has spoken, he showed himself to be the fool we always knew he was and got his ass shitcanned in the process.
Happy to explain it all to you, JOHNOSAHON!
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Aug 22, 2007 7:11:30 AM
Crazy Bitch? And the world goes 'round ...
Posted by: Giovanni | Aug 22, 2007 9:02:25 AM
"We didn't wait for Washington's side of the story because there were multiple witness (cast and crew of Grey's Anatomy) who immediately came forward to corroborate Patrick Dempsey's allegations of PHYSICAL ASSAULT and HATE SPEECH at the hands of Isaiah Washington."
And there was enough evidence against Darren Hayes for him to be ARRESTED...
Posted by: The Gene Genie | Aug 22, 2007 9:19:22 AM
Thank you Genie! amazing how people will rationalize when it's one of their own...
Posted by: Uh Huh | Aug 22, 2007 10:01:24 AM
yes, darren must not be a racist simply because he is a singer, he is gay and he wore an Aboriginal flag when performing at the Australian Olympics, therefore there is no chance he is a racist. the first thing i'm gonna do tomorrow is to buy a t-shirt with an aboriginal flag on it and fuxk with those blacks and asians, i'm sure i'll be fine because i'm not racist, hey i wore that t-shirt.
Posted by: Caelus | Aug 22, 2007 10:17:13 AM
What I find absolutely ridiculous about this thread is that people are absolutely sure that Hayes could have not said whatever he is alleged to have said. We don't know the details of the situation by either side of the matter yet he has already been exonerated of all charges here. This is far beyond the idea of "innocent until proven guilty" folks. What really disturbs me is the overwhelming assumption that the allegation is fraudulent, despite what the Sydney Morning Herald reports which states that manager from the restaurant has said, "[the] restaurant staff reported the incident to police, who took statements on July 23." So according to Peter Parker's logic Hayes has to be guilty and there should be no need for further investigation into the matter since people have corroborated the allegation. Nope, that doesn't fly. So how about postponing judgment until the details come out.
Posted by: mmikey d | Aug 22, 2007 11:11:15 AM
Right, Robert. Who is the African-American "community" and whom are their leader(s) that speak for them when national figures are charged with alleged wrong-doings? Your notion that the African-American/African diaspora is a homogeneous entity is extremely problematic as well as your assertion that said group must collectively atone for the actions of a a member is outrageous.
Everyone is possibly (probably) a little bit ethnocentric but not everyone is racist.
Posted by: mmikey d | Aug 21, 2007 11:37:24 PM
But isn't that what some previous commenters asked of the 'gay' 'community' (i.e. white gay males)? You missed the point entirely, but proved it. I just said that blacks in general won't admit that any of their 'heroes' have done anything wrong, but then expect gay people to 'atone' for the 'crimes' (since when is free speech a crime?) of one of 'their own' (as if all gays were white). So there's a double-bias assumption there. Sorry if you missed that.
Posted by: Robert | Aug 22, 2007 11:14:08 AM
This discussion makes me sick to be part of the community. You all now damn skippy if this was Mel Gibson there would be no, "lets wait and see".
Be f-ing consistent in your judgements. Most of the commentators here just proved that they about as consistent and hypocritcal and George W Bush.
Posted by: anon | Aug 22, 2007 1:03:53 PM
*know
Posted by: anon | Aug 22, 2007 1:05:10 PM
You know, I didn't read the link to the Sydney papers so I was unaware that the waiter's coworkers had also filed statements that apparently implicated Darren Hayes. But I'm going to stand by my earlier statement that while it is odious to hurl hate speech at someone based on differences of religion/race/sexual orientation/gender, I think it is outrageous for the state to step in and arrest the person uttering hateful remarks. I fully support the right of a bigot to express themselves verbally, however offensive their speech might be. I also support the right of friends, employers, etc...to disassociate themselves from that person based on their speech. I just don't believe the government should come in and haul someone away because they are a hateful idiot.
And since someone has once again dragged the Isaiah Washington drama to the forefront, I will point out that Isaiah Washington was accused of PHYSICALLY ASSAULTING A COWORKER! That's the part of his story (coupled with his idiotic comments made on national television after the incident) that I thought was truly and utterly outrageous. And being physically assaulted is a hell of a long way from having someone call you names. If you don't believe me, let someone merely call you faggot one day, then let them come to your workplace and beat you up while calling you faggot the next day and then you can tell me there's no difference between the two.
And finally, UH HUH...regarding your comment '...amazing how people will rationalize when it's one of their own.', sweetie you have *no idea* what my race is.
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Aug 22, 2007 1:11:42 PM
We still have yet to hear what exactly happened - at least I do anyway which was my point in saying it's best to wait and hear the rest of story before reacting - which is the same approach I took and still take to the Washington mess - outrage for the sake of outrage is just silly. It goes without saying that all bigotry should be met with the same vehemence regardless of who the perpetrator or the victim is.
As for Hayes getting a pass for being cute A - he's not THAT cute and B-Z - No one is that cute!
Posted by: Giovanni | Aug 22, 2007 1:39:06 PM
PeterParker
The last part of that comment wasn't specifically directed to you.
In any event, you're either white or you desperately want to be. So pick either one.
Posted by: Uh Huh | Aug 22, 2007 2:06:39 PM
If anyone knows anything about Darren then they already know this is rubbish. It could be a simple misunderstanding or a desperate attempt to make some money and a clever ploy to market the restaurant.
Posted by: Andie | Aug 22, 2007 2:24:23 PM
...language is indeed a virus...
Posted by: yeahisaidit | Aug 22, 2007 2:55:13 PM