The Week on Twitter | Ched Evans, Marmite, & Bob Dylan
This week, the UK lost Marmite, Ched Evans was acquitted, and the budget was announced. Bob Dylan also won the Nobel Prize for Literature and divided the world.
#ChedEvans acquitted of rape charges
In 2011, Premier League footballer Ched Evans was accused of raping a drunk woman in a hotel room. In 2012, he was found guilty of the attack and was sentenced to five years in prison. In April of this year, it was reported that Evans’ conviction had become invalid and that he would be entitled to a retrial in October. This trial took place on Friday afternoon and saw Evans walk free. His charges were acquitted after two men gave ‘evidence’ concerning Evans’ accuser’s sexual history.
Many (awful) people decided to use Evans’ acquittal as an excuse to attack any woman who decides to speak out against sexual assault. They celebrated, they cheered, and they gloated that that filthy lying bitch had finally been found out. Justice had been served, they said. The truth was finally out.
The truth, it seems, now comes in the form of a woman’s former partners showing up to court and discussing her sexual history. As if that would shed some light on what happened in the Premier Inn in 2011. As if it had any relevance whatsoever. Former solicitor general Vera Baird spoke out against the court’s decision to allow these two men as witnesses, stating that it was totally irrelevant to the case.
“We’ve gone back, I’m afraid, probably about 30 years,” she said.
The court heard that Evans had entered the woman’s hotel room, had sex with her, and then left through a fire escape – all without speaking to her. The jury were also told that two men were outside the room attempting to film what was happening inside.
Evans stated that he is very relieved to have been found innocent.
Strange that Ched Evans achieving justice is seen as something heroic, when his actions; rape or no rape, were absolutely vile.
— Premier League Fan (@AGearing97) October 14, 2016
Those who claim this is about the verdict should remember near identical abuse after previous trial found Ched Evans guilty #RapeCulture pic.twitter.com/0wSr1NF96Y
— EverydaySexism (@EverydaySexism) October 14, 2016
One thing I will never understand is people (men) who take things like the Ched Evans verdict as some kind of moral victory *against* women
— Stuart Houghton (@stuarthoughton) October 14, 2016
It's quite scary how many men on here think it's absolutely fine to stick their dick in a woman without ever speaking to her. #chedevans
— Caroline CriadoPerez (@CCriadoPerez) October 15, 2016
Key point about Ched Evans trial is that the Court of Appeal ruled defence lawyers could cross-examine the woman about her sexual history
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) October 14, 2016
The worst people in the world have been emboldened by the Ched Evans verdict. Regardless of the (stupid, wrong) verdict he's still a scumbag
— Alan (@alan_maguire) October 14, 2016
#BobDylan wins #NobelPrize for Literature
This week, it was reported that Bob Dylan had won the Nobel Prize for literature. According to the Academy, Dylan won the award for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
Lots of people were delighted with this win, as they like Bob Dylan, enjoy his music an amount, and think that he deserved it. Lots of other people were not delighted with his win, because they don’t think that music is poetry, and they like Haruki Murakami way better.
The fact that Bob Dylan is trending because he won a Nobel prize, and not, like, because he was murdered by a clown is honestly a blessing.
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) October 13, 2016
I am ecstatic that Bob Dylan has won the Nobel. A great and good thing in a season of sleaze and sadness.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 13, 2016
this recent bob dylan news has prompted at least 20 high school english teachers to wonder why they ever quit their college band
— mitski (@mitskileaks) October 14, 2016
Let's give the Booker Prize to Hanson.
— David Owen (@davidowenauthor) October 13, 2016
God this is like when Ian McEwan won a MOBO
— Max Porter (@maxjohnporter) October 13, 2016
#Marmite removed from Tesco’s online store, people freak out #Unilever
On Thursday, Tesco removed Marmite from their website and the UK descended into chaos. Street fights broke out, fires were started, supermarkets were burned to the ground. Those who still had Marmite in their cupboards locked their doors and armed themselves with various cooking implements, waiting and ready for the inevitable mob of ‘Mite hunters that were soon to descend on their homes.
Tesco’s decision arose from a ongoing dispute between Marmite manufacturer Unilever. The company want to increase their prices in Britain due to the recent significant drop in the pound’s value. Tesco rejected this and instead removed all Unilever products from their website.
Other products currently not on the site are Pot Noodle, Ben & Jerry’s, Hellmanns, Viennetta (!), and Vaseline.
The products are still available to buy in store.
The Purge 4: Marmite. One day a year, Marmite is legal. Put it on toast, eat it out of the jar – police will not respond. Survive the night.
— James Moran (@jamesmoran) October 13, 2016
I can get Marmite, how much Marmite do you want? pic.twitter.com/H99NrjvlF5
— Trudi (@Trudski2012) October 12, 2016
If you're not sure what the Tories' policies on the NHS will lead to, it's like what happened with Marmite but with people's lives.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) October 14, 2016
Children in Northern Ireland looking over the Brexit Wall into the opulent, Marmite-rich land of Ireland, 2019. pic.twitter.com/1yijlmyJxG
— Rick Burin (@rickburin) October 15, 2016
BRITS: make your own Marmite by weeping into a jar of dog poo non-stop for 30 years
— David O'Doherty (@phlaimeaux) October 14, 2016
Noonan announces #Budget2017
On Tuesday, the budget was announced. The Universal Social Charge was cut, pensioners are going to get an extra 5er a week, and so are job seekers. A new animal welfare system is to be introduced, 800 new Gardaí are going to be recruited, and minimum wage went up by 10c. A Help to Buy housing scheme was introduced, and so was a cap on prescriptions for over 70s.
Lots of other things were included in the budget too. You can read about them here.
Alternatively, you can take a look at the Budget 2017 hashtag on Twitter. There’s a lot of pictures of sheep. It’s nice. Unlike the budget, according to some people.
What you need to know, in 90 seconds, from #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/N0dkfCtO2Q
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 11, 2016
Me watching the #Budget2017…#Fudget pic.twitter.com/fcKtcw4Qno
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) October 11, 2016
Good day if you're a sheep – a special animal welfare programme is being introduced for them #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/vy0ubNEoz4
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) October 11, 2016
Imagine if instead of increasing the rent a room relief scheme for landlords the govt. created a student rent allowance instead #Budget2017
— Glenn Fitzpatrick (@glennthefitz) October 11, 2016
Sheep all over Ireland celebrating #Budget2017 like pic.twitter.com/xcbhZtrXm3
— Just Eat Ireland (@JustEatIE) October 11, 2016