May says she was ‘shaken up’ by Ottawa shootings when she sent tweets about Jian Ghomeshi
— Elizabeth May says she was “shaken up” by the recent Parliament shootings when she sent out a series of tweets defending Jian Ghomeshi.
On Sunday, after the ousted CBC host issued a Facebook post saying he was fired for his “sexual behaviour,” the Green Party leader took to Twitter, writing, “I think Jian is wonderful. Likely TMI for an old fogey like me, but his private life is none of our beeswax.”
After her comments sparked a torrent of criticism, May published a statement explaining that she hadn’t yet read a Toronto Star story which contained allegations from three women who say the “Q” radio host was physically violent to them without their consent during sexual encounters or in the run-up to such encounters. Through his lawyer, Ghomeshi told the Star that he “does not engage in non-consensual role play or sex and any suggestion of the contrary is defamatory.”
In an interview with The Canadian Press, May said her emotional state was affected by the attack on Parliament Hill last week and she did not think carefully before posting her initial comments.
“I have to say the last week for me has been unusual,” she said by phone from Ottawa. “I don’t want to overplay this because people might think I was pandering, but it’s true. I’ve been shaken up by what happened here Wednesday.”
“So I guess one thing I've learned from this incident is: don’t reply to tweets, don’t stay on, don’t stay engaged on Twitter when you know that you’re feeling kind of emotional.”
May is among several public figures who have waded into the heated online debate surrounding Ghomeshi — which experts and lawyers say can be a dangerous venture. While the facts around the case remain murky, many on social media have been quick to cast judgment.
Canadian musician Owen Pallett dropped a bombshell Tuesday on Facebook, speaking out against Ghomeshi, whom he considers a friend. Meanwhile, electro-pop artist Lights - who is managed by the radio host - has stood by him, writing, “I love you Jian. You’re my super hero.”
May said her immediate reaction to news that the CBC had cut ties with Ghomeshi was an emotional one. After the radio star published the Facebook post Sunday, she said she believed that was the full story.
She added that her last interaction with Ghomeshi was to send him a note of condolence after the recent death of his father and that her immediate response was compassion.
“It was almost instantaneous concern,” she said. “I thought, ‘Boy, that must have been hard to reveal that much about your personal life (in the Facebook post).’ This is a tough time for him and that’s all I was thinking. It never occurred to me that there was an accusation of violence.”
May didn’t read the Star story until after Question Period the following day.
She continued to defend Ghomeshi in the interim, telling one user, “I have known Jian and something at work here doesn’t make sense. Innocent until proven guilty.”