Townshend: "I am not a paedophile. I think paedophilia is appalling."
 

What will be his first gig in prison?

"I think I may have been sexually abused as a child and I was doing research into it"

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Who star link to paedophile probe
Saturday, January 11, 2003 Posted: 1607 GMT
RICHMOND, England -- Rock legend Pete Townshend has issued a public statement denying being a paedophile after his name was linked with a police Internet porn inquiry.

But The Who guitarist and song-writer did admit studying child pornography for research into a campaign against it. He told reporters on Saturday that he told police what he was doing.

Standing on the doorstep of his mansion in Richmond, in south-west London, the Press Association reported the 57-year-old star as saying: "I am not a paedophile. I think paedophilia is appalling."

Townshend, who is married with children, continued: "To fight against paedophilia, you have to know what's out there.

"I have been involved in a campaign against paedophilia on the Internet but it fizzled out.

"I think I may have been sexually abused as a child and I was doing research into it. I've been writing my life story and the research is for a book.

"I've been in touch with Scotland Yard to tell them what I was doing. I have contacted them but no police officers have contacted me.

"I am waiting for the police to talk to me but they haven't been round. I have done a lot of work on paedophilia and my Web site has highlighted it.

"I have looked into the abuse that children have suffered in Chechnya and Kosovo and the portrayal of these children on the Internet and it appals me.

"I was worried this might happen and I think this could be the most damaging thing to my career."

The Press Association reporter told CNN that Townshend appeared "earnest and serious" during the interview.

The reporter said that following the statement he gave on his doorstep, Townshend later issued a second, fuller written statement to the press. (Statement)

The star said he was interested in adult porn, adding: "I've always been into pornography and I have used it all my life.

"I'm going to talk to my lawyers to see what happens next."

Asked if he had a message for his fans, or if he planned to make a statement, he said: "I am not a paedophile. I want to clear my name."

Leaving his home, he said: "I'm going to see my son. I've not been charged with anything. I've always been warned about campaigning about this."

He added: "I'm hoping that this will go away. I've been warned not to say anything on this."

Reporters questioned Townshend following a report in two British tabloid newspapers, The Daily Mail and The Sun, that details of an unnamed internationally-famous musician had been passed to detectives dealing with an American pay-per-view porn ring.

The Daily Mail said Scotland Yard officers were now investigating and deciding whether to make an arrest.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman refused to discuss details of the inquiry.

She told CNN. "We can't confirm that we are investigating a British rock star. We don't discuss individuals," said a spokesman.

British police are conducting their largest-ever investigation, code-named Operation Ore, into online paedophilia and child pornography.

About 1,300 people, including a judge, magistrates, dentists, hospital consultants and a deputy headmaster, have so far been arrested.

In 1999 British pop star Gary Glitter was jailed for four months after indecent pictures of children were found on his laptop computer.

Earlier this week the former glam rock star, real name Paul Gadd, was arrested in Cambodia and deported from the country.

In another case, singer, record producer and broadcaster Jonathan King was jailed for seven years in 2001 for sex attacks on five boys.

Wow! Saw the story this morning when they cited 'unnamed rockstar' didn't realise it was Townshend. His excuse sounds pretty lame considering he had to purchase a membership to that CP site with his credit card

the excuse has a bit of Winona Ryder in it...

WTF? "I think I may have been sexually abused as a child and I was doing research into it." Asshole. This fucking pisses me off -- this is no excuse for looking at CP.

I've been in heavy-duty therapy for over 2 years, gone through some hair-raising shit while getting through dealing with what happened to me as a little girl, but there was never a time when I thought, "Hey! Since I got fucked when I was little, how's about I go find me some nice child porn while I work through my issues? That'd be good."

There are literally thousands of places one can research incest recovery and get support for it -- granted, a lot of them seem to be populated by large, overly religious women who want to play a rousing game of "MY abuse was worse than YOUR abuse, neener neener" or "I got through my time of trial with the help of Jeeeeeeebus Christ" -- but not one of these support and/or research sites is going to encourage, support, or condone seeking out CP. (Looking at too many in one day sometimes encourages me to go out and shoot the very next person who says that "God loves me", but that's beside the point.)

Townshend is a rat bastard, and if he believes in a hell, I dearly hope he's earned himself an especially hot, nasty place in it for being involved in CP. Fucker. :ak47:

I guess the song " let my love open the door" takes on a whole new meaning..

ewwwwwwwwwww

Say it isn't so. None of this really makes any sense. If he was doing research, why didn't he see his lawyer first before contacting the police? That's like saying "I'll be looking at child porn but I'm doing it all for research...honest."

Now I've got that song stuck in my head and it's creeping me out

Nice choice of words :)

Don't know how it is over there, but over here, the U.S. Customs dept. warns against, "trying to help the cp cause" in this manner..
Ya don't go lookin for sites to report.. ya don't pal up with cp idiots to try to get the goods on em..
If you're caught with it.. they bus yo ass!!