Kudos to your friend for speaking up, along with others. Thanks for this thoughtful piece. Now we’ll all be playing mental bingo whenever these stories come out.
I read the BBC report last night rather than the full article so my impression is based on that summary, but I was struck by how he now acknowledges somethings while still denying others, as if somehow the former cancels out the latter.
Overall it’s was and is, his apparent lack of understanding of the inappropriateness and impact of his behaviour, plus the absence of self doubt, self questioning, anxiety and over thinking of what he has said and done, which is inconsistent (in my experience) of how people who are neurodivergent can feel after social interactions.
I feel his exhibitionism, and expectation that he can say and behave exactly how he wants, more indicative of (and this is only my opinion based on what my training has covered) Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He craves attention, to be the centre of attention, to be loved and seen as special, with a lack of awareness of, or empathy for the impact he has. There is definitely entitlement, but I feel it goes deeper.
I absolutely agree with you, Jaimie. The fact that he has also dragged those other celebrity names into it makes me convinced it is just the attention he craves — and with narcissists it’s not actually important whether it’s good or bad, in fact bad moves them nicely into victim position. Their favourite position of all!
The Daily Mail strikes again. In a way I wish I hadn't read this piece, because I'd forgotten about GW and hoped, as my husband said, that he'd crawled under a rock and we wouldn't hear from him again. No such luck - and sadly, too many people will read the DM and give him himpathy. But surely not the women readership? Or am I being optimistic?
Well this is exactly why I said at the top I promised myself I wasn’t going to write it, Nicola! So you and me both! Sadly — and in my experience — often it is women who are the loudest supporters of these types of men because they think if they stick with the patriarchy and the natural rules-based order of how men operate in the world, it won’t happen to them…. (Until it does).
My that was a lot of dabs - and as we expected, insight didn’t seem to factor into any of what he has to say sadly.
Where was the mention of him thinking about the women? I’m a bit surprised his PR adviser, if he still has one, agreed to let that go out.
A long time ago I used to do criminal defence work and it reminds me of some of the ridiculous excuses I’d see. Sometimes the client would force you to pedal a line which you knew would be deeply unappealing to a judge. Sometimes they took your advice that certain things they were saying screamed lack of insight and they might like to think about not saying them. Or saying sorry instead.
I just wonder who on Earth told him this would make him look good …
I can see that’s a good comparison, Joanna, both cases of people whose backs are against the wall, but I think Gregg lives in Gregg world and in Gregg world we only think of Gregg and the women are just collateral damage.
I read this with a rising sense of rage at all these men and all these newspapers sold to people who will believe them. What’s the betting he will make a come back in the not too distant future. Ugh.
Yes I wonder, Elaine. If he were younger I would definitely bet on it. He might have to do that horrible jungle programme and eat kangaroo testicles — or maybe he’s already done it… Strictly?
Gawd after the recent scandals at Strictly I doubt they would touch him with a barge pole but yes to kangaroo testicles. That's about his level and they seem much less discerning in their choice of 'celebrities'.
Another powerful piece. Profound autism is, I imagine quite debilitating, and as you say using this weaponises autism, makes it wildly misunderstood, and does not mean you get to be a dick. Now, what I'm super curious about is the role of the media here too, what's your take on this, and how the media positions interviews like this?
Hi Ruth, yes, two interesting points… I do find the Daily Mail piece particularly strange, it reads more like an advertorial, and all I can think is that they were so desperate for his first interview that they agreed to his terms (which may even have been copy approval) and the Mail thought ‘ah well, people can make up their own minds.’ When I was at the Mail years ago and Gregg left his wife very unceremoniously we commissioned a trawl through of all his not so rosy romantic past in the hope to use it as leverage for him to do a sit down interview. In the end it was spiked because he was a columnist on the Live magazine. What concerns me far more than the Mail piece itself, are the misogynistic bots that clearly flood the comments. I’ve noticed this before on other stories involving accused men, the blake lively story for example, I find this ‘shaping of opinion’ much more creepy than the laughable interview.
Would it ever be the case that a person would pay to be 'advertised' in this way, or does that just not happen? Yes, you are so right,because it flies under the radar so much more subtly. And is it bots, is it actual people, does it matter if either way it shapes perception. I mean there is just so much here to unpick.
No, I don’t think that he would manage to get a two-page editorial by paying, that’s not how it works. But I know the Mail have been after this interview with him for a long time so he clearly had favourable terms. And the bots I actually think are more harmful than people, there was a brilliant podcast series about the ones who changed public opinion in the case of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp and it’s terrifying.
Nailed it. I don’t doubt he’s had a hard time since the allegations were made public. He’s lost his job and suffered public humiliation and loss of professional reputation. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d really been suicidal, I don’t know. BUT, as you so brilliantly and clearly put it, all that anguish is externalised. Zero self-reflection happening, no penitence, no recognition, no remorse. Just resentment and blame. ‘Twas ever thus with these men. Please pass on my prayers and best wishes for your friend. Unbelievably shitty article for her to have to read.
Still - we are having to say the same thing again and again. The BBC still do not come out well again - all this is allowed to carry on -
The whole sympathy vote is ludicrous - I don't think he has any particular diagnosis that makes him "interesting" - I am wary of making the behaviour somehow - not justifiable - but as if there is an underlying element of it being nature not "nurture" He is just an unpleasant misogynistic male who it is seems has be breaking the law...
I find it curious that these men seem to think they are the rational capable ones - unlike the menopausal/hystiercial snowflake women - ie adult humans - yet as soon as they are bubbling away with the "emotional issues"
The lurid complaints - what about the lurid behaviour....
I am so fatigued by twonks like GW casually throwing a diagnosis into the mix. Like it's some kind of empathy hand grenade to simply drop in, divesting him of all responsibility and distracting everyone from his all-round twonkness.
And I write this whilst a nineteen year old sits stimming opposite me on the couch and externally verbalising his thoughts.
I doubt autism has anything much to do with the Barney Rubble this stone age man has gotten himself into.
And what’s so strange is that he managed his ‘autism’ perfectly well not even needing to get it diagnosed until women started making complaints about him… curious!
Himpathy ➡️ himmunity
Spot on, Rebecca!
Kudos to your friend for speaking up, along with others. Thanks for this thoughtful piece. Now we’ll all be playing mental bingo whenever these stories come out.
Yes, I always find it’s a ‘fun’ game, Mary.
I read the BBC report last night rather than the full article so my impression is based on that summary, but I was struck by how he now acknowledges somethings while still denying others, as if somehow the former cancels out the latter.
Overall it’s was and is, his apparent lack of understanding of the inappropriateness and impact of his behaviour, plus the absence of self doubt, self questioning, anxiety and over thinking of what he has said and done, which is inconsistent (in my experience) of how people who are neurodivergent can feel after social interactions.
I feel his exhibitionism, and expectation that he can say and behave exactly how he wants, more indicative of (and this is only my opinion based on what my training has covered) Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He craves attention, to be the centre of attention, to be loved and seen as special, with a lack of awareness of, or empathy for the impact he has. There is definitely entitlement, but I feel it goes deeper.
I absolutely agree with you, Jaimie. The fact that he has also dragged those other celebrity names into it makes me convinced it is just the attention he craves — and with narcissists it’s not actually important whether it’s good or bad, in fact bad moves them nicely into victim position. Their favourite position of all!
In my country, US, a man bragged about grabbing women “by the pussy” on television and was elected President. Just sayin’
Quite!
The Daily Mail strikes again. In a way I wish I hadn't read this piece, because I'd forgotten about GW and hoped, as my husband said, that he'd crawled under a rock and we wouldn't hear from him again. No such luck - and sadly, too many people will read the DM and give him himpathy. But surely not the women readership? Or am I being optimistic?
Well this is exactly why I said at the top I promised myself I wasn’t going to write it, Nicola! So you and me both! Sadly — and in my experience — often it is women who are the loudest supporters of these types of men because they think if they stick with the patriarchy and the natural rules-based order of how men operate in the world, it won’t happen to them…. (Until it does).
A great article Anna.
My that was a lot of dabs - and as we expected, insight didn’t seem to factor into any of what he has to say sadly.
Where was the mention of him thinking about the women? I’m a bit surprised his PR adviser, if he still has one, agreed to let that go out.
A long time ago I used to do criminal defence work and it reminds me of some of the ridiculous excuses I’d see. Sometimes the client would force you to pedal a line which you knew would be deeply unappealing to a judge. Sometimes they took your advice that certain things they were saying screamed lack of insight and they might like to think about not saying them. Or saying sorry instead.
I just wonder who on Earth told him this would make him look good …
I can see that’s a good comparison, Joanna, both cases of people whose backs are against the wall, but I think Gregg lives in Gregg world and in Gregg world we only think of Gregg and the women are just collateral damage.
Yes. I wonder if he understands what the word insight means.
I read this with a rising sense of rage at all these men and all these newspapers sold to people who will believe them. What’s the betting he will make a come back in the not too distant future. Ugh.
Yes I wonder, Elaine. If he were younger I would definitely bet on it. He might have to do that horrible jungle programme and eat kangaroo testicles — or maybe he’s already done it… Strictly?
Gawd after the recent scandals at Strictly I doubt they would touch him with a barge pole but yes to kangaroo testicles. That's about his level and they seem much less discerning in their choice of 'celebrities'.
Another powerful piece. Profound autism is, I imagine quite debilitating, and as you say using this weaponises autism, makes it wildly misunderstood, and does not mean you get to be a dick. Now, what I'm super curious about is the role of the media here too, what's your take on this, and how the media positions interviews like this?
Hi Ruth, yes, two interesting points… I do find the Daily Mail piece particularly strange, it reads more like an advertorial, and all I can think is that they were so desperate for his first interview that they agreed to his terms (which may even have been copy approval) and the Mail thought ‘ah well, people can make up their own minds.’ When I was at the Mail years ago and Gregg left his wife very unceremoniously we commissioned a trawl through of all his not so rosy romantic past in the hope to use it as leverage for him to do a sit down interview. In the end it was spiked because he was a columnist on the Live magazine. What concerns me far more than the Mail piece itself, are the misogynistic bots that clearly flood the comments. I’ve noticed this before on other stories involving accused men, the blake lively story for example, I find this ‘shaping of opinion’ much more creepy than the laughable interview.
Would it ever be the case that a person would pay to be 'advertised' in this way, or does that just not happen? Yes, you are so right,because it flies under the radar so much more subtly. And is it bots, is it actual people, does it matter if either way it shapes perception. I mean there is just so much here to unpick.
No, I don’t think that he would manage to get a two-page editorial by paying, that’s not how it works. But I know the Mail have been after this interview with him for a long time so he clearly had favourable terms. And the bots I actually think are more harmful than people, there was a brilliant podcast series about the ones who changed public opinion in the case of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp and it’s terrifying.
Nailed it. I don’t doubt he’s had a hard time since the allegations were made public. He’s lost his job and suffered public humiliation and loss of professional reputation. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d really been suicidal, I don’t know. BUT, as you so brilliantly and clearly put it, all that anguish is externalised. Zero self-reflection happening, no penitence, no recognition, no remorse. Just resentment and blame. ‘Twas ever thus with these men. Please pass on my prayers and best wishes for your friend. Unbelievably shitty article for her to have to read.
Thank you, Jayne.🙏🏼
Still - we are having to say the same thing again and again. The BBC still do not come out well again - all this is allowed to carry on -
The whole sympathy vote is ludicrous - I don't think he has any particular diagnosis that makes him "interesting" - I am wary of making the behaviour somehow - not justifiable - but as if there is an underlying element of it being nature not "nurture" He is just an unpleasant misogynistic male who it is seems has be breaking the law...
I find it curious that these men seem to think they are the rational capable ones - unlike the menopausal/hystiercial snowflake women - ie adult humans - yet as soon as they are bubbling away with the "emotional issues"
The lurid complaints - what about the lurid behaviour....
give me strength......
So true about the ‘lurid complaints’ … it’s just all so ridiculous, Lucy!
Dabbers at the ready, eyes down ... nice lead in!
Haughtism maybe, not autism. Potent piece Anna
I am so fatigued by twonks like GW casually throwing a diagnosis into the mix. Like it's some kind of empathy hand grenade to simply drop in, divesting him of all responsibility and distracting everyone from his all-round twonkness.
And I write this whilst a nineteen year old sits stimming opposite me on the couch and externally verbalising his thoughts.
I doubt autism has anything much to do with the Barney Rubble this stone age man has gotten himself into.
And what’s so strange is that he managed his ‘autism’ perfectly well not even needing to get it diagnosed until women started making complaints about him… curious!
Eza cheeky lil dustbin lid, alright. Groan.
Brilliant piece!
I love the phrase 'Himpathy' will keep that in reserve for when it is needed!
Us pesky 'woman of a certain age' who have found our voice and finally speaking out are a damn nuisance!
Poor little boys finally getting pay back.
Good on your friend for speaking out.
Brilliant!
Thank you.
😊
Hi Anna, I don’t know if this story has made headlines in UK. There seems to be a lot of questions around the “suicide”.
And silencing. 😔
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-26/virginia-giuffre-death-interviews-advocacy-sex-abuse-victims