EDITOR’S NOTE: The video in this article has been removed due to copyright.
A video from a 2019 Daniel Sloss comedy special has resurfaced and gone viral for how it addresses the importance of male accountability when it comes to sexual assault and rape.
This comes after the alleged murder of Sarah Everard, whose remains were found in woodland in the UK. The 33 year old disappeared while walking home from a friend’s house in south London on March.
Everard’s untimely death has prompted outcry from women around the world who are sick of feeling unsafe while walking alone. Many women are also sick of always having to take their safety into their own hands.
Comedian Daniel Sloss nails that feeling on the head with a monologue from his stand up show X, currently streaming on HBO in the US & Canada.
In the monologue Sloss explained that if men want to prevent women from being assaulted and raped then they need to actively be part of the solution and call shit out.
“The only thing I can think of is that it has to involve us. And by us, I mean men.
I knew this man for eight years, and he fucking did it. There are monsters amongst us, and they look like us. If you are sick of the narrative that’s currently going on about men feel free to change it, but you have to get involved.
Don’t make the same mistake I did for years, which was just sitting back and being like: ‘Well I’m not part of the problem, therefore I must be part of the solution.’ Cause that’s just not how fucking shit works.
I believe and deep down I know that most men are good. Of course we are. But when one in ten men are shit and the other nine do nothing, they might as well not fucking be there.”
How does he know this? Because one of his friends was the perpetrator.
“Being good on the inside counts for absolutely fuck all. You have to actively be good and get involved. Instead of having this fucking hero complex and being like ‘I’m going to beat up a rapist.’ Fucking prevent one, stop one, because I know it can be done…because I know how I fucking failed at it.
Because if I’m being 100% honest with myself, were there signs in my friend’s behaviour over the years toward women that I ignored? The answer is yes. And then he raped my friend and that’s on me until the day I die.
Talk to your fucking boys, get involved.”
YES.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
