Ilkeston actor Bill Roache says "sorry" after claiming victims of sexual abuse bring it on themselves
DERBYSHIRE actor Bill Roache has apologised after he appeared to suggest sex abuse victims are paying the price for their behaviour in "previous lives".
Roache made the comments during an interview with New Zealand's TVNZ.
"I would like to say that I am very sorry for any offence that has been caused as a result of my comments," he said in a statement.
The Coronation Street actor provoked fury by claiming that the victims of sexual abuse bring it upon themselves.
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In a controversial interview, the 80-year-old Coronation Street star, from Ilkeston, claimed that they are being punished because of what they have done in previous lives.
He also seemed to defend famous men who are “trapped” by underage groupies.
The star, who has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for more than 50 years, told New Zealand's One News that the public should not be judgmental but be “totally forgiving” of people who have committed child sex crimes.
The actor, talking about the furore around the Jimmy Savile sex abuse revelations, also defended people “on the fringes”, especially pop stars, who he said were “caught in this trap” by sexually active young female groupies.
His comments were condemned by the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), which said his comments were an insult to abuse victims.
In an interview for the television channel, Roache discussed the exposure of former DJ Savile as one of the country's most prolific ever paedophiles who may have abused hundreds of children.
He said: “If you accept that you are pure love, and if you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you.”
Interviewer Garth Bray replied: “To some people that sounds perhaps like you're saying victims bring things on themselves - is that what you're saying?”
Roache replied: “No, not quite, but and yet I am, because everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives or whatever.”
The Coronation Street veteran went on to call for anonymity for all those accused of child sex offences because of the stigma they faced even if innocent.
Roache, who famously claims to have slept with up to 1,000 women, said: “Paedophilia is absolutely horrendous. Paedophiles should be sought out, rooted out and dealt with.
“But there's a fringe of people who, particularly pop singers, they have these groupies, these girls, who come, they're sexually active, sexually mature, they don't ask for their birth certificate, they don't know what age they may be.
“But they're certainly not grooming them and exploiting them, but they can be caught in this trap.
“These people are instantly stigmatised, some will be innocent, some will not, but until such time as it's proven there should be anonymity for both."
He added: “If someone has done something wrong the law will take its course.
“But even so, all of them, whether they are proven guilty or not, we should not be judgmental about anybody, ever.
“We shouldn't go around condemning, unforgiving. We should all be totally forgiving about everything.”
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14 Comments
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by stanvax
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 7:16PM
“I wonder what Bill Roache must have done in a past life to have entered this one with so small a brain?”
by Tamas
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 6:16PM
“Another star talking utter nonsense (for want of a better word).”
by Monsieur_Lupo
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:26PM
“Run Emma Jesson, ruuun...!!!”
by smshogun
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 4:17PM
“Is he psychic.”
by charlllpop
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 3:56PM
“What a nutter.
@Towecrane, "Ilson" people are undoubtedly strange, but I wouldn't go that far lol”
by make_redgreen
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 1:56PM
“He said: "If you accept that you are pure love, and if you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."
It's fair to say that him and his 'tribe' are completely doolally!”
by towercrane
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 1:35PM
“So hes from ilkeston his he well that answers a lot”
by janine2011
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 12:35PM
“I hope his grandchildren don't have the misfortune to be molested or worse, he might just change his tune then. I have no sympathy for any abuser/molester/rapist and would quite happily put them out of action permanently as they don't deserve to live.”
by digbypatch
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 12:33PM
“DerbyBorn
I agree with you! Many years a go you would get loads of young girl groupies throwing there knickers and other things at groups while they were playing on stage and many would go to parties etc afterwards and I am sure they knew what they were doing.
Possibly the same with Saville and others, just because a few have come out and accused these people of various offences does not mean they are guilty of every offence.
I am sure many are only accusing because the £ sign is spinning in there head and they are thinking I might be able to get some compensation.”
by WillCroft3
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 12:27PM
“What a silly thing for a man in his position to say,
Only last year most people didn't have any idea what was going on with another well known TV DJ & presenter.
The reason that most abusers get away with it for so long is that people are afraid to speak out, I refer particularly to the Nursing profession and the Catholic Church.
I believe that a shake up of this profession is long over due, and Whistle Blowers should be encouraged and protected. I refer to all cases of abuse both sexual and non sexual.”