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John Peel effect

When members of the public excuse a celebrity's crimes or immoral behaviour because they are huge fans of that celebrity, yet criticise someone else for doing exactly the same thing.

It is named after the British disc jockey, John Peel, who admitted to having sex with underage children, and who, after his death, turned out to have got a fifteen year old pregnant, and who started dating two of his wives when they were just fifteen years old. If John Peel had lived longer, he would have gone to prison, but because people like how he was a disc jockey who played interesting music, they overlook that, and there is even a stage at Glastonbury named after him. Conversely, the same people will criticise less appealing celebrities who did less bad things.
People hate Woody Allen, but love Prince who did exactly the same thing and even had a child with his adopted daughter. That's just the John Peel effect.

Sean Connery admitted that he often slapped women around the face to put them in their place, but people cried when he died - that's the John Peel effect.

There's a real John Peel effect going on with David Bowie - he's worse than Rolf Harris, but everyone still loves him.
by Bartholemew Handycam Pistachio February 12, 2025
mugGet the John Peel effectmug.

John

Its me!!!
Im john :)
by ♫musicnote♫ July 12, 2024
mugGet the Johnmug.

john haworth

a man with a big fat dick, all the girls and the gays want to give him a taste
by cumslut24 November 6, 2020
mugGet the john haworthmug.

st. johns orphanage

very cool orphanage for all my ass cousins
have you gone to st. johns orphanage?
no whats it like there?
my ass cousins
by wafflespot December 23, 2020
mugGet the st. johns orphanagemug.

John

A guy who says he will treat you right but actually won’t because he’s too full of himself and he won’t treat ur friends right either so leave him now before it’s too late. Also his name starts with a j and is just such a bad sign already. He may be skinny and seem nice to you but he’s different to others and ur friends.
John may look cute and all but he’s just a big wimp
by bihgonbeabih2115 April 10, 2023
mugGet the Johnmug.

John Cena

Person 1: how old is your great grandmother?
Person 2: as old as the John Cena meme
by SynthiaRose June 11, 2016
mugGet the John Cenamug.

John Redcorn

The Parks and Rec actor who was shot. Rumor has it he was being harassed by his neighbor. They got into an altercation. The harasser shot the guy.
Hym "The Husband of the guy who played John Redcorn claims is was a hate-crime but the police say the is no evidence. This was always the goal. This is EXACTLY why I'm doing what I'm doing here. This was always the desired outcome for me. My life was always on the line. There is only EXACTLY ONE way for me to ensure that this doesn't end badly for me. And that is exactly why if it doesn't end well for me it needs to end badly for as many of YOU as possible. That is why they do it. They want ME to end up like John Redcorn OR resign myself to a life that is in no way commensurate with my deeds. They are trying to provoke me into an altercation so they kill me or ruin me or trap me in a life that I do not want and I don't have to let it happen. So you pay for that fucking AI bitch."
by Hym Iam June 5, 2025
mugGet the John Redcornmug.

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