Stephen Fry quits Twitter again over ‘bag lady’ backlash

The writer/funnyman was hosting the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards in London on Sunday night (14Feb16) when he made the remark in reference to Best Costume Designer victor Jenny Beavan.

Another said: “Bit rich of Stephen Fry to slag that woman’s outfit off and say she looks a bag lady when he’s dressed as a pool table #EEBAFTAs”.

“Will all you sanctimonious f***ers f*** the f*** off. Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate”.

“So just a word to the tragic figures who think calling Jenny Beavan a bag lady was an insult. I’ve heard people shriek their secularism in such a way as to make me want instantly to become an evangelical Christian”.

Stephen Fry has declared that “the fun is over” on Twitter.

Watch above, via Daily Mail.

Stephen was one of the first British celebrities to join the microblogging site when he signed up in 2008 and quickly attracted hordes of followers with his witty and insightful tweets.

The comedian and broadcaster underlined the point by posting a photo of the pair at the Bafta after-party. For good or bad, it is an important tool for normal people to vent their opinions publicly, something Stephen Fry himself has championed for years, and sometimes those can be hurtful or damning.

Fry said he had deactivated his account because Twitter had become a “stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended – worse, to be offended on behalf of others”.

However, a supporter tweeted: “I hope the people who drove Stephen Fry off of Twitter are happy with themselves”.

He said “the tipping point had been reached” but added: “I don’t feel anything today other than massive relief, like a boulder rolling off my chest”.

Glamour editor Jo Elvin was among those who criticised Fry for his “uncool” comments, saying she was glad Beavan “wore what she wanted”.

Before the joke, Stephen had plenty to be pleased about as viewers were giving him a thumbs up for his role. “No-one is allowed to do jokes anymore”.

Previous year (15), he quit the site from February until May, although he never gave a reason for his absence.

“Stephen Fry feeling forced to leave Twitter is like Colonel Sanders feeling forced to leave Kentucky”.

In 2014, Fry quit the site saying it was “unsafe” for him to tweet, adding he was filming “in a place whence I’ve been advised it is safest not to tweet”.