UVA and the alleged frat rape - Rolling Stone backpedals

[The Big Ragu]

Not that anybody'll ever collect, given that Ms. Erdely is likely headed to the permanently unemployed list.

Not getting anything from Wenner Media either. They can just add themselves to a list of creditors. Jann Wenner himself has been selling off his equity. And the company is loaded up with debt. In a move I still scratch my head over, they sold 50 percent of US Weekly to Disney for $40 million, and 5 years later borrowed $300 million to buy back the stake. Wenner has been diligently paying down the debt (he has no choice, because the terms were stringent), but I believe the company is still about $60 million in the hole. I believe the terms of the debt are really aggressive in terms of payback, because the lenders saw the handwriting on the wall that the business is in a steady decline.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Jury finds RS defamed UVA Dean, awards her $3 million.

University of Virginia Dean Awarded $3M in Rolling Stone Case

 

[YankeeFan]

 

[Dick Whitman]

The judge is an Obama appointee. That's a pretty sticky wicket there for some.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I am interested to see how this turns out, because, as I said, I'm extremely skeptical about the details the woman gave. The comments are so "on-the-nose" that they seem like they would be rejected even by an after-school special on the dangers of fraternity life. There is also the one where a man supposedly says, "Grab its leg." It really feels like buttons are being pushed. People don't talk like this. Sure, they say sexist things, but this reads like a freshman orientation skit about sexual assault by fraternities.

I know that the statistics say that a small percentage of rape accusations are made up - I believe them. On the other hand, we shouldn't forget the Duke lacrosse story too quickly, either.

I feel like I have a pretty decent bullshirt meter, and the woman's comments set it off. Even in the worst situations we've heard of - Steubenville, for example - seven people don't stand around offering complete sentence praise for the act of gang rape.

If it all checks out, it checks out. I can take being wrong. But right now, I think people should be cautious about taking the woman's story at face value, until there is some more information.

Wherever PW2 is, I hope he's still following the developments.

 

[RickStain]

I was gonna say, what did I do?

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Rolling Stone is up for sale.

Rolling Stone, Once a Counterculture Bible, Will Be Put Up for Sale

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Rolling Stone is up for sale.

Rolling Stone, Once a Counterculture Bible, Will Be Put Up for Sale

Has anybody got a dime? [/NYDN]

 

[hondo]

Has anybody got a dime? [/NYDN]

Won't need a shirtload, either.

 

[Double Down]

While you may not believe they deserve any patience, I legitimately think the future of Rolling Stone might be at stake here. I've heard through the grapevine the magazine isn't exactly kicking ass, financially. So figuring out how big this problem is may have enormous consequences.

I was told at the time this was nothing a few Taylor Swift and Bruce covers couldn't fix.