The Murder of Ian Watkins and the Culture That Celebrates Killing People on the Registry
Over the weekend, news emerged that Ian Watkins — former lead singer of the Welsh band Lostprophets, convicted in 2013 of heinous sexual offenses — was murdered in an English prison. His death has been widely reported, often with an undertone of satisfaction or even celebration.
But this story is not about Watkins. It’s about a much larger, deeply disturbing pattern — the normalization of violence against people labeled as “sex offenders.” In the U.K., at least 14 such individuals have been murdered behind bars, and reports indicate that inmates who commit these killings are even awarded “bonus points” in the twisted social order of prison life.
If that sounds barbaric, it’s because it is. And it’s not confined to the U.K. — the same culture exists here in the United States. We’ve seen people on the registry murdered in their homes, hunted down after their addresses were posted online, and targeted simply for existing. Yet when these attacks happen, they’re often met with approval from the public and press.
When society condones or glorifies vigilante violence, it abandons the rule of law. Prison systems have a legal and moral duty to protect those in their custody — every person, regardless of conviction. When 14 deaths occur under government supervision, it’s no longer random tragedy; it’s institutional failure.
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My opinion only. I truly, honestly belive before long state and federal legislators will legalize vigilante murder of all persons forced to register without any prosecutions to assailants of these crimes. If assailants are prosecuted and convicted then the President or any Governor will fully pardon said assailants.
Given the way the UK is going for DIgital ID and the restriction of any sort of religious or faith based praise outdoors, the UK celebrating this is not a surprise, but sadly disappointing certainly.
It should be, but if it does I don’t know why YouTube doesn’t do anything. I complained about one video that Delay made and I don’t know if YouTube took any action. But I think that is part of the problem that FAC highlighted. Advocating vigilante violence is just wrong. And turning a blind eye to prison violence is not acceptable.
The is a certain amount of normalization to this in social media. On YouTube for example Jason Vuckovich, the so-called “Alaskan Avenger ” has a channel as does JD Delay who glorify violence against sex offenders. Delay, and others, specifically post videos about how he would target offenders in prison. Usually depicted as a comedic skit.
I question a social structure that glorifies violence directed towards anyone.
Dude I can’t stand those two so called “youtubers.” I’ve made so many youtube accounts challenging them with facts concerning the registry and all they do is block me. When they’re faced with facts they can’t argue it so they coward out and block you. Typical.
They monetize violence. That should be a violation of YouTube TOS.
No matter what vigilante justice os coming to a neighborhood near you. It might not be right but the writing is on the wall.
If vigilante justice is coming for me, we’ll then Mr. Dorsett I’ll quote Bear Bryant. ” It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
And there it is: the acceptance and normalization of violence.