Fry gets twitchy on Twitter

In a post on his blog yesterday Stephen Fry reflected on his role in the Jan Moir Twitter storm last week and also a regretted comment  he made on Channel 4 the week before “let’s not forget which side of the border Auschwitz was on.” Fry explains “The words just formed themselves in a line in my head, as words will, and marched out of the mouth.”

It was odd to see Fry talking politics on Channel 4 in any case, especially in that shirt he was wearing and of course the opportunity to gaffe live on TV as an entertainer is multiplied many times, as Anton Du Beke and Brucey have experienced recently in that highly controversial political show, Strictly.

Writing something first before sending it anywhere at least gives you the chance to weigh up and edit what you’re expressing. My rule of thumb on Twitter is never to say anything too negative, if I can help it.

Fry shouldn’t have too many fears on the written front though he does worry his disproportionate Twitter power  may stop him “stating the sort of opinions all others are free to – as if I were a member of the royal family.”

It’s true that some celebrities have struggled with their new found Twitter power. Some have just given up and closed them down, Courtney Love and Miley Cyrus among them. It will be interesting to see if Fry, reluctant leader of his powerful Twitter constituency is forced to weigh his comments like a brand PR would, something that might not sit well. Fry talks contemptuously of the arrival of Twitter experts and consultants.

“And the moronic and gullible clients will line up for this new nostrum like prairie settlers queuing for snake oil and salvation.”

Right, so that’s the entire online marketing community offended then. Slightly smaller than Poland though at least.