"'Roygate'; the true, untold (?) story." Warning: This post contains adult subject matter
If you can’t be an adult, and accept the truth for what it is, then read no further. If you choose to respond, then by all means, do so. Please be advised that my “Insipid” is a little rusty, so if that’s the language you choose to speak it may take me a little while to get back to you. But I will. What I won’t do is sugar-coat the facts. I’ve had to sit, silently, while my friends and I, and other colleagues in the fandom, were made pariahs on message boards; were unceremoniously dumped from mailing lists; had our integrity impugned, and were mocked with thinly-veiled “hypothetically” libelous statements. No more. This is my LJ, and my chance to set the record straight. If you can’t handle the truth, I invite you to leave right now.
The following is MY interpretation of events surrounding what I call “Roygate.” What happened when Roy left Fondation MIRA; what the “real” issue is and was; and how it continues to have an impact on members of the LFN fandom. I was there; I was affected; I have feelings and opinions on the matter; and I will express them. I have not, at any time, spoken to Roy, Blaise, or Hélène regarding these matters. I am not clairvoyant, and do not profess to speak for anyone other than myself. These are my thoughts, and are as truthful as I know them to be. If I am in error regarding any details, I apologize in advance. It is not my intent to mislead, and I have endeavored and will continue to verify all statements made, both now and in answer to any comments, with those who have more intimate knowledge than I. For now, I’m working solely from memory; I remember quite a lot, and intend to discuss most of it. You may want to pack a lunch.
Last warning: You can still leave, or read a different post, or find another LJ. The spin stops here.
Let me preface this by stating that I am in no way trying to knock Roy off any pedestal for those who wish to put him on one. I’m not trying to tarnish any halo some assume Roy wears. This is NOT a rant about Roy Dupuis, the actor. It is a retrospective of events and actions tied to Roy as perceived and interpreted by me.
On April 25, 2006, several of us who have supported Fondation MIRA in the past received an email with a sad, to me, announcement. The person who had planned, coordinated, pulled- and held together the MIRA Charity Events in Montréal for five years, as well as helping to raise funds for Fondation MIRA behind the scenes for four years previously, was resigning for personal reasons. I say sad, because I consider this person a friend, and I’ll miss seeing her every year. But I understood, and wished her well. As this was MIRA’s 25th anniversary, as well as the coordinator’s last MIRA Charity Event, I made a concerted effort to find the funds to be in Montréal in June to show my support. I don’t deny that spending 40 minutes or so at a table with Roy is a perk, but the real draw for me is the tour of Fondation MIRA; the kennels, the training facilities, the puppies. That, and seeing my cyber-friends in person and sharing quality time and lots of laughter.
On May 3, 2006, it was discovered that Roy would be filming in Africa in June, and would not be able to make an appearance at the scheduled events in Montréal. An unfortunate circumstance for those who had already registered, but his presence has always been contingent upon his filming schedule. What baffled me was that, while Roy apparently informed Fondation Rivières of his forthcoming absence, he neglected to afford Fondation MIRA this same courtesy. In fact, it was only by happenstance that the MIRA Charity Event coordinator discovered the possibility of Roy’s nonappearance; apparently, this was classified intel and only Fondation Rivières registrants were meant to know. She contacted Blaise at Fondation MIRA to verify that Roy would be out of the country, and learned Roy’s absence was news to them as well. Roy, or his agent, Hélène, had not shared his filming agenda with Fondation MIRA. An oversight, perhaps, but rather careless, nonetheless. Blaise contacted Hélène to confirm Roy’s absence, and to ask if Roy would be willing to participate in a postponed event. On Friday, May 5, the Charity Event coordinator’s contact at MIRA relayed the return communiqué from Hélène. There was a 99 percent chance that Roy would be out of the country, but he had very graciously agreed to attend a MIRA fundraiser later in the year.
Based on this information, as it was given to Blaise by Hélène, a poll was emailed on May 6 to all of the registered attendees for the MIRA Charity Event, with an explanation of the circumstances and some choices. As the Event was near, a quick response was requested. We were given the choice of 1) having the Charity Event without Roy’s participation; 2) having the Charity Event with Roy’s participation if it was postponed until later in the year-no exact dates, but approximately August or September; 3) having the Charity Event without Roy’s participation, but having a separate one-day activity with Roy later in the year-again, no exact dates, but approximately August or September; or 4) the Charity Event would be cancelled; and a generous 50 percent return of non-refundable fees, plus a MIRA Charity Event goodie bag with a photograph signed by Roy, would be sent to each registrant. As stated above, Roy agreed to a postponed Event, had the vote gone that way; presumably to include a personal appearance, signing items, etc., as at all the past MIRA Charity Events. As it happens, the consensus of opinion turned out to be to hold the Event without Roy; a fortunate occurrence as the “postponed Event” or “meet-and-greet” became mythical occurrences instead of viable and previously-agreed-upon options. Refunds and goodie bags were still sent to those who voted that way.
During the weekend of May 6th and 7th, 2006, Fondation MIRA held their first telethon, MIRASTAR, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary. The telethon raised approximately $820,000, which is a tremendous amount of money, and I’m very happy for them. Keep in mind, though, that Fondation MIRA is a charity, and will always operate in the red. That’s why continued donations are needed as long as there are blind or physically-challenged children and adults who need the services of MIRA and its wonderful dogs. Unfortunately, service dogs come with an expiration date; I believe their average length of duty is only about five to seven years before they must be retired and replaced. Fondation MIRA will ALWAYS need funding to continue to breed, raise, train, place, and replace its dogs. The cost of just ONE trained dog, per Fondation MIRA, is $20,000. But can one really place a monetary value on gaining or regaining one’s independence? Perhaps someone did, assuming that this small “coup” through the telethon meant no further celebrity endorsements were needed. The timing seems indicative to me, but read the next paragraph and make up your own mind.
On May 10, Blaise contacted the MIRA Charity Event coordinator, stating that Roy had left Fondation MIRA. Not only left, but demanded all funds resulting from the use of his image and signature were to be funneled directly to Fondation Rivières. Color me stunned. This from the same man who had promised/agreed/committed to a postponed Event, with the usual newly autographed items to be auctioned, a mere five days ago? Surely, there was a misunderstanding. I dunno. Hélène instructed the Charity Event coordinator to email her with any questions, which she did; yet Hélène never responded to these questions. Lack of communication from Roy or Hélène forced the Charity Event coordinator to do some major gymnastics; having promised to hold a MIRA Charity Event, yet being prohibited from auctioning any items with Roy’s likeness for auction. I’ll give you a moment to catch your breath; I know MY head was spinning from Roy’s 180 turnabout. After all, before leaving Fondation MIRA, Roy had made several commitments. Commitments which had been conveyed to his fans.
Buckle up and hold on; this is where it gets ugly.
On June 1, 2006, less than two weeks before the MIRA Charity Event was to be held, Roy purportedly sent a message through the Fondation Rivières fan liaison, explaining that he had left Fondation MIRA to concentrate his time and attention on Fondation Rivières. Perfectly valid and reasonable; some may even say predictable. Foundation Rivières has been his “baby” from the get-go. Roy’s decision to concentrate his efforts there was logical and understandable. What was neither logical nor understandable was that he chose to make this announcement through the Fondation Rivières fan liaison. Not through Fondation MIRA; the organization most affected by Roy’s actions; or rather, lack thereof. One would assume that an announcement of this nature, if not made directly through Fondation MIRA, would have at least come from a non-interested third-party, such as his agent or a PR person. Very strange.
Here’s the important part; the “issue,” as it were.
Again, Roy had already agreed to participate in a postponed MIRA Charity Event, or a one-day meet-and-greet, before the poll was sent out. This was made known to the Event coordinator by Fondation MIRA via a communiqué from Hélène. With one fell swoop, he negated all of this…reneged on everything he had already promised in the manner of participation in or support for the MIRA Charity Event, suddenly leaving MIRA in the lurch after a 10+ year association. Why would a man of integrity do such a thing? In that manner, with no forewarning, and with no confirmation he would keep his word about his earlier commitments (he didn’t). Surely, there was more to the story. I was willing to wait to hear his explanation. I’m still waiting.
Oh, sure; he made a few concessions when he realized he might have pissed off some fans who had, in the past, supported both Fondation MIRA *and* Fondation Rivières. He said the MIRA Charity Event auction could include a very small number of items bearing his autograph or likeness. No “new” autographed items; as in, the ones he would ordinarily have signed and/or personalized, no “new” selected and autographed photo (as promoted) for the goodie bags as in every previous MIRA Charity Event (which cost MIRA approximately $2,150 in refunds to those who had not planned to attend, but had a purchased goodie bag with the promise of a personalized autographed photo, btw). At any rate, the MIRA Charity Event and the auction fund-raiser were to be held as scheduled, albeit with stringent restrictions.
Some of us expressed our disappointment at the turn of events on a public message board. Yes, we were pissed; at least, I was. A little shell-shocked, I think. The timing of his departure from MIRA--the way it happened, and the way it was announced--could have and should have been handled much better by his agent, a PR person, or Roy himself. But it wasn’t. People were stunned; emotions were raw, and some expressed their opinions about Roy’s actions in a manner that might be considered, by some, as blunt. Board members/posters have always been allowed to speak their minds, for the most part without censure, and some did. But things remained relatively calm until one particularly volatile detractor posted a pictorial rant on this same message board, including machine guns and toilets; statements such as “you broke my heart”; “what WERE you thinking?”; and “you’re fired”; even going so far as to call Roy a penis. More about her later.
To recap, the important thing, and what far too many people still don’t seem to get, is that there is and was NO PROBLEM with Roy leaving MIRA to concentrate his efforts on Fondation Rivières. It is NOT, and has NEVER BEEN, his “choosing” of one cause over another that was disturbing. It was the TIMING of the events; the manner of COMMUNICATION, or lack thereof, as it happens; and, most importantly, the FAILURE to follow through on COMMITMENTS made, not just to the fans, but to Fondation MIRA. THAT, my friends, is the problem. WHY is that so difficult to grasp? WHY are there STILL running threads on message boards *defending* Roy’s “right to choose??” Unbelievable; and it gets worse.
When the murmurs about Roy’s being a no-show began to circulate, some registered attendees of the MIRA Charity Event pulled out. As was clearly stated upon registration, the registration fees were non-refundable. However, in an attempt to keep the peace despite those who were clearly attempting to divide the LFN fandom into “us agin’ them” factions, a 50 percent refund was offered to those who withdrew, in addition to those monies already refunded to those who voted to cancel the event. It was not required of the MIRA Charity Event coordinator to make this offer. It pulled donated monies directly OUT of the same charity those who had prepaid professed to support. As a possible option in the previous poll, it was voted down. Nonetheless, the MIRA Charity Event coordinator complied.
I could go on and on, but I won't. About the person who, with a few venom-laced and well-placed phone calls managed to cost Fondation MIRA $2,250 by forcing MIRA to refund, in full, the non-refundable registration fees. And about the person with a God-complex, who failed to deliver an approved and promised item to be auctioned, costing Fondation MIRA at least $1,000, as a proxy bid had already been made. What the hell? They only screwed the blind children. Screwed the blind and physically-challenged adults who eagerly awaited their dogs, but had to be told to “be patient.” Then, there’s the Charity Event coordinator, who was forced to just give away saleable merchandise because of the restrictions imposed on the auction. There is SO much more to the story than MANY people are willing to admit; selfless acts working against the selfish. But this post is about Roy and MIRA. What he promised, yet didn't deliver.
The bottom line is that BOTH scheduled events lost supporters, as well as great deal of money. Obviously, it was the man, not the cause, which was the sole draw for both in many cases. Yet, oddly enough, it seems to me that only those who chose to continue to support MIRA, and to attend the MIRA Charity Event in Montréal, were vilified. Again and again, the NON-ISSUE of Roy’s “choice” was raised. How can I say it any more clearly?
ROY IS FREE AND WELCOME TO SUPPORT WHICHEVER CAUSE HE CHOOSES; be it saving Québécois rivers, Rwandan refugees, or Komodo dragons. However, HE ALSO HAD AN OBLIGATION TO FULFILL THE COMMITMENTS HE MADE, AND HE DID NOT. Nor did he offer any viable explanation for his failure to do so. Are we all on the same page YET? From what I hear is still being posted on LFN message boards, I’m thinking not. *sighs*
Let me try a cola analogy (a variation worked for my third graders; it’s worth a shot).
Group One: “Pepsi is WAY better than Coke.”
Group Two (in a flurry of righteous indignation): ”You are SO wrong. Sprite is WAY better than Mountain Dew.”
Group One: “HUH? Who said anything about ‘Mountain Dew’?”
Group Two: ”You just did, and we have the right to drink Sprite if we want to. How dare you suggest otherwise.”
Group One: “WTF?” *scratches collective heads* “Whatever.”
(Six months later)
Group Two: ”We’re proud to drink Sprite, regardless of what anyone says. It’s our choice and our right.”
Group One (rolls eyes and repeats): “Whatever.”
In real life, that translates to: Group One was upset because Roy failed to follow through on the commitments he made: primarily, supporting the MIRA Charity Event; signing the usual promoted photos for the pre-purchased goodie bags; providing the newly autographed auction items that never materialized. Not letting Fondation MIRA know he would be out of the country when an event had already been scheduled. Leaving Fondation MIRA *before* the event and imposing such rigid restriction. Would *one month* have made a difference to him? It did to the blind people who lost out on donations. I’m sure you’re familiar with the expression “Timing is everything.” Simple enough?
Apparently not.
Group Two defended, and STILL defends, Roy’s right to support the cause of his choice. HUH? WTF? Did Group One EVER say he DIDN’T? NO!! NEVER!! Yet the insanity rages on. And on. And on.
Back to the penis incident. The same woman who spewed such vitriol about Roy on a public board to the point of riling up nearly every member, active and lurker alike; the one who called Roy a penis, several times; did a complete 180. Not surprising, really; it’s happened before. Anything to “get close” to Roy. She attended the Soirée Bénéfice in Montréal in November; an annual fundraiser for Fondation Rivières and open to the public. While there, she took it upon herself to apologize to Roy for “the behavior of a few”; she was “sorry” and “deeply embarrassed.” Her problem; not mine. I was neither. I guess she felt she owed Roy an apology for her previous words and deeds. However, by making such a vague apology on behalf of the unnamed, she implied that I was remorseful as well. Yeah, I resented that. A lot. She also reported that Roy kissed her and most of the other fan attendees on both cheeks; a genuine token of affection.
Genuine? Affection? From a man who has *never* kissed a single fan in the last dozen or so events (except royboysjoy; age does have its privileges)? NOW he kisses the fandom attendees of the Soirée, and I’m supposed to believe it was a completely spontaneous gesture; a token of affection. More like damage control. Perhaps to ensure the attendees stayed true to his cause? I don’t know; pure speculation on my part, but it had to be obvious that this year there was less bling to go cha-ching. A kiss or two couldn’t hurt, especially if it were misinterpreted as having far more significance than it did. Yet those of us who voiced this opinion were referred to as “jealous.” Not to mention “nasty,” “classless,” “hypocritical,” “sleazy,” and several other mean-spirited slurs. I, myself, have the dubious distinction of being called “cold” and “nasty” by someone I’ve never met or corresponded with. Oh, yeah. Forgot “judgmental.” Anyone find *that* one ironic?
So, again, the furor dies; basically because those of us who’ve been there/done that to death are bored to tears with the whole thing. So Roy made kissy-kissy at the Soirée. He STILL hasn’t apologized for not honoring his commitments in June. Sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I don’t think he’s going to. Does that make him a bad actor? No; I’m watching Maurice Richard again at the moment and really liking it. Does that make him a bad person? Not necessarily. People screw up. People are thoughtless. Usually, though, when people who display thoughtless behavior are made aware of it, they apologize. Roy didn’t. Hasn’t. Won’t. What he did, or actually *failed* to do, will not damage his reputation at the box office; I suppose that’s what matters most. That; and filling Fondation Rivières’ coffers.
Which brings me to another salient point. Hey, if you’re tired of reading, that’s your problem. I never said I wasn’t long-winded.
Fondation MIRA, which does such wonderful work for the blind children, the blind and physically-challenged adults, on two continents, is a charity. It is NOT a “multi-million dollar” industry; if it were, then why would they need donations? Why bother to hold a telethon; a huge undertaking on a good day? Yes, Roy did help to raise money for Fondation MIRA, but not “millions” as was reported elsewhere. I believe, in nine years, a total of around $500,000 was raised by members of the fandom. Just about enough for 25 dogs. Hardly “millions”; and certainly NOT by Roy alone. Granted, Roy’s name and face certainly helped the Fondation, but it certainly didn’t hurt Roy’s image to be associated with a very worthwhile and well-known charitable cause, either. But I digress.
Fondation Rivières, which seeks to save virgin rivers in Québec from being used for hydro-electric power, is NOT a charity. It is a FOR-PROFIT environmental and political cause. I repeat. It is NOT, nor has it ever been, a charity. Does that mean it’s less worthy of Roy’s time and money? Absolutely not. Power to the people to support whichever CAUSE they choose; charitable or not. I just felt that distinction should be made, as the line seems to be deliberately blurred for members of the LFN fandom. Feel free to check the Canadian Charities Directorate. Fondation MIRA is listed; Fondation Rivières is not.
**edited to add: See Sidebar comment**
A final note (I’ll pause while you sigh in relief). Included in the infamous “apology” at the Soirée was the implication that I don’t “appreciate” Roy.
Appreciate; verb. Be thankful for. Value.
While it’s true I do not include Roy in my nightly prayers, I do value him as an actor. To state that I don’t is beyond dogmatic; it is blatantly false. To claim otherwise, and without my express permission, borders on defamation of character. Similar libelous remarks, made on this LJ, will simply be deleted. I don’t feel like having to buy new business attire to wear to court.
I do not judge Roy; I never have. That is not my job. I present facts, which speak for themselves. For those in a quarrelsome mood, or those wishing to air comments for, against, or in question of the above, go for it. That’s why it’s here. This post has been more than eight months in the making; whether believed, understood, or ignored, THE TRUTH IS NOW OUT THERE. My work here is done.
The following is MY interpretation of events surrounding what I call “Roygate.” What happened when Roy left Fondation MIRA; what the “real” issue is and was; and how it continues to have an impact on members of the LFN fandom. I was there; I was affected; I have feelings and opinions on the matter; and I will express them. I have not, at any time, spoken to Roy, Blaise, or Hélène regarding these matters. I am not clairvoyant, and do not profess to speak for anyone other than myself. These are my thoughts, and are as truthful as I know them to be. If I am in error regarding any details, I apologize in advance. It is not my intent to mislead, and I have endeavored and will continue to verify all statements made, both now and in answer to any comments, with those who have more intimate knowledge than I. For now, I’m working solely from memory; I remember quite a lot, and intend to discuss most of it. You may want to pack a lunch.
Last warning: You can still leave, or read a different post, or find another LJ. The spin stops here.
Let me preface this by stating that I am in no way trying to knock Roy off any pedestal for those who wish to put him on one. I’m not trying to tarnish any halo some assume Roy wears. This is NOT a rant about Roy Dupuis, the actor. It is a retrospective of events and actions tied to Roy as perceived and interpreted by me.
On April 25, 2006, several of us who have supported Fondation MIRA in the past received an email with a sad, to me, announcement. The person who had planned, coordinated, pulled- and held together the MIRA Charity Events in Montréal for five years, as well as helping to raise funds for Fondation MIRA behind the scenes for four years previously, was resigning for personal reasons. I say sad, because I consider this person a friend, and I’ll miss seeing her every year. But I understood, and wished her well. As this was MIRA’s 25th anniversary, as well as the coordinator’s last MIRA Charity Event, I made a concerted effort to find the funds to be in Montréal in June to show my support. I don’t deny that spending 40 minutes or so at a table with Roy is a perk, but the real draw for me is the tour of Fondation MIRA; the kennels, the training facilities, the puppies. That, and seeing my cyber-friends in person and sharing quality time and lots of laughter.
On May 3, 2006, it was discovered that Roy would be filming in Africa in June, and would not be able to make an appearance at the scheduled events in Montréal. An unfortunate circumstance for those who had already registered, but his presence has always been contingent upon his filming schedule. What baffled me was that, while Roy apparently informed Fondation Rivières of his forthcoming absence, he neglected to afford Fondation MIRA this same courtesy. In fact, it was only by happenstance that the MIRA Charity Event coordinator discovered the possibility of Roy’s nonappearance; apparently, this was classified intel and only Fondation Rivières registrants were meant to know. She contacted Blaise at Fondation MIRA to verify that Roy would be out of the country, and learned Roy’s absence was news to them as well. Roy, or his agent, Hélène, had not shared his filming agenda with Fondation MIRA. An oversight, perhaps, but rather careless, nonetheless. Blaise contacted Hélène to confirm Roy’s absence, and to ask if Roy would be willing to participate in a postponed event. On Friday, May 5, the Charity Event coordinator’s contact at MIRA relayed the return communiqué from Hélène. There was a 99 percent chance that Roy would be out of the country, but he had very graciously agreed to attend a MIRA fundraiser later in the year.
Based on this information, as it was given to Blaise by Hélène, a poll was emailed on May 6 to all of the registered attendees for the MIRA Charity Event, with an explanation of the circumstances and some choices. As the Event was near, a quick response was requested. We were given the choice of 1) having the Charity Event without Roy’s participation; 2) having the Charity Event with Roy’s participation if it was postponed until later in the year-no exact dates, but approximately August or September; 3) having the Charity Event without Roy’s participation, but having a separate one-day activity with Roy later in the year-again, no exact dates, but approximately August or September; or 4) the Charity Event would be cancelled; and a generous 50 percent return of non-refundable fees, plus a MIRA Charity Event goodie bag with a photograph signed by Roy, would be sent to each registrant. As stated above, Roy agreed to a postponed Event, had the vote gone that way; presumably to include a personal appearance, signing items, etc., as at all the past MIRA Charity Events. As it happens, the consensus of opinion turned out to be to hold the Event without Roy; a fortunate occurrence as the “postponed Event” or “meet-and-greet” became mythical occurrences instead of viable and previously-agreed-upon options. Refunds and goodie bags were still sent to those who voted that way.
During the weekend of May 6th and 7th, 2006, Fondation MIRA held their first telethon, MIRASTAR, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary. The telethon raised approximately $820,000, which is a tremendous amount of money, and I’m very happy for them. Keep in mind, though, that Fondation MIRA is a charity, and will always operate in the red. That’s why continued donations are needed as long as there are blind or physically-challenged children and adults who need the services of MIRA and its wonderful dogs. Unfortunately, service dogs come with an expiration date; I believe their average length of duty is only about five to seven years before they must be retired and replaced. Fondation MIRA will ALWAYS need funding to continue to breed, raise, train, place, and replace its dogs. The cost of just ONE trained dog, per Fondation MIRA, is $20,000. But can one really place a monetary value on gaining or regaining one’s independence? Perhaps someone did, assuming that this small “coup” through the telethon meant no further celebrity endorsements were needed. The timing seems indicative to me, but read the next paragraph and make up your own mind.
On May 10, Blaise contacted the MIRA Charity Event coordinator, stating that Roy had left Fondation MIRA. Not only left, but demanded all funds resulting from the use of his image and signature were to be funneled directly to Fondation Rivières. Color me stunned. This from the same man who had promised/agreed/committed to a postponed Event, with the usual newly autographed items to be auctioned, a mere five days ago? Surely, there was a misunderstanding. I dunno. Hélène instructed the Charity Event coordinator to email her with any questions, which she did; yet Hélène never responded to these questions. Lack of communication from Roy or Hélène forced the Charity Event coordinator to do some major gymnastics; having promised to hold a MIRA Charity Event, yet being prohibited from auctioning any items with Roy’s likeness for auction. I’ll give you a moment to catch your breath; I know MY head was spinning from Roy’s 180 turnabout. After all, before leaving Fondation MIRA, Roy had made several commitments. Commitments which had been conveyed to his fans.
Buckle up and hold on; this is where it gets ugly.
On June 1, 2006, less than two weeks before the MIRA Charity Event was to be held, Roy purportedly sent a message through the Fondation Rivières fan liaison, explaining that he had left Fondation MIRA to concentrate his time and attention on Fondation Rivières. Perfectly valid and reasonable; some may even say predictable. Foundation Rivières has been his “baby” from the get-go. Roy’s decision to concentrate his efforts there was logical and understandable. What was neither logical nor understandable was that he chose to make this announcement through the Fondation Rivières fan liaison. Not through Fondation MIRA; the organization most affected by Roy’s actions; or rather, lack thereof. One would assume that an announcement of this nature, if not made directly through Fondation MIRA, would have at least come from a non-interested third-party, such as his agent or a PR person. Very strange.
Here’s the important part; the “issue,” as it were.
Again, Roy had already agreed to participate in a postponed MIRA Charity Event, or a one-day meet-and-greet, before the poll was sent out. This was made known to the Event coordinator by Fondation MIRA via a communiqué from Hélène. With one fell swoop, he negated all of this…reneged on everything he had already promised in the manner of participation in or support for the MIRA Charity Event, suddenly leaving MIRA in the lurch after a 10+ year association. Why would a man of integrity do such a thing? In that manner, with no forewarning, and with no confirmation he would keep his word about his earlier commitments (he didn’t). Surely, there was more to the story. I was willing to wait to hear his explanation. I’m still waiting.
Oh, sure; he made a few concessions when he realized he might have pissed off some fans who had, in the past, supported both Fondation MIRA *and* Fondation Rivières. He said the MIRA Charity Event auction could include a very small number of items bearing his autograph or likeness. No “new” autographed items; as in, the ones he would ordinarily have signed and/or personalized, no “new” selected and autographed photo (as promoted) for the goodie bags as in every previous MIRA Charity Event (which cost MIRA approximately $2,150 in refunds to those who had not planned to attend, but had a purchased goodie bag with the promise of a personalized autographed photo, btw). At any rate, the MIRA Charity Event and the auction fund-raiser were to be held as scheduled, albeit with stringent restrictions.
Some of us expressed our disappointment at the turn of events on a public message board. Yes, we were pissed; at least, I was. A little shell-shocked, I think. The timing of his departure from MIRA--the way it happened, and the way it was announced--could have and should have been handled much better by his agent, a PR person, or Roy himself. But it wasn’t. People were stunned; emotions were raw, and some expressed their opinions about Roy’s actions in a manner that might be considered, by some, as blunt. Board members/posters have always been allowed to speak their minds, for the most part without censure, and some did. But things remained relatively calm until one particularly volatile detractor posted a pictorial rant on this same message board, including machine guns and toilets; statements such as “you broke my heart”; “what WERE you thinking?”; and “you’re fired”; even going so far as to call Roy a penis. More about her later.
To recap, the important thing, and what far too many people still don’t seem to get, is that there is and was NO PROBLEM with Roy leaving MIRA to concentrate his efforts on Fondation Rivières. It is NOT, and has NEVER BEEN, his “choosing” of one cause over another that was disturbing. It was the TIMING of the events; the manner of COMMUNICATION, or lack thereof, as it happens; and, most importantly, the FAILURE to follow through on COMMITMENTS made, not just to the fans, but to Fondation MIRA. THAT, my friends, is the problem. WHY is that so difficult to grasp? WHY are there STILL running threads on message boards *defending* Roy’s “right to choose??” Unbelievable; and it gets worse.
When the murmurs about Roy’s being a no-show began to circulate, some registered attendees of the MIRA Charity Event pulled out. As was clearly stated upon registration, the registration fees were non-refundable. However, in an attempt to keep the peace despite those who were clearly attempting to divide the LFN fandom into “us agin’ them” factions, a 50 percent refund was offered to those who withdrew, in addition to those monies already refunded to those who voted to cancel the event. It was not required of the MIRA Charity Event coordinator to make this offer. It pulled donated monies directly OUT of the same charity those who had prepaid professed to support. As a possible option in the previous poll, it was voted down. Nonetheless, the MIRA Charity Event coordinator complied.
I could go on and on, but I won't. About the person who, with a few venom-laced and well-placed phone calls managed to cost Fondation MIRA $2,250 by forcing MIRA to refund, in full, the non-refundable registration fees. And about the person with a God-complex, who failed to deliver an approved and promised item to be auctioned, costing Fondation MIRA at least $1,000, as a proxy bid had already been made. What the hell? They only screwed the blind children. Screwed the blind and physically-challenged adults who eagerly awaited their dogs, but had to be told to “be patient.” Then, there’s the Charity Event coordinator, who was forced to just give away saleable merchandise because of the restrictions imposed on the auction. There is SO much more to the story than MANY people are willing to admit; selfless acts working against the selfish. But this post is about Roy and MIRA. What he promised, yet didn't deliver.
The bottom line is that BOTH scheduled events lost supporters, as well as great deal of money. Obviously, it was the man, not the cause, which was the sole draw for both in many cases. Yet, oddly enough, it seems to me that only those who chose to continue to support MIRA, and to attend the MIRA Charity Event in Montréal, were vilified. Again and again, the NON-ISSUE of Roy’s “choice” was raised. How can I say it any more clearly?
ROY IS FREE AND WELCOME TO SUPPORT WHICHEVER CAUSE HE CHOOSES; be it saving Québécois rivers, Rwandan refugees, or Komodo dragons. However, HE ALSO HAD AN OBLIGATION TO FULFILL THE COMMITMENTS HE MADE, AND HE DID NOT. Nor did he offer any viable explanation for his failure to do so. Are we all on the same page YET? From what I hear is still being posted on LFN message boards, I’m thinking not. *sighs*
Let me try a cola analogy (a variation worked for my third graders; it’s worth a shot).
Group One: “Pepsi is WAY better than Coke.”
Group Two (in a flurry of righteous indignation): ”You are SO wrong. Sprite is WAY better than Mountain Dew.”
Group One: “HUH? Who said anything about ‘Mountain Dew’?”
Group Two: ”You just did, and we have the right to drink Sprite if we want to. How dare you suggest otherwise.”
Group One: “WTF?” *scratches collective heads* “Whatever.”
(Six months later)
Group Two: ”We’re proud to drink Sprite, regardless of what anyone says. It’s our choice and our right.”
Group One (rolls eyes and repeats): “Whatever.”
In real life, that translates to: Group One was upset because Roy failed to follow through on the commitments he made: primarily, supporting the MIRA Charity Event; signing the usual promoted photos for the pre-purchased goodie bags; providing the newly autographed auction items that never materialized. Not letting Fondation MIRA know he would be out of the country when an event had already been scheduled. Leaving Fondation MIRA *before* the event and imposing such rigid restriction. Would *one month* have made a difference to him? It did to the blind people who lost out on donations. I’m sure you’re familiar with the expression “Timing is everything.” Simple enough?
Apparently not.
Group Two defended, and STILL defends, Roy’s right to support the cause of his choice. HUH? WTF? Did Group One EVER say he DIDN’T? NO!! NEVER!! Yet the insanity rages on. And on. And on.
Back to the penis incident. The same woman who spewed such vitriol about Roy on a public board to the point of riling up nearly every member, active and lurker alike; the one who called Roy a penis, several times; did a complete 180. Not surprising, really; it’s happened before. Anything to “get close” to Roy. She attended the Soirée Bénéfice in Montréal in November; an annual fundraiser for Fondation Rivières and open to the public. While there, she took it upon herself to apologize to Roy for “the behavior of a few”; she was “sorry” and “deeply embarrassed.” Her problem; not mine. I was neither. I guess she felt she owed Roy an apology for her previous words and deeds. However, by making such a vague apology on behalf of the unnamed, she implied that I was remorseful as well. Yeah, I resented that. A lot. She also reported that Roy kissed her and most of the other fan attendees on both cheeks; a genuine token of affection.
Genuine? Affection? From a man who has *never* kissed a single fan in the last dozen or so events (except royboysjoy; age does have its privileges)? NOW he kisses the fandom attendees of the Soirée, and I’m supposed to believe it was a completely spontaneous gesture; a token of affection. More like damage control. Perhaps to ensure the attendees stayed true to his cause? I don’t know; pure speculation on my part, but it had to be obvious that this year there was less bling to go cha-ching. A kiss or two couldn’t hurt, especially if it were misinterpreted as having far more significance than it did. Yet those of us who voiced this opinion were referred to as “jealous.” Not to mention “nasty,” “classless,” “hypocritical,” “sleazy,” and several other mean-spirited slurs. I, myself, have the dubious distinction of being called “cold” and “nasty” by someone I’ve never met or corresponded with. Oh, yeah. Forgot “judgmental.” Anyone find *that* one ironic?
So, again, the furor dies; basically because those of us who’ve been there/done that to death are bored to tears with the whole thing. So Roy made kissy-kissy at the Soirée. He STILL hasn’t apologized for not honoring his commitments in June. Sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I don’t think he’s going to. Does that make him a bad actor? No; I’m watching Maurice Richard again at the moment and really liking it. Does that make him a bad person? Not necessarily. People screw up. People are thoughtless. Usually, though, when people who display thoughtless behavior are made aware of it, they apologize. Roy didn’t. Hasn’t. Won’t. What he did, or actually *failed* to do, will not damage his reputation at the box office; I suppose that’s what matters most. That; and filling Fondation Rivières’ coffers.
Which brings me to another salient point. Hey, if you’re tired of reading, that’s your problem. I never said I wasn’t long-winded.
Fondation MIRA, which does such wonderful work for the blind children, the blind and physically-challenged adults, on two continents, is a charity. It is NOT a “multi-million dollar” industry; if it were, then why would they need donations? Why bother to hold a telethon; a huge undertaking on a good day? Yes, Roy did help to raise money for Fondation MIRA, but not “millions” as was reported elsewhere. I believe, in nine years, a total of around $500,000 was raised by members of the fandom. Just about enough for 25 dogs. Hardly “millions”; and certainly NOT by Roy alone. Granted, Roy’s name and face certainly helped the Fondation, but it certainly didn’t hurt Roy’s image to be associated with a very worthwhile and well-known charitable cause, either. But I digress.
Fondation Rivières, which seeks to save virgin rivers in Québec from being used for hydro-electric power, is NOT a charity. It is a FOR-PROFIT environmental and political cause. I repeat. It is NOT, nor has it ever been, a charity. Does that mean it’s less worthy of Roy’s time and money? Absolutely not. Power to the people to support whichever CAUSE they choose; charitable or not. I just felt that distinction should be made, as the line seems to be deliberately blurred for members of the LFN fandom. Feel free to check the Canadian Charities Directorate. Fondation MIRA is listed; Fondation Rivières is not.
**edited to add: See Sidebar comment**
A final note (I’ll pause while you sigh in relief). Included in the infamous “apology” at the Soirée was the implication that I don’t “appreciate” Roy.
Appreciate; verb. Be thankful for. Value.
While it’s true I do not include Roy in my nightly prayers, I do value him as an actor. To state that I don’t is beyond dogmatic; it is blatantly false. To claim otherwise, and without my express permission, borders on defamation of character. Similar libelous remarks, made on this LJ, will simply be deleted. I don’t feel like having to buy new business attire to wear to court.
I do not judge Roy; I never have. That is not my job. I present facts, which speak for themselves. For those in a quarrelsome mood, or those wishing to air comments for, against, or in question of the above, go for it. That’s why it’s here. This post has been more than eight months in the making; whether believed, understood, or ignored, THE TRUTH IS NOW OUT THERE. My work here is done.