A scathing op-ed in the conservative publication American Thinker has framed the recent sexual assault conviction of comedian Russell Brand as part of a broader feminist campaign against male sexuality, linking it to controversial cases like the Duke Lacrosse scandal and the accusations against influencer Andrew Tate.
Author Bill Ponton argues that the feminist movement, born from the sexual liberation of the 1960s, has morphed into a ‘new puritanical order’ seeking retribution against the very alpha male culture it once seemed to emulate. The piece positions Brand’s conviction — stemming from alleged incidents two decades ago — as the latest example of feminists retroactively punishing behavior they now deem abusive, despite its acceptance during the freewheeling era that birthed their movement.
From Liberation to Retribution?
The article traces feminism’s origins to the hedonism of 1960s rockstars and their groupies, suggesting early feminists grew resentful when sexual freedom failed to deliver happiness. Ponton claims this led to an ever-expanding definition of male misconduct, ensnaring men for behavior once considered permissible. ‘The problem was that the definition of male abuse was broadening at an ever-increasing rate,’ he writes, citing #MeToo’s ‘conflicted narrative’ of female vulnerability paired with assertions of empowerment.
High-Profile ‘Scalps’
Ponton groups Brand with the exonerated Duke Lacrosse players and the so-called ‘Cornell Seven’ — unnamed cases he presents as evidence of feminist overreach. The piece notably omits details of the specific allegations against Brand or the legal proceedings, instead framing his conviction as inevitable under current cultural norms. ‘This modern-day version of the Salem witch trials will continue,’ Ponton warns, arguing feminists won’t be ‘sated with the scalps of a few high-profile celebrities.’
The op-ed’s provocative claims are likely to fuel ongoing debates about due process and cultural shifts in consent. But its conflation of Brand’s criminal conviction with unproven allegations against other men may draw criticism for oversimplifying complex legal and social issues.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/11/the-fly-in-the-ointment/