Hi there

Occasionally for different reasons, people trawl through my timeline (I've been on this site for 11 years, so that's a fair bit of material) to find stuff that they can take offence at or inspire offence in others with.

So, I just want to make something abundantly clear:

When I was a stand-up and a younger man, the culture on here was much darker and edgier. I made jokes about race, sexuality, politics... everything.

You may not like those jokes. You may find those jokes offensive or upsetting. And if you do, there's a very good chance that I hadn't thought about them or the subjects they covered enough.

Hell, I put out a Comedy Central Special that was almost entirely about oral sex and when I watch it back (I have done this only once in the last 6 years) there's stuff I wish I hadn't said, or said differently or just flat out don't like.

My point is this.

For the last few years, I have largely absented myself from the pop mainstream. Stopped doing panel shows, only went on quizzes when I could win money for charities etc.

Theatre's what I've been doing and that comes at enormous personal cost.

Cost of time, money and relationships.

But I LOVE it. As anyone who knew me from birth to 19 and they'll tell you. It's all I ever wanted to do.

And now I get to do it. Or did, before... y'know....

So, instead, I have to find some other way to pay my mortgage, feed my kids etc. and the way that has presented itself carries with it some increased tabloid scrutiny.

When I last worked in this world, that wouldn't have bothered me. Now, however, I'm shook-ish.

Because I don't think any of the folks that report on silly, fun, entertaining tv shows are really that bad, but the people that own them are.

And if you've spent a bunch of time/tweets in the last few years saying that, I reckon their knives are sharper when facing my direction

Whatever bullshit they come out with, whatevs. Tomorrow's chip paper etc.

But I *do* care about the people that follow me on here who, on the whole, seem to be excellent folk, as beaten up and bemused by the world as I am.

And to those people, I'll just say this:

If anything I've said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it's because I can be stupid and hurtful.

I, sincerely, try to understand and do better.

Ask anyone who knows me. I am not short of thinking. Paralysingly, sometimes.

I'm not aware of anything specific coming my way, hand on heart. This isn't one of those moments where my publicist has phoned me and said they've found my prints on the body (I don't even have a publicist. Well, I did but they died in mysterious circumstances. And I wear gloves)

... it's more that I just want to say people change. People grow. People improve.

Whilst I still have endless improvements to make, undoubtedly, I'm trying.

So, if a load of old shit I came out with years ago offends you or upsets you, know that there's a very good chance it offends and upsets me too, which is why I stopped saying it.

I believe in equality of opportunity, in love as a superpower, in women.

I believe you should be free to do anything you like as long as it doesn't endanger the physical wellbeing of other people.

I believe that who you are and who you choose to be should be met with kindness by the world.

I believe no one person has any more intrinsic value than any other.

I believe we should be working together to make the world a better place for all of humankind.

I believe we can all be better if we choose to be and shouldn't be defined by our worst days.

I believe that, when all is said and done, Salt and Vinegar Squares are the absolute best crisps.

And blah blah blah... x 1000000000

I guess all I'm trying to say is I care less about what the papers say about me than I do what you think of me (which I should also not care about from a mental health perspective, but HI THERE! LOOK AT ME! CLAP NOW!)...

and all I can ask you to think of me is this:

Imperfect man, trying to be kind, sane and funny in an unkind, mad, bleak world.

Thank you for coming to my [bloa]TED [sense of self regard] talk

x

Or if you want more of me wanging on: https://twitter.com/RufusHound/status/1302017980893720578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw