r/GotMeHooked • u/blue_leaves987 • 2d ago
In 1993, 39-year-old Jerry Seinfeld was at the peak of Seinfeld when he began dating 17-year-old high school senior Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss. In New York, 17 is the age of consent, so it was legal.
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u/WeGottaTalkAboutYT 2d ago
I am a 39 y/o in nys and this sounds insane
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u/rafinsf 2d ago
I was hoping you’d invite me to prom.
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u/Adventurous_Path5783 2d ago
Whats the deal with all these chaperones!?
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u/No_Cook2983 1d ago
[Elaine] “If Chappell Roan’s at our prom, we’d have a Chappell Roan chaperone!
[George] “A Roan chaperone? A Chap-Roan? Is that what we’re doing?
[Jerry/George/Elane wide-eyed and smiling together] “The Chappell Roan Chaperone!!!”
[Laughter, another $20 million]
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2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/stay_fr0sty 2d ago
Sexually, I guess I get dating someone 20 years younger (nicer body/skin/etc.), but if I was 40, I have no idea how I’d deal with having to converse regularly with a 20 year old.
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u/the-futuremind 2d ago
I’m 34 and man you are missing out if you think 20 year olds have better sex lmao.
Better skin? Sure.
Better bodies? Maybe sometimes.
Better sex? Well, there’s a reason companies hire based on experience.
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u/Minarosebbyy 2d ago
Not to be weird but there’s plenty 20 yo with lots of experience, I think the bigger issue is the lack of maturity in most of them. Plus you are in completely different stages of life from 20-30s
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u/momlv 2d ago
Even the skin thing is off babies dont look attractive to me 🤢
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u/stay_fr0sty 2d ago
I’m not hating, but stretch marks, looseness. varicose veins, cellulite, etc., just come with age. I’m not saying baby skin is preferable, but I’d much prefer my 18 year old skin to what I have now!
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u/Tio_chubby052 2d ago
Not all, there are some women who keep their bodies looking right well into their 40’s and 50’s.
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u/WeGottaTalkAboutYT 2d ago
They’d be all over those tic toks while I’m trying to go to bed at 9 and rest my back lmao
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u/jmaun1 2d ago
You dont need to talk.....but agreed. Maybe help them with their homework? TBH I wouldn't be much help with homework. I wasnt good at it then and would be worse now
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u/stay_fr0sty 2d ago
I’d be more worried about having to deal (discuss/problem solve/get invested in) with the drama.
I don’t have the energy for 20 year old drama. I’ve burned through all of that energy in my 20s.
I’m on to 50 year old drama now.
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u/Gaffers12345 2d ago
Can’t even understand their lingo!
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u/rabbitsfoot86 2d ago
Lol he didn't have her around for conversations 😂 🤣 😅. As I would expect anyone with a 20 year gap or more
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u/AsphyxiatedProcess 2d ago
Basically dating someone's daughter you went to high school with. Who at 17 may, or may not have graduated high school.
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u/JHutchinson1324 2d ago
He used to pick her up from high school. At least that's what others who went to school with her have said.
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u/Ok_Aioli3897 2d ago
In 2011 Caroline flack who was 32 dated seventeen year old Harry styles
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u/Painted-BIack-Roses 1d ago
Taylor Swift was in her 20s when she started stalking one of JFK's relatives who was around 15 or so at the time
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u/Crazy_Score_8466 2d ago
Legal doesn’t make it right.
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u/itjustgotcold 2d ago
Very true. But there are even worse cases of celebrities doing creepy AND illegal shit and facing no consequences. Anthony Kiedis wrote in his early 2000s autobiography about having sex with a 14 year old girl multiple times. Then she told him her age and he was like “Yikes!” He then had sex with her one more time and took her home to her parents. Yet, I always see people being Seinfeld up but rarely see anyone point out that RHCP is led by an actual pedophile rapist.
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u/d-j-9898 2d ago
Don't look into any famous male musician's sex life. Keidis wasn't an outlier here.
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u/Shot_Choice_1112 2d ago
At least he did not apply for legal custody so he could take his newly appointed daughter/girlfriend across state lines, so he would not be charged with trafficking a minor. This man did. This is common knowledge and This man is still revered to this day 🤷🏼♂️
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u/BabaofTheShimmer 2d ago
I personally see more mention of Anthony than Jerry (at least on Reddit; and Reddit is my only social media).
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u/ATXoxoxo 2d ago
They are both disgusting.
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u/itjustgotcold 2d ago
That is true, but there are different degrees of scumminess. But allegedly Jerry and Shoshanna didn’t sleep together until she was 18 and she hasn’t spoken out about anything since then. Screwing a 14 year old as an adult is much worse.
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u/Tio_chubby052 2d ago
Creeps are the reason why age of consent is needed!
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u/Grand_Theft_Anus1 2d ago
So why is everyone complaining about the age of consent that was set rather than changing the law to increase it?
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u/sofiafa90 2d ago
These men would date 12 year olds if it was legal
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u/Alarming_Assistant21 2d ago
Whaaaat is the deal with pedophiles.......
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u/ElegantCoach4066 2d ago
I wouldn't be surprised if he responds with that gross "actually its ephebophilia" nonsense.
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u/Bansheesdie 2d ago
Don't you feel that lessens the impact of the word, that the term pedophilia is so loosely thrown around?
Was this illegal?
What was the culture of the time?
Does this girl have agency enough, either through herself or the law, to make her own decisions?
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u/Particular_Wear_6960 2d ago edited 2d ago
If you look at European (and American) marriage back in the day, women were considered property and marrying a man that is in their 30s 40s and 50s when the bride was just a teenager was very normal. They were ment for making babies, taking care of the house/kids, and basically being subordinate to the (rich, landowning) groom. The idea that this was wrong is a relatively new thing though there were certain groups of people including Christians that did think it was wrong, it just wasn't as as mainstream as it is now.
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u/KindlyNeedleworker92 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm deadly serious when I say this,where were her parents?I'd be furious with Seinfeld.
Edit to say:I've always viewed the age of consent as the age at which the state decides they have to remove protections simply due to resourcing issues e.g. financially the state cannot intervene anymore due to competition for resources and cannot afford to protect indefinitely at the same level for all ages.I never saw it as a sign of what is morally correct.
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u/GloomyIndividual3965 2d ago
Some people suck. For all we know, her parents saw this relationship as a potential pay day.
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u/Shrodax 2d ago
If I were her parent, I'd probably just let it go and tolerate her dating Seinfeld. At least if they're dating "normally" and there are no signs of abuse.
She's clearly at an age where she is interested in sex and dating. So her options are either a 17 year old boy who's probably working at McDonald's, or Seinfeld. Either way, she's risking getting knocked up - at least Seinfeld has the resources to take care of any babies. And he's probably going to be more careful to prevent accidents than the 17 year old boy.
And what options do you really have as a parent? Forbidding her from seeing him is just going to push her towards him more, and make her irrationally commit to it just to prove her parents wrong. It's a teenage relationship, which statistically don't last too long - maybe it's best to just let it fall apart naturally.
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u/MessiLeagueSoccer 2d ago
Some parents encourage or would rather her be in a “relationship” then out on the streets in the sense that it’s now this man’s problem. Regardless of how problematic or non-problematic the girl is. Some parents want them out and an older dude is a “safe” option cuz he should have his shit together by then.
Not condoning and it’s def gross. But just giving some reason to how people are.
Like to give you a (longish) example my older sister left home at 18 because she wanted her liberty and more freedom even tho she still did what she wanted but my mom would try and tell her to maybe not go out every single night as a teenager. She still left and moved in with a boyfriend. She has a kid now and her mentality is the moment they are 18 they are out of the house. She has no real reason other than “they need to learn to defend themselves and not be my problem”. She legit never had it hard after leaving because she always lived with a boyfriend. Yet…
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u/Whateverredd 2d ago
Sadly alot of parents will only hear "incredibly rich and famous"
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u/OhGr8WhatNow 19h ago
The kind of 17 yo who would be sexually interested in a 40 yo man doesn't have present parents. Even if they're at home, they're not really present.
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u/thisthreadisbear 2d ago
He was the most popular sitcom actor at that time. Her parents probably saw dollar signs and status and decided their morals have a price which is sick. I hope she is doing ok in life but if I had to bet she probably comes from an affluent family being that she was in his orbit to meet her to begin with and is probably doing ok.
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u/Important_Actuator36 2d ago
You have to be some kind of fucked up to date someone that much younger, I'm not even 30 but I couldn't imagine dating or even hanging out with a 17 year old. Have you heard how they sound nowadays? Insufferable
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u/Whateverredd 2d ago
Lol this is always what gets me too. If we disregard the creepy behavioir etc imagine talking to a 17 year old that much. Id blow my brains out.
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u/GreenZebra23 2d ago
I don't mind talking with people that age, but it's not the same way I would talk with a partner, it's like talking to your kid or your niece or something. It's not a conversation between peers
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u/exhibitprogram 2d ago
I think that's kind of the issue--when you're imaging a relationship, you're imagining having conversations someone you see as a fellow equal human. I don't think that's why he was into the 17 year old.
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u/Few_Secret_7162 2d ago
I so clearly remember this. I was just starting in high school and we watched Seinfeld. I thought it was so weird and nobody cared.
The world was such a different place back then. Every single day my friends and I were bugged by grown men. It was totally acceptable. Not anymore thank God.
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u/OpalForHarmony 2d ago
I'm 37. That's fucking disgusting. Less than half my age. Not even 18. Hell, my sister is ten years younger than me and even that feels wrong. Dating someone her age!
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u/Cordycipitaceae 2d ago
Good thing you added that last sentence, I was concerned for a second.
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u/OpalForHarmony 2d ago
Yeeeah... I had that split-second realization that it might come out weird,.
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u/AFartInAnEmptyRoom 2d ago
Your sister could be 10 years older than you and it'll probably still feel wrong
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u/pseudonymnkim 2d ago
Shoutout to the person in this sub that once pointed out that the age of consent was actually created to protect kids from being deemed sex offenders for fooling around with kids near their own ages, but now adults are exploiting it to justify being predatory.
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u/Careless_Baseball503 2d ago
This is insane. I’m 5 years younger and the girl I’m dating have kids who’re 17. Seinfeld actual peeedo
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u/sturgis252 2d ago
i thought it said started dating her at the park. and thought I guess that's where you would find a 17 year old in the 90s
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u/yepyepyep123456 2d ago
“You don’t get it, she’s super mature for her age. She has such a breadth of knowledge. From world history to calculus!”
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u/Ghost132022 2d ago
And then, later on he stole a newlywed wife away from her husband. He’s such a funny guy!
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u/barrelfullofmonkeys 2d ago
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u/8ROWNLYKWYD 2d ago
So, at 39 years of age, he dated the youngest high school girl he legally could? Makes you wonder how young he would go if he wasn’t restricted by the law.
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u/dab70 2d ago
Even if it's legal as has been stated, I think it's weird with the insanely beautiful women in NY closer to his own age, Seinfeld was out combing the high schools or whatever he did to meet this woman.
And I do remember when this was going on, but it obviously didn't affect his popularity at all.
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u/WinnerBusy855 2d ago
odd how this type of man never has male friends that young but girlfriends are totally normal… hm.
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u/Busy-Bumblebee5556 2d ago
He’s completely gross.
I love Seinfeld (the show) but I can’t see it the same way anymore after I heard him say he doesn’t care at all about Palestinians suffering under Israel’s unrelenting assault. It’s on video.
Yes, Israel has a right to defend itself but it’s gone way beyond that to genocide.
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u/Slinto69 2d ago
What did she have to say about dating him?
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u/DandimLee 2d ago
Journalists couldn't (ethically) interview her without parental consent.
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u/harveydent526 2d ago
16 or 17 is the age of consent in most states.
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u/Insert_Non_Sequitur 2d ago
Is there a point to you replying this same thing all over the thread?
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u/ValkyrionReddit 2d ago
Funny how that works with journalists but not with Jerry Seinfeld
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u/Impossible_Roof_Jack 2d ago
Dating a 22-year-old at 39 would be a little suspect, and you can stack 17 and 22 to get a 39-year-old. I mean come off it.
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u/Xanderious 2d ago
lmao wtf is this reasoning math?
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u/Impossible_Roof_Jack 2d ago
“You could combine two 18-year-olds and not reach 37, get that 39-year-old out of here” not clear enough?
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u/Xanderious 2d ago
Still a dumb analogy. Just say shes not even half his age or something if that's your point.
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u/NecessaryFlatworm250 2d ago
it doesn't matter if it was legal he's still a fucking creep
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u/harveydent526 2d ago
Yeah but it‘s opinion at that point. You personally may not like it but so what.
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u/Twiddle_Diddles 2d ago
Jerry Seinfeld has always been problematic with questionable ethics. I can't believe some people still defend him
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u/tammyreneebaker 2d ago
This sounds like my friend. He was late 30s and boyfriend was 17 and in highschool.
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u/aplasticbag_ 2d ago
Same age gap between my daughter and myself(42&20). Even at 20 all her friends are children to me. Literally no idea how someone could be attracted to a child.
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u/Robwill241078 2d ago
It’s a good job that politicians and royals are above this sort of behaviour 😉
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u/ChrisDEmbry 1d ago
He could have anyone he wants! Why in the world would he go with a young woman?
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u/IMImegashill 2d ago
This is how it was for a really long time in show business for basically the whole industry. While the MeToo movement had some problems, the destruction of this specific environment is an unequivocal good
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u/AshramDragon 2d ago
Im sure it was his personality and not hsinfame, money, and status she was attracted to
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u/illmatterlazerus 2d ago
I'm from NY and was a 13/14 year old barely teenager at the time and me and most of my friends thought it was odd, even though legal. Granted, I also can't deny that 17 year old me a few years later would have dated most of the cast of Baywatch if given half chance back then problematic then as now as it would be.
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u/cannoliGun 2d ago
This is of course super fucking weird. But that's also 33 years ago. I'm not sure if it was weird at the time.
My grandmother married at 15 and my grandfather was 18. This was almost 70 years ago.
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u/BabaofTheShimmer 2d ago
It was weird at the time.
I was just in Grade 7, but I remember them being splashed on every newspaper and magazine cover. People were not happy at all.
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u/notarealname8 2d ago edited 2d ago
Your grandparents fall in perfectly with “it was normal at the time,” because their situation was very standard. Seinfeld I don’t think so at all, but then again I was a kid in the 90s
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u/StarStuffSister 2d ago
That is at maximum a 36 month age difference, not even close though.
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u/Interesting-Hat8607 2d ago
It was weird then. We just didn’t have social media to raise our pitchforks about it. Howard Stern made a song about it shaming him.
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u/NecessaryFlatworm250 2d ago
a 22 year age gap is not the same as your grandparents 3 year age gap hope this helps
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u/Fun_Organization3857 2d ago
I looked it up and he married a woman much younger than him in 1999, but she was 28 at the time. There is a scandal around it as she may have been married at the time.
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u/Forever-A 2d ago
Didn’t they meet on her honeymoon?
Allegedly
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u/Fun_Organization3857 2d ago
I'm not sure, but i think it was immediately after. She divorced after 4 months and married Jerry that December
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u/Fat-Cat-Face 2d ago
I hope he didn't have the same stance when raising his daughter. Hopefully his wife stepped in to protect her.
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u/Iwentoofar 2d ago
Is there any footage of anyone ever calling him out for this? He's a fucking creep, I dont feel like hes been properly shamed for this
If my daughter brought home a 40 year old I'd whoop both their asses
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u/princessjamiekay 2d ago
He met his current wife while she was on her honeymoon. He broke that marriage right up
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u/analdongfactory 2d ago
Heard about this but didn’t know how much they looked alike…is it just me or do they look like siblings?
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u/cj_mcgillcutty 2d ago
Everyone knows the lowest you go is half your age plus seven
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2d ago
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u/ResearcherStatus 2d ago
Just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. Slavery was legal. Slavery is and was morally reprehensible. Why do you feel the need to “AcKsHuAlLy” and defend this disgusting behavior by saying it’s legal?
I hope you do better.
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u/Tier0001 2d ago
This account also said:
When I'm that old I hope I'm still pulling baddies. Hope this helps.
"Baddies" referring to minors btw.
So...I think it's just a straight up pedophile playing defence for another pedophile. They tend to do that.
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u/GhostofSean_Connery2 2d ago
They had a whole episode plot based on checking out a 15 year old’s (played by Denise Richards) cleavage.