Jimmy Savile: Abuse and a Question of Trust

This paper is about the British disc jockey Jimmy Savile and the scandal that has constellated around him since his death in 2011. I shall be referring to his autobiography Love is an Uphill Thing and Alison Bellamy's authorized biography How's About That, Then? to try and understand how he became a lifelong abuser. I shall make the case that he was able to insinuate himself into a culture, both amongst his friendship group and within organizations, that legitimized his behaviour and the behaviour of others. I shall suggest that this ability to gather others around him is characteristic of groups and institutions where abuse has taken place. I am also making the case that listening to abuse and being able to bear witness is a difficult and painful task in the consulting room and in the wider public sphere.