Paul Daley writes that those who had fleeting interactions with Rolf Harris are left to ponder the social and emotional prudence of meeting our idols. He questions whether we can separate the art from the person who made it, concluding that in the case of a monster like Harris, we cannot.
A Personal Encounter with a Facade
Daley met Harris in London over 20 years ago, before Harris's crimes were exposed. Even then, Daley sensed that Harris's public image was a facade. He describes Harris as arrogant and cold, turning away after Daley tried to thank him for bringing joy to his childhood.
Daley recalls growing up with Harris as a central figure in his childhood, mesmerized by his TV performances and songs. He had long held a warm memory of seeing Harris perform live in Melbourne. But that fondness turned to dust after learning of Harris's predatory behavior.
The Deceptive Nature of Fame
Daley notes that Harris seemed safe and trustworthy, but his fame allowed him to access and groom victims. The documentary Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator reveals how Harris abused his fame. Daley shares that many others who met Harris had similar experiences of his arrogance and entitlement.
A journalist friend described Harris as a totally obnoxious, up-himself arsehole. Daley says this was kind, given the rest of it. The growing list of traumatized women and girls should be celebrated for their courage in coming forward.
Lessons Learned
Daley concludes that those who had fleeting interactions with Harris are left to ponder the wisdom of meeting idols and whether we can separate art from the artist. Sometimes we can, but not in the case of a monster like Rolf Harris, who turned fond memories into dust, fame into infamy, and trust into abuse.
