Stephen Fry says child sex abuse victims should get over it and grow up

He’s known as one of the funniest comedians in the world, but no one was laughing over Stephen Fry’s controversial comments about child sex abuse victims.

The actor and comedian appeared on talk show The Rubin Report, where he said victims of sexual abuse should “grow up” and stop feeling sorry for themselves.

The show’s host Dave Rubin asked Mr Fry if he worried about “the regressive left, coming after language and free speech” to be an issue in Britain.

Mr Fry said he thinks people are too sensitive these days and that art and literature are being suffocated due to people’s fear over even using the words ‘rape’ and ‘murder’.

Fry said: “There are many great plays which contain rapes, and the word rape now is even considered a rape.

“They’re terrible things and they have to be thought about, clearly, but if you say you can’t watch this play… or you can’t read it in an English class, or you can’t watch Macbeth because it’s got children being killed in it, it might trigger something when you were young that upset you once, because uncle touched you in a nasty place, well I’m sorry.

“It’s a great shame and we’re all very sorry that your uncle touched you in that nasty place – you get some of my sympathy – but your self pity gets none of my sympathy.”

He added: “Self pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity.

“Get rid of it, because no one’s going to like you if you feel sorry for yourself.

“The irony is we’ll feel sorry for you if you stop feeling sorry for yourself. Just grow up.”

His comments drew instant backlash with people taking to social media to vent their anger over his comments.

“Stephen Fry’s comments on child sexual abuse are appalling. You do not tell a victim of something like that to just ‘grow up'”, said one angry commenter.

But others defended Mr Fry and his opinion.

“It’s really becoming tedious how hysterical people get over any public comments. Stephen Fry is entitled to his opinion… Carry on,” wrote one fan.

What are your thoughts? Was he out of line, or should he be allowed to say things like this?

Was Stephen Fry out of line with these comments? Or is it ok for him to share his opinion like this?