Stephen Fry: I'll Go to Jail to Help Convicted Tweeter

Critical of message, but says freedom more important
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 18, 2011 6:15 AM CDT
Stephen Fry: I'll Go to Jail to Help Convicted Tweeter
Stephen Fry said he would be willing to go to jail to help a man convicted of making a threatening message on Twitter.   (Getty Images)

British comedian Stephen Fry is willing to go to jail—"if that's what it takes"—to overturn the conviction of a man who joked on Twitter about blowing up an airport. "This [verdict] must not be allowed to stand in law," Fry said. Several celebrities appeared at a fundraiser for Paul Chambers, the tweeter in question, to help his with expenses related to his court case. The offending Tweet: "Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week... otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"

Various speakers at the fundraiser criticized Chambers for making the foolish comment, but also said that the law under which he was prosecuted is sorely out of date. "We should be able to have banter," said Chambers' lawyer. "We should be able to speak freely without the threat of legal coercion." (More Paul Chambers stories.)

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