BY TAMARA TATTLE STAFF
First of all, “butt-grabbing” is wrong. You should never grab anyone’s butt. If you are going to grab someone’s butt you should do it in dark bars while everyone is drunk like normal people. You should definitely never grab anyone’s butt while in their place of work*. It’s wrong. Very, very wrong, and also against the law. You should never touch anyone’s body without their permission.
Michael Darby apparently was unaware of this. According to Tamara Tattles Sources, the recent charges against Michael are the result of multiple incidents while filming Real Housewives of Potomac. He apparently likes to kick and pat the butts of male crew members.
The most recent charges are based on an incident that occurred on September first during filming at the home of Chris and Monique Samuels. According to court documents, Palmer claims, “As I walked out to the pool patio area, Michael Darby grabbed and groped my buttocks several times. As I turned around he smiled and gave me a flirtatious look.” Palmer reported the incident to his supervisor immediately and pressed charges three days later. At that time he was granted a temporary restraining order. Darby is expected to answer charges in court on October 16, 2018.
In the wake of events both Bravo and Truly Original have released statements. “Bravo has comprehensive policies and guidelines relating to the safety of cast and crew which production companies are required to follow, in addition to their own protocols they have in place. Bravo and Truly Original, the production company for The Real Housewives of Potomac have suspended filming with Michael Darby.”
Truly Original announced “Immediately upon learning of these allegations, we commenced a thorough internal review and, per our protocol, took all appropriate steps to ensure the safe working environment and safe forum for communication for everyone associated with the production. The review is ongoing and we are not able to comment further.”
If this seems like much swifter justice than usual for Bravo and a production company, it’s because Darby is not under contract with either Bravo or Truly Original. He’s not a paid employee and has only signed a release so they are not obligated to keep him around.
Orville was granted a temporary restraining order that expired on Thursday. Orville was back in court on Friday to ask for a permanent restraining order that was not granted because he failed to meet the burden of proof. The new documents submitted in the court order stated that Darby had previously kicked him in the butt. #MiddleSchoolMemories
Darby is the owner of the very successful Monument Reality a company he has owned and operated for 20 years and successfully navigated through the recession of 2008 that caused real estate values to plummet to depths they have only in the past few years recovered from. Prior to relocating to the DC area, Darby was a business man in Australia who ran unsuccessfully for political office on more than one occasion.
It seems to me this is getting a whole lot of publicity. TMZ has run three separate stories on this case within just a couple of days. The story has also run in USA Today, Fox News, and other sites that used to pass as actual news sites. Is is me or is this a lot for some guy who is not even officially on the show?
Michael has been charged with felony assault as well as misdemeanor improper sexual contact. The maximum punishment is 11 years in prison.
Am I the only one who thinks that, ALTHOUGH BUTT TOUCHING IS VERY, VERY, BAD, charging this as a felony is completely absurd? I tried really hard to give a hard news report on this above in my best journalist voice, but come the fuck on. Muggers don’t get charged with a felony. Couldn’t this have been handled the old-fashioned way with a sock in the face and a swift kick to the balls? Should they have just kicked Michael out of filming the first time Michael tried to show his lust for the cameraman by his middle school kick to the butt?
Meanwhile, Nanny Dawn was ALLEGEDLY cornered and legally kidnapped in Travis’ home when he refused to let her leave and was tearing at her clothes according to her police report and he’s charged with a misdemeanor?
Again, butt grabbing is bad. Apparently, a “flirtatious look” also know by some as a disarming smile to convey playfulness does not negate the severity of the action in a court of law. But a FELONY? This really irks me. Does this really warrant such national attention?
I will await my flogging now from GLH and others who are going to school me on unwanted touch and how it is never appropriate and how men can be the victims of sexual assault too and how misandrous conduct is just as bad a misogynist conduct and how I am going to hell for thinking Michael was really, really overcharged. I know it is coming. And I didn’t even say that he’s Australian and things are different there. Ooops.
Yeah unless there’s something that hasn’t been reported, this seems a little over the top. A felony? Come on
I agree with you BroMo! Unless we are missing something?? It seems like it might be drunken foolery! He mooned some folks as well. Things are getting upside down when Nanny Dawns alleged incident only draws a misdemeanor assault charge “unwanted touching with or without clothing” fine or up to 3 years. And in another alleged charges it’s a felony for butt cheek grabbing? Wow!
Everyone needs to be Hannibal for Halloween and wear a straight jacket! Hands to yourself kids!!!
Imo its 100% appropriate for him to have charges brought against him. He’d been warned and continued to do as he pleased. He can’t go around getting handsy with people and passing it off as just a bit of fun when challenged. The same with drunk people at bars.
If a felony charge is what prosecutors think is appropriate, then so be it. I don’t think he’ll recieve the maximum sentence of 11 years and nor should he when more serious crimes get 3-10 years. I agree his charges are completely disproportionate compared to what’s been brought against others.
Him and his wife are fame whores and I think his suspension from RHOP will probably affect him more than any sentence imposed by the courts, which I’m guessing will be a fine.
Anywayyyyy… enough of all that. I added crispy onions to a salad tonight, you gave me a craving for them earlier TT lol.
I knew your comment on this post would be as lousy as your explanation of crispy onions. Are they in a can or plastic thingy like this? https://www.walmart.com/ip/French-s-Original-Crispy-Fried-Onions-6-OZ/15716579?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=9010802&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=15716579&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhqvpqfLg3QIVz4CfCh0FiQMIEAQYBSABEgLHD_D_BwE
Or do you cook them yourself???!!!!!!
This answer is very important to me!
I sorta agreed with you for once, be happy!
I cook them myself lol. I have bought French’s in the past and they work just as good! Also thinking of making an onion blossom next week for movie night ?
I ate dinner out last night with a friend who is on Weight Watchers. She told me that the bloomin onion at Outback is 56 points. Yikes! That’s more than twice the number of points most people are supposed to eat in a day….just sayin’….but I digress…
… I may not eat that day until the blossom if thats the case ?
that’s what I’m saying, right? lol My husband had never heard of the points system, but he is totally obsessive compulsive and he is a number’s guy, so now I fear that our lives are going to be ruled by the WW numbers system, even though he isn’t on it and doesn’t need to lose weight…he was just enthralled by the whole WW thing last night so had to have her tell us about the points for all his favorite cheat foods…oy vey! Oh, and btw, that is the onion not dipped in the sauce they serve it with. If you dip, it’s even more points. Might have to skip food for a couple of days and then go gorge on the onion! : )
Damn!! I say have one day a week to treat yourself to a food you’d otherwise skip. The little joys in life are important. It might take you that wee bit longer to get to your goal, but it’ll be worth it! Good luck with the weight loss btw ?
Ambien is a really good weight-loss tool. It doesn’t work unless you have an empty stomach. So unless it’s the weekend, I don’t eat after about 4 p.m. 🙂
So you have a deep fryer? I need to figure out how to make them at a home.
Also BC is a kill joy.
I may show up on your doorstep one day for crispy onions. I think Scotland is the place that is always practically free to go to like Iceland.
I’ll just ask where the onion guy lives and hope I don’t run in to ScottisWitch, may she RIP in the WLS.
Mommy daddy don’t fight!!!!
If the cameraman had punched or kicked Michael, I’m 100% positive that Michael would’ve pressed charges against the him. Ashley would work this into her story line and/or probably sue Bravo. Ashley and Michael are opportunists. They definitely would have tried to work this to their advantage.
Every housewife and husband are opportunists.
I’m not surprised by all the press. Assault is the new black. And while he technically isn’t a cast member, he’s usually on every episode. This dude is a “weirdo” as Karen says, so I kind of think all the attention is hilarious.
As far as the punishment goes, I have no clue how butt-grabbing can be consideried a felony or potentially warrant an 11 year jail sentence. WTF?! Michael is a repeat butt grabber and I think he should be permanently suspended from the show so the cameramen can feel safe in their work environment. T-Rav should get 11 years behind bars. Michae should several years of probation. And our justice system has some serious work to do.
Isn’t the initial hearing on October 16th to confirm charges? I’m guessing the prosecutors have gone for the maximum possible conviction they can, so on October 16th he’ll cop a plea, the felony charges will be reduced and they’ll still have a result. Or maybe they have enough on him to warrant felony charges, guess we’ll find out Oct 16th.
“cop a plea” for “copping a feel” – I think we have the foundation for a good rap song. Maybe we can rewrite the Shahs song with some lyrics from our comments! lol
???
I love when you explain the US legal system to us. It’s cute.
That wasn’t an explanation, that was a genuine question ??? and a guess from what I’ve seen previously.
NO ONION 4 U.
You are worse that Twitter with your overly harsh punishments.
#SexualAssault is serious for all genders. Glad this is being blown up by media – it should be. Sux that he couldn’t get a permanent restraining order, wonder if Ashley is calling in sick?
100 per cent agree with you. Lines are blurred in terms of crime and punishment. So ridiculous that state to state you can do more harm to someone and get away with it Another state beware. Tamara, like you, I am so disheartened by so much crap going on. Calgon take me away!
“If you are going to grab someone’s butt you should do it in dark bars while everyone is drunk like normal people.” Best laugh all week! I’m sorry, but to me this was something that could have been handled by he cameraman telling Michael to stop (which he did) and reporting his discomfort to his supervisor. The supervisor then had the responsibility to talk to Michael and let him know his behavior was unacceptable and the production company definitely has the right to tell him not to come around any more. But reporting it to the police? Felony charges being filed? I can’t imagine that any prosecutor would file charges anything more serious than a simple misdemeanor battery, unless there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Things have gone kind of crazy in terms of overreaction, in my opinion, but that’s not to say I don’t agree with going after people like Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby – what they did was in a different league altogether, but for much more minor stuff, years and years ago, it’s kind of like enforcing rules now that people didn’t know were in play then. I was once dancing in the lounge at a small party on a yacht when a guy who was flirting with me walked me backwards into a cabin and proceeded to throw me backwards onto the bed, while sticking his tongue past my tonsils, and dry humping me. I was a barely 18-year-old virgin (which he probably didn’t expect) and did what any well-raised young English woman would do – I bit the hell out of his tongue! I was more frightened than outraged and, remember, that was 54 years ago. He jumped back, and went running up to the wheelhouse to complain to his buddy. It was kind of expected behavior from a young, virile, stud. He tried and he failed.I didn’t go to the police and it didn’t traumatize me. It was minor bad behavior and nothing more. He didn’t try to force himself on me, just gave it the good old college try and then conceded defeat.
If the same rules were applied years ago, as are being enforced today, in the “olden days” when I was young and working, I could have easily gotten in trouble for sexual harassment. The group of people I worked with were prosecution/law enforcement and were a very tight group. We worked hard, sometimes on difficult matters, and we joked around and laughed just as hard. There was a lot of hugging when we saw people we hadn’t seen for a while, and what would be considered today as inappropriate joking. There was no butt slapping, or anything else physical, but things were definitely relaxed in terms of making fun of each other. It was like a big family.
It’s very different now – very little joking, and a definite awareness of what could get you in trouble. That’s OK. Everyone knows the rules these days. They’re different than they were years ago, and Michael should have known better.
Well, I kind of got to rambling there – sorry. Great recap, Tamara.
Yes, completely and agree with this.
What a bullshit charge.
I completely agree with you TT, every one needs to keep their damn hands to themselves but Felony Assault? I don’t think so. I don’t even consider it criminal Improper Sexual Contact (if what has been reported is all that was done), though I can see where others would. The criminal justice system is more screwed up than men, and that’s saying a lot these days. The new normal is to for a DA to charge someone with as many counts as possible and the more felonies the better. Federal sentences are severe, severe to coerce confessions and pleas. <3% of criminal trials go before a jury now, the threat of an expensive trial and long prison sentences leads many to plead. And many are pleading to things they didn't do in order to avoid long sentences. (Sorry, criminal justice and education issues put me right on the soap box).
I will be waiting for the camera man to file for civil damages.
Smacking someone on the ass is wrong…but it is NOT RAPE. Not even in the same hemisphere as rape!
Think.
@Cara: ?
I bet Gizelle and Karen are ecstatic.
I really like that you ask a lot of questions regarding this. I’m not sure I’m able to formulate an opinion. One thing I know is this: I think people need to keep their fucking hands to themselves at all fucking times. PERIOD!
Karen is having the best week ever.
She had her turn in the hot seat last season. Now it’s Ashley’s turn big time. She can’t really avoid those rumors now…
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve met Ashley and she is lovely. I am one degree of separation from Darby, and he has a very bad reputation. That doesn’t mean he’s bad, but I hear he is quite the handful.
He’s Australian, the men there have not yet been emasculated by women’s libbers.
Did you intend the pun when you said Darby is allegedly a handful?
I imagine the hand is very small.
He gives me the serious CREEPS!!!!So rude to Ashley too!!!
Michael Darby is a dirty and strange looking man. He needs a good shave. Something about him is weird. Ashley is messy, nosy and a troublemaker. She’s always in OPB (Other People’s Business) and when it comes to her own personal business she’s in deep denial. She’s denied Michael being caught on camera with a man before and now this proves that that rumour must have some truth to it that he’s GAY! I don’t feel sorry for Ashley nor Michael and I hope they show it all on TV. Karma is a b*tch and has come back to slap both of them in their face for what they did to Karen Huger. Karen and Ray must be having the last laugh now.
Yes! The Karma Fairy came and struck Michael gay. That will learn him.
I think he’s bi.
Wait just thought of this – is Michael a US Citizen? Or is he still an Australian citizen? He could be deported… that would be huge.
He is not going to be deported. He not going to be convicted of a felony. He is not going to jail. This whole situation is ridiculous.
He was charged with 2nd Degree Assault and a 4th degree sex offense. The assault has a max sentence of 10 years in prison the sex offense is up to 1 year. Both are misdemeanors.
I went to check on this since the first reports indicated that the assault charge was a felony. You are correct that both are misdemeanors but that the potential sentences are the same.
However, it’s weird that his is the definition of the fourth degree assault in Maryland.
Fourth Degree
Fourth degree sexual offense, as discussed in §3-308, occurs in school settings, and involves sexual conduct between a figure of authority and a minor. These authority figures, such as teachers and counselors, must be over 21 years old and employed by a public or private primary or secondary school.
Those accused of fourth degree sexual offense may face one year of jail time and a $1,000 fine. A second offense can mean more time in jail.
What do you make of that?
I am from Maryland so I knew right where to go look before I posted that comment.
I think that the sexual offense charge will probably be dropped since the cameraman isn’t an authority figure.
They need to make him pay a fine and be put on some kind of probation or something. He needs to keep his slimy paws off of people.
Actually, Michael would have to be the authority figure for that charge to fit. It’s weird. If it were just going to be one charge, I’d think they’d go with a sexual one rather than a straight assault. Also degrees of Assault involve severity of injuries and one presumes there were none. Perhaps it was supposed to be fourth degree assault and second degree sexual assault? That would make more sense.
Oh, I must have read it backwards. Michael is only Ashley’s authority figure LOL
He’ll probably just have to pay a fine, that’s my guess
SMH. He likes to tickle men asses? Bravo and Truly Original has suspended Michael from filming, since the news broke and after Ashley claim there was not because he had yet to be suspended. As foolish as this may sound, it is a real as it get. According NBC Washington DC, the first incident occurred in August. So there you go. We all have to wait and see what happens, after his October 16 court date.
Yeah this is really stupid