Teenager Arrested For Tweeting to Olympian Tom Daley That He Let Down His Dead Father

All, Olympics, Twitter, What the hell is wrong with people Stephen Douglas July 31st. 2012, 9:54am

Tom Daley is an 18-year-old diver from England. He and teammate Pete Waterfield finished a disappointing 4th in Monday’s synchronized diving event at the Olympics. After the event, some jackass tweeted at Daley telling him he had let down his father. Daley’s father died from brain cancer last year.

After giving it my all…you get idiot’s sending me this…RT @rileyy_69: @tomdaley1994 you let your dad down i hope you know that
— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) July 30, 2012

Now the 17-year-old behind the Tweet has been arrested. From the Guardian:

A spokeswoman for Dorset police said: “A 17-year-old man was arrested by Dorset police officers in the early hours this morning at a guesthouse in the Weymouth area on suspicion of malicious communications. He is currently helping police with their inquiries.”

The kid behind the tweet has since apologized, though his account is now private. While it was certainly a dick move, I don’t understand how police can arrest him. There wasn’t even a threat. If he had said that to Daley’s face, the maximum punishment he could receive would be an ass-kicking, right? The worst part of all this is that this kid now has 50,000 followers. It should be noted that I really hate Twitter sometimes. [via Guardian, Getty]

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56 Responses to “Teenager Arrested For Tweeting to Olympian Tom Daley That He Let Down His Dead Father”

1
KC Resident Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:56 AM
I don’t understand how police can arrest him.
Be glad you are an American.
Monday’s synchronized diving event
You made that event up, right?
2
Tim Ryan Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Based on this story there should be roughly 4.36 million Twitter users in jail.
3
Der Kaiser Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Tweets to other users who criticised his earlier message were spiked with profanity. One read: “i dont give a shit bruv i’m gonna drown him and i’m gonna shoot you he failed why you suporting him you cunt” and another, to a different Twitter user, read: “do you want me to come to your fucking house now with a rope and strangle you with it”.
I’m not saying throw him in jail and toss the keys away. But he deserves to serve at least a few weeks in jail and some hard labor in form of community service.
4
cracker jack Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Arrested on malicious communications! Arent you glad you live in America people? Where people are allowed to be dicks and other people are allowed to get mad at people who are dicks. Please no more crying about shit like this Chic Fil A fiasco, please.
5
BFFredo Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:59 AM
The UK is weird that way. They have cameras everywhere and consider abuse of any kind to be a crime — they just had John Terry in court for calling Anton Ferdinand a “fucking black cunt”.
The bigger question: the interaction between people (particularly athletes) and Twitter is changing as we speak. The idea that you can just be a keyboard warrior and spew what you will from a distance and never have it affect you may be going away.
6
ButtersBC Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Based on this story there should be roughly 4.36 million Twitter users in jail
The Bulldog might get the needle
7
Liquor Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:00 AM
It should be noted that I really hate Twitter ~~sometimes~~ all the time
Its basically a collection of attention whores and ignorant, hate filled people. Those categories can overlap.
8
BFFredo Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Please no more crying about shit like this Chic Fil A fiasco, please.
But their buns are always soggy and putting nothing but pickles in there is lame!!
9
arkbadger Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:01 AM
“A 17-year-old man was arrested by Dorset police officers in the early hours this morning at a guesthouse in the Weymouth area on suspicion of malicious communications. He is currently helping police with their inquiries.”
even British police reports sound funny.
10
HawkEye Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:01 AM
The idea that you can just be a keyboard warrior and spew what you will from a distance and never have it affect you may be going away.
I hope so. Newspaper sites that force you to comment with your Facebook profile have helped that some.
11
Der Kaiser Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:03 AM
The bigger question: the interaction between people (particularly athletes) and Twitter is changing as we speak. The idea that you can just be a keyboard warrior and spew what you will from a distance and never have it affect you may be going away.
And that is for the best. Really wish CNN and other legit news site made it a requirement that you use your real name and location to comment on a news report.
12
rittyrich Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Please no more crying about shit like this Chic Fil A fiasco, please.
This might’ve been one of my favorite fiascos of the last several years.
13
sousedbergin Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:04 AM
I’m not saying throw him in jail and toss the keys away. But he deserves to serve at least a few weeks in jail and some hard labor in form of community service.
Perhaps there is a camp we can send him to you Kraut fascist bastard.
/Team I get to say horrible things blow me
14
Walking Underwear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Chic Fil A
this a new clothing store?
15
BFFredo Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Its basically a collection of attention whores and ignorant, hate filled people. Those categories can overlap.
I’m in the “ignorant whores” category. Or is it the “attention hate filled”?
16
MP III Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:06 AM
It should be noted that I really hate Twitter sometimes.
i hate it all the time. its a worthless, crappy medium that gives a microphone to way too many idiots. if you argue that its great for sports updates, fine. but you can get that elsewhere. twitter needs to go away.
17
roger from oz Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:07 AM
twitter this.
18
MP III Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Please no more crying about shit like this Chic Fil A fiasco, please.
and why the hell is this still in the news? they have a stance, its their right, let it go.
19
Walking Underwear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:09 AM
hawkeye, i had a delirium nocturnum last night
/yes, i’m ok
20
St. Bear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:09 AM
i hate it all the time. its a worthless, crappy medium that gives a microphone to way too many idiots. if you argue that its great for sports updates, fine. but you can get that elsewhere. twitter needs to go away.
Moderation in everything is the key.
21
sousedbergin Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:09 AM
crappy medium that gives a microphone to way too many idiots.
If by microphone you mean a platform as significant as a grain of sand on a beach then sure.
22
scripty Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:09 AM
While it was certainly a dick move, I don’t understand how police can arrest him. There wasn’t even a threat.
Here ya go:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/27/section/1
23
sportsgal116 Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:11 AM
crappy medium that gives a microphone to way too many idiots.
facebook?
The great thing about twitter is you can drop people so you don’t see their messages to you. You can also block people so you never have to see anything from them ever. It only becomes a microphone when someone with a lot of followers retweets your terrible messages.
24
Dougb0001 Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:12 AM
I’d say he let his Dad down the moment he decided to compete in synchro diving
25
HawkEye Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:15 AM
i hate it all the time. its a worthless, crappy medium that gives a microphone to way too many idiots. if you argue that its great for sports updates, fine. but you can get that elsewhere. twitter needs to go away.
Yes, how dare there be a communications medium that is wholly optional to join and is easily ignored.
26
cracker jack Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:16 AM
this a new clothing store?
You can tell how often Ive ever been there and how little I care about their ‘controversy’
27
Badger Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:16 AM
If by microphone you mean a platform as significant as a grain of sand on a beach then sure.
Careers have been made through Twitter. Not insignificant.
28
Walking Underwear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:17 AM
I’d say he let his Dad down the moment he decided to compete in synchro diving
that’s the spirit
29
MP III Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:18 AM
delirium nocturnum last night
god, that stuff sucks.
If by microphone you mean a platform as significant as a grain of sand on a beach then sure.
wow, lots of sand grains get air time on news outlets these days.
30
ButtersBC Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Yes, how dare there be a communications medium that is wholly optional to join and is easily ignored
“Like the things I like” is my favorite internet trope
31
MP III Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Yes, how dare there be a communications medium that is wholly optional to join and is easily ignored.
easily ignored? you must not watch any tv, barely read the internet, or just dont go outside a cave much. twitter quotes are everywhere, i cant avoid them. and i am not even on twitter.
32
cracker jack Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Careers have been made through Twitter.
I want this career!
33
Dougb0001 Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:22 AM
This is why I write all my hurtful things on Myspace where nobody can see them
34
Walking Underwear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:23 AM
delirium nocturnum last night
god, that stuff sucks.
too sweet?
easily ignored? you must not watch any tv, barely read the internet, or just dont go outside a cave much. twitter quotes are everywhere, i cant avoid them. and i am not even on twitter.
i hope you bleed from the vagina soon
/someone’s got a case of the tuesdays
35
Walking Underwear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Careers have been made through Twitter. Not insignificant.
examples badger? serious, i am not on twitter much, so i’m curious as to what you mean. like celebrity bs, or actual business-type careers?
36
Jay V Of Considerable Influence Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Tweets to other users who criticised his earlier message were spiked with profanity. One read: “i dont give a shit bruv i’m gonna drown him and i’m gonna shoot you he failed why you suporting him you cunt” and another, to a different Twitter user, read: “do you want me to come to your fucking house now with a rope and strangle you with it
It is my understanding that he was arrested for these tweets, and not the original tweet to Tom Daley, although the Tom Daley tweet put him on the radar.
37
sousedbergin Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Careers have been made through Twitter. Not insignificant.
Uh Kelly Oxford? 1 out of 140 million users. Which is about as likely as the individual grains of sand that got caught up in your cantankerous snatches.
38
MP III Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:26 AM
too sweet?
that and a little too much garbage juice aftertaste.
and i hope you crap your pants soon.
39
ButtersBC Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Careers have been made through Twitter
But then Sarah Phillips flew too close to the sun
40
Badger Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:29 AM
i am not on twitter much, so i’m curious as to what you mean. like celebrity bs, or actual business-type careers?
Rob Delaney. The @ShitMyDadSays guy.
41
jacobmrley Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:30 AM
I don’t care about free speech or his dead father, he let us all down by having an apostrophe to indicate the plural. Bad show Tom Daley, bad show indeed.
42
payaso Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:32 AM
It is my understanding that he was arrested for these tweets, and not the original tweet to Tom Daley, although the Tom Daley tweet put him on the radar.
Who cares about context? Just like that Adams guy was blocked for criticizing NBC.
43
ohheelyeah Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Rob Delaney. The @ShitMyDadSays guy.
I thought that was Justin Halpern? Also, if that’s all you got, you aren’t winning this argument.
44
jekyll Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:35 AM
wow, lots of sand grains get air time on news outlets these days.
Lots of sand grains are stuck in your vagina, doesn’t mean we should outlaw beaches.
45
MP III Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Lots of sand grains are stuck in your vagina, doesn’t mean we should outlaw beaches.
fantastic point, assface.
46
Walking Underwear Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:36 AM
and i hope you crap your pants soon.
is that an age joke?
or do you know what i ate last night/this morning?
/looks around for hidden mp3 camera
47
TheFlack Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:38 AM
But then Sarah Phillips flew too close to the sun
Nomination for best line of the day.
48
GloriousMullet Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Rob Delaney. The @ShitMyDadSays guy.
I thought that was Justin Halpern? Also, if that’s all you got, you aren’t winning this argument.
Karl Welzein @dadboner
49
Badger Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Also, if that’s all you got, you aren’t winning this argument.
It’s a few, but they’re examples. My point was that not everything gets lost in the noise. You need an incredible amount of luck to get noticed but at least it’s another way to break into your desired field.
50
Der Kaiser Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Rob Delaney. The @ShitMyDadSays guy.
Yes, how dare you achieve success by putting out your material without having to rely on third party help. Back then, you were totally reliant on talent agents and other intermediaries for your success. Now you can just put up funny jokes on twitter and get discovered without having to rely on anyone else’s help. What a sham!
51
Some Random Old Dude Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:44 AM
i hate it all the time. its a worthless, crappy medium that gives a microphone to way too many idiots. if you argue that its great for sports updates, fine. but you can get that elsewhere. twitter needs to go away.
Author, author!
I’m about to draft my next novel, that mocks Twitter and the narcissistic society in which we live.
Working title: “Guess What? I Farted…Again!!!”
Sub-title: “And, I Had a Sammich An Hour Ago”
Available in e-book form in 2013.
52
Der Kaiser Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:46 AM
I see that official ranking of countries for Olympics goes by total medals won. That’s ridiculous. they should be ranked by gold medals won. Are we really going to pretend that Silver and Bronze are actually important?
53
VladimirCrouton Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Are we really going to pretend that Silver and Bronze are actually important?
OK MR. blonde hair and blue eyes….
54
BiscuitEER Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 11:50 AM
I’d say he let his Dad down the moment he decided to compete in synchro diving
/Brilliant!
55
GenghisSchmenghis Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Can we start a fund to buy plane tickets to London for all the Westboro people?
56
José Pippen Says:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:48 PM
They like to arrest people a lot in Britain, don’t they?