#Joshua bassett defense squad

[ohjoshuas]

tw: mentions of sexual abuse, trauma, & death threats

I need to rant.

I think few people would have been able to handle this year as tactfully as Joshua has.

I am feeling a heck of a lot of feelings surrounding the treatment Joshua Bassett has received not only throughout the entire nightmare of a year this has been for him but particularly right now with the release of Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free and his article with GQ wherein he disclosed being a sexual abuse survivor.

In his own words, Joshua said "I feel like a lot of this last year people haven't seen me as a human being."

And I emphatically agree with his statement. Joshua's name and very presence have been shrouded within such inhumane rhetoric that it makes my skin crawl. I've read absolutely deplorable things from Olivia's fans and otherwise that are so sickening I could cry for Joshua's sake.

I don't know how he has kept sane.

My heart is ripped to shreds thinking what he's had to endure in such a personal, blatant way. In the midst of a medical scare that drove him to hospitalization, he experienced an onslaught of death threads so prevalent that his mother heard about it. These threats filled him with a level of dread that affected any semblance of safety he felt in walking around his own city streets for fear of his life.

And beyond these extremes, Olivia's music and presence were nearly inescapable as he was forced to constantly maneuver through spaces where her music was playing such as taxi cabs or coffee shops, where employees deliberately sought to drive him out.

Joshua gives us one slight glimpse into this trauma when he shares about his trip to Spain with friends that resulted in a 3.5 hour scream-cry and 2 weeks of a lost voice.

I don't think any of us can even begin to fathom the kind of public destruction Joshua has had to endure.

And for what? So that Olivia could "express her feelings and navigate a breakup"? At what cost?

The cost of someone's mental health, reputation, safety, relationship, sanity, and humanity. And a heck of a lot more.

I feel so infuriated that things even escalated to such a point. My heart aches for all that Joshua has felt as a result of Olivia's album and her ambivalence toward his safety and her blatant lack of respect for him as a human being so strongly targeted by online and offline bullies alike (ie. coffee shop among no doubt other interactions). Truly, how could she be so cold to not have intervened even one time to talk down such treatment from her hoards of fans.

There is something else that has also given my heart such harrowing pain. And that is the dismissal I've seen from Olivia's fans and otherwise toward Joshua's sexual abuse disclosure in his recent GQ article. I have seen tweets and comments so utterly deplorable I could scream. I genuinely cannot fathom how heartless people have been to invalidate his trauma (and the trauma of all sexual abuse survivors) in such disgusting ways.

The way that popular culture and celebrity stan culture have not only enabled the elevation of personas to such unrealistic extremes, but ALSO the way they have enabled the severity of toxicity and dehumanization and hate that I've seen toward Joshua this year is beyond disgusting. The reality of the matter is that there are human beings behind these names. They are not a joke in your twitter, instagram, or tiktok feeds to toss around or be snickered at behind your petty alias or among your peer groups. No matter how talented the musician, no matter how catchy the music, no matter how devoted to your "fav" you consider yourself, have some decency toward fellow human beings. It should be that simple.

I shudder to think of how scarring this must be for Joshua. The magnitude of all that he's endured would've driven me to absolute distain for humankind. And yet I am continuously stunned by his resilience. He has not been noticeably hardened by such hatred. Even in the midst of the worst of it, he posted videos sending his love to others and well-wishes for people to have a good day. He endured countless interviews where the drama was tactlessly brought up in an attempt to try and get a rise or response out of him for their latest headline. And yet he still had the maturity and decency to only speak respectfully toward Olivia.

While Olivia quite literally profited at the expense of his mental health and safety and security, Joshua waited until he felt ready to share his side of the story (which I will arguably suggest is only the tip of the iceberg of what he's endured. As he said, he's still holding back.) He also is donating his proceeds to mental health organizations and speaking out for those without a voice.

When the time is right, I hope, if he's willing, that Joshua will share fully the effect that this year has had on him because he deserves the space and respect to do so.

I also hope that he will he met with respect for it. He deserves this and far more right now with these three songs and interview. He deserves a show of support from his peers and co-stars. He deserves respect from the public and the media. He deserves an apology from fans for how he has been treated. He deserves the same space to express his feelings and navigate the trauma of this year without any hate or invalidation of his experience or traumas.

I have endless respect for Joshua Bassett and hope he knows how proud I am of his example and courage to face this nightmare of a year with such class.

[columbo-of-narnia]

After listening to both Sabrina Carpenter and Joshua Bassett's side of thing (via songs and interviews) I still hold the same conclusion that they did nothing wrong and olivia is trash (yes, trash) for not speaking up when these two people were getting death threats and harrassed over drama she made.

I may be a little biased but i can still say without a doubt, that olivia was the toxic one in all this, say what you will its true.

Olivia definitely could have stoped at least half of the people harassing both josh and sabrina. She had a voice and influence and rather than use it to help, she refused and instead used the drama to further her own mediocre career (yes mediocre. Her songs are okay at best, and even then her best songs were plagiarized from actual good song writers).

The enter internet (especially twitter) owes both Joshua and Sabrina a big fucking apology because, and say it with me, they did nothing wrong! Josh got cheated on and sabrina dated josh when he and olivia were over. Olivia cheated and is the one who broke up with josh so who he dates is no longer a concern of hers and yet she fed into the drama of it all. She is the villain of the story

[anonymous2720]

okay this is not from a ship point of view but i cant find a single of compilation of matt cornett and joshua bassett being the best of friends.

like there are sofia and matt compilations, sofia and josh compilations, sofia and olivia compilations and like thousands of olivia and josh compilations but absolutely nothing on matt and josh like c'mon people

someone

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I NEED CONTENT PLEASE

[ohginas]

very very very very very very VERY happy for joshua bassett to get to tell his truth with these three songs!!! 

[magicwithineleteo]

hi so doppelgänger is an absolute masterpiece in every way and i am in love with it stream it!!!

[sizzy-ling]

Josh is in his reputation era and I'm here for it

[portwellbabes]

set after episode 7, directors room

Ricky walks into the directors room looking for EJ.

“Oh there you are Elton, Val is looking for you she needs to check off the “In Summer” choreo.”

Ricky gets no response from EJ, so he moves closer to him. “Hey? You good? Whats…” He notices EJ has tears stained on his cheeks and his voice shifts to a softer tone, “EJ... whats wrong?” Ricky sits next to EJ putting an arm on his shoulder as EJ wipes away his tears.

“Gina broke up with me tonight” he says without making eye contact with Ricky.

Ricky looks at him speechless. He knew that Gina and EJ were kinda tense throughout the night but he had no idea it went this far. “Oh. EJ, I…”

Ricky is cut off as EJ starts to ramble anxiously, “I’m just stupid! I’m so stupid for thinking that I could be good enough for her.”

“No EJ don’t say that”

“No it’s true!” EJ makes eye contact with Ricky before continuing, “first Nini, now Gina! I’m just, a horrible person…I’m not- I’m not worth it” he concludes feeling extremely defeated.

Ricky looks at him upset, with a pang of guilt as he realizes that he unintentionally ruined two of EJ’s most treasured relationships.

EJ looks down at his feet, smiling wryly, “I mean, I’m such a failure that I’m not even good enough for my own father to say that he’s,” he stops for a moment staring at the wall blankly, “that he’s proud of me.”

A moment of silence passes until Ricky speaks up, unable to see EJ in such a weak and vulnerable position. He’s almost shocked to see the graduate so insecure of himself. Maybe he’s not as perfect as he seems to be?

Ricky turns to face EJ. “No you know what, that is absolutely not true you are not a failure EJ, you are so worth it, you are worth so much more than you know. and you know what? If your dad and Gina can’t see that then it’s their loss, because you are so incredible EJ.” EJ looks at him through his teary eyes as Ricky rambles on with a distant smile on his face. “I mean you’re talented, you’re kind and smart, and if I’m not wrong you were voted most likely to become a hollister model” he chuckles and EJ scoffs with a smile. “I see it, Maddox sees it, Val sees it! you’re the one who can’t see it.”

“Ricky you’re just saying that”

Ricky looks at him seriously, “I’m not! and EJ you don’t need someone else to prove that you’re worth it. I get it trust me, we all need validation. But EJ, you need to believe you are worth it. and as for Gina” Ricky sighs, “if you guys really are meant to be, she will come back to you. But EJ, maybe you just need to let her go first?”

“Yeah, i guess you’re right” EJ smiles back sadly.

Ricky smirks proudly to lighten up the mood, “when am i not?”

EJ punches his arm lightly as the two laugh quietly.

“Hey, it’s kind of like in frozen when Kristoff lets Anna go to Hans and when she realizes she loves Kristoff she comes back to him!” Ricky suddenly realizes, making a perfect analogy to EJ and Gina’s relationship. However, EJ doesn’t register this, choosing to focus on the fact that for once, Ricky actually got the plot of Frozen right. EJ looks at Ricky stunned, turning his body to face him.

“You- you actually know the script?” he asks.

Ricky blinks, “I mean, you did tell me to study it,” he replies referring to a couple hours ago at the camp prom.

“And you did??”

“Yeah…?”

“I- wow… thanks Ricky”

“No, thank you. You’re the reason we’re not gonna make a fool of ourselves on national television tomorrow. You might not think so but, I do appreciate you EJ.”

Ricky stands up and walks out, giving EJ a small smile and leaving him feeling a little more confident in himself than before.

i always pictured ricky and ej having some sort of heart-to-heart conversation in s3 after they’ve finally put their differences aside. this headcanon is where i imagine ricky discovering his sexuality for the first time after realizing he’s some what attracted to ej? and where ej realizes that ricky’s not that petty junior he was at the beginning of the school year and they can actually be friends. and it kinda leaves things open ended for portwell, rina, and caswen which they could’ve explored in season 4🤪

[ohjoshuas]

you’d think after the year someone like Joshua Bassett has had, he’d want to benefit/profit/capitalize off of this specific moment when HE finally chooses to tell his side of the story. It’s a significant and impactful moment for not only him but the entire saga this has become

and yet what does Joshua do?

he sends a preliminary text message thanking his fans for their support this past year and for seeing his humanity. he then asks that they not send hate to anyone knowing what this next chapter will bring and the kinds of conversations that will occur.

he donates a dollar for every pre-save of his ep (raising at least $13,423+) to help other people. he doesn’t earn a penny for himself (any claims that he is profiting off of Olivia’s fame are baseless and false)

he turns around 100% of his merch proceeds that he would’ve earned to a mental health organization of the buyer’s choosing

he mentions in his GQ interview his experience with sa and says he hopes to be a voice to those who can’t speak out

he also candidly shares glimpses into how traumatic of a year this has been. he shares how it felt like a losing battle to try and tell his side of the story. he says he’s not here to expose anyone but justifiably couldn’t keep it in.

he waited months to release his EP on his own timing and when he felt ready

rather than a constant, curated promotion of his new EP, he takes the time to post words of comfort and love to those who experience suicidal ideation

he is self-aware and cognizant of the effects that cyber-bullying and cancel culture can have and actively asks his fans not to send hate.

he reveals that he’s tried to talk to Olivia but that she hasn’t reciprocated his attempts. he sings that he still cares for Olivia and validates her hurt. then he maturely sets his own boundaries and affirms that he will not be hurt this way again.

he reclaims his narrative and name and side of the story with class and respect and kindness.

and this is just within the last week. name a more mature person and artist. I’ll wait.

(see my second reblog for more)

[ohjoshuas]

show some love to these videos! put them on "loop" by right-clicking on the Youtube video. And don't forget to show love to Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free! And join the streaming party of this EP tomorrow!

Listen, I won’t be content until Josh’s new music videos reach at least 2 million views on YouTube.

But also Telling Myself is so close to 4 million, and Only a Matter of Time is close to 5 million. can we please get him there and HYPE THIS BOY UP FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

[columbo-of-narnia]

I am not a Joshua Bassett apologist because he has nothing to apologize for. I will defend him in the most feral ways possible.

[anonymous2720]

this is my fifth consecutive time listening to she said he said she said

i have never hit replay this many times josh ily 💕

[ohginas]

follow my new joshua bassett sideblog @ohjoshuas because i neeeeed somewhere to regularly express my love for our boi

[miszswan]

MILLIE AND JOSH

this is a millie bobby brown and joshua bassett defense squad 

i am taking attendance

for real tho i hope millie is doing well through this whole situation with h*nter 

and its seriously terrifying to thing about how we could’ve lost josh earlier this year during all of the drama with liv

[magicwithineleteo]

i just wanna watch you when you take it off 🖤

(i hate the hehe in the beginning but i couldn’t remove it lmao) i hope u like this :D

[easthighwildcatz]

i’m a proud member of the joshua bassett defense squad thank you very much

[tearrsly]

back in my joshua bassett defense (defence) squad era