Brian Gorrell’s Story Increasingly Penetrating Mainstream Press

Brian Gorrell Now Goes After the Philippine Star

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PUBLISHED ON April 2, 2008 AT 8:55 AM

The blog of Brian Gorrell, the Australian who launched a personal Internet movement to get back the $70,000 that his former Filipino lover allegedly stole from him, is steadily penetrating the mainstream press. Although the people he exposed in his blog as cokeheads and thieves have not been identified or seen, this should be welcome news to Gorrell. (In a recent chat with him, Gorrell told me that while he disagrees with the way the mainstream press, including PinoyPress, deals with his story — specifically, that these vile people supposedly in high society cannot be identified for fear of libel — he, he said, gets it.)

Last night, TV Patrol World had a story on Gorrell. Perhaps this was a result of his rantings against the network, whose website recently ran a story that depicted as victims the people whom Gorrell had accused of being thieves? In both stories, the identities of Gorrell’s nemesis were not disclosed.

Prior to this, another ABS-CBN outfit, ANC, had a discussion on the Gorrell blog in its “Media in Focus” show. Of course, the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been covering the Gorrell saga, while the South China Morning Post ran a story.

It’s hard not to sympathize with Gorrell. His story is captivating because of all the dramatic elements in it — betrayal, sex, drug abuse, high society, homosexuality, etc. As we’ve pointed out in our interview with him, and as depicted in the TV Patrol broadcast, he just wants to get his money back so he can take care of himself. (He is HIV-positive.)

More than that, however, is the evident motive of the blog — Gorrell is on a crusade to redeem himself. He had admitted countless times that he had been stupid while dealing with his ex-lover who, by Gorrell’s depiction, stole not only the Australian’s life savings but also his self-respect.

Gorrell’s story, in other words, has all the elements of a terrific story that, were it not for the supposedly libelous nature of the accusations, would have made headlines in this telenovela-crazy country.

Perhaps Gorrell can take comfort in the fact that the line that separates mainstream journalism from such Internet phenomena as blogging is increasingly getting blurred. As a journalist, I’m not sure if that is a good thing. Then again, to a violated person like Gorrell whose story is shackled by the conventions of mainstream journalism (so that blogging seemed the only recourse), perhaps it couldn’t be any better. (CC Hidalgo)

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9 Responses to “Brian Gorrell’s Story Increasingly Penetrating Mainstream Press”

Franko Damian Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 am
Brian Gorrell is now a phenomenon. I think soon he’ll be famous, he’ll even start his own show entitled, the man who stole my money made me rich!
Brian Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 am
VERY GOOD STORY.

Thank you for taking the time.

Brian
dan gomez Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
hi brian.im dan 21 years old…i was amazed when u reveal ur bf as a swindler.although you dont know me but i will pray for your succees.pls be aware to strange people becoz u dont know about them..im ur no 1 fan…..when i see u on tv, you are so cute
rocky paul reyes Says:
April 7th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
iwww its such a terrible thing you know youre such a bitch
rocky paul reyes Says:
April 7th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
i mean youre boyfriend its such a bitch!!not you ok do you undrestand!!youre a such guy or a gay
rocky paul reyes Says:
April 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
jun lozada dpt tayong mag kapit bisig
anne Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 8:08 am
what?
its hard to not to symphatize with brian gorrel. oh come’on people! your so dumb ass. there are more problems in the country today than one hell story of a gay. attention plez. support jun lozada that’s what we should be into. it’s like that you’ve just heard that kind of story. ask your gay friends. mas malala pa cguro nang yari sa kanila. rice price hike. oil, food corruption, thats what we should be into. not that dramatic gay story which i think happend in 99 out of 100 gays. that stupid. gorrel can’t change economy. turn your fucking heads to the country’s crisis we are facing now. our childrens are starving yet your your so much attentive to that kind of story than what jun lozada is talking. what a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
ek Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Well Anne, part of the problem is in essence what Brian is trying to expose here –the upper crust of our society that is fleecing those of us at the bottom. Yes, there are numerous current crises that affect our daily lives such as the things you mentioned (gas, oil, food, etc.) But really though, who are the ones causing all these? Is it the vast majority of Filipino’s who are working hard to earn their living, or is it those that are in position whether that power comes from politics, connections, or wealth –acquired for the most part through dubious measures? Not to mention by means off of the backs of hard working Filipino’s?

Additionally, what does Brian’s sexuality have to do with the case in point? I say this because the tone of your comments are almost borderline prejudicial. Yes, this may happen to a lot of people, and I reiterate, people, as I do not think this case is unique to the gay community. Before I continue, let me digress and pose a question to you. Ever loose anything Anne that is so important to you that it leaves you feeling “hinayang”? Better yet, have you ever been robbed? Or anything stolen/taken from you? Well, if not, good for you. It is not a feeling that you get over with easily because it goes beyond the loss of something material, it leaves an impression of being personally violated. Now to go back to my point, what makes this situation unique (for me, and a lot of people) is that the group of people mentioned on Brian’s blog knows the real deal– Brian’s HIV-status, and that what is involve is this man’s hard earned personal life savings. Do you think Brian would need that money to, oh, I don’t know, maybe pay for his meds???

Yes, one could say that Brian may have been gullible for trusting DJ Montano without any guarantees. But then again, I’ve said it didn’t I? He trusted him. The key-word here is “trust”, a word that most people throw around in this case without truly knowing the true meaning of the word. Look it up!

As to the involvement of DJ Montano’s friends and their cronies’ outcry that they should not be involved, since they are his so-called close friends, they are just as culpable for knowing certain factual aspects of DJ Montano’s character. Give me a break!

And to come full circle to your grievances due to the lack of attention to much more “important things”, let me pose yet another question, before Brian Gorrell came into the picture weren’t we in the same situation as where we are now? And long after this fire dies down, do you think we’d be any better? It is one thing to talk about a situation and find resolutions on how to go about resolving that situation; it is by far a bigger task in doing. Peace.
The Truth About Brian Says:
April 19th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Brian is a social climber himself and tried to live the easy, good life while in Manila and Boracay. He was trying really hard to make friends with the Gucci Gang, and hoped to be one of them.

They, of course, rejected him in the end which is why he is so bitter.

I do believe DJ did take his money, though. But why Brian was so stupid as to just blindly send his life savings is his own stupidity.

But really, saving for your whole life and all you have is $70,000? That’s really pathetic. Brian is almost 40 years old.

That’s the problem with these gold diggers from outside. They offer nothing but HIV, but expect to live like a king because they are white and in the Philippines.

I have no sympathy for white opportunist trash like Brian. Good riddance!

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Brian Gorrell’s Story Increasingly Penetrating Mainstream Press

9 Responses to “Brian Gorrell’s Story Increasingly Penetrating Mainstream Press”

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