This is one of those hero-or-coward dichotomies.

- If you avoid the guy, you're a coward.
- If you forgive him at great risk to your career, you're a hero.

What is an average rational person supposed to do? Is there nothing in between? I can't think of what it would be, and both extremes sound logical on paper. But it seems horrible to have to make that choice.

Maybe part of his crime (assuming he actually did something wrong, that isn't clear) includes creating this situation. When you do something immoral, you put your friends (I know Penn said he wasn't a "friend", but for the sake of the general concept...) in this impossible position.

And it depends on what he actually did. Was his victim harmed? If so... is forgiving him a burden or a right, and in either case, whose is it?

I would say that is a false dichotomy.

First of all, Penn doesn't have any details about what the guy did. I don't know if Penn would feel any differently if he did have the details. Maybe he'd feel different or maybe not. Either way, he's speaking from a position of ignorance.

Secondly, he said that the guy isn't a close friend of his. I think there are times were you have to stand by someone no matter what. For example, if Penn had a brother that committed a crime, I'd expect Penn to stand by his side because thats a special situation...that's family. It gets kinda iffy when you start talking about people you aren't close to. Why should Penn risk his career for someone he doesn't know well?

Lastly, Penn wouldn't just risk his own career, but the careers of anyone that works for him and possibly the livelihood of anyone that might be dependant on him monetarily. If he was a solo act with no employees and didn't work for anyone at all, I'd say he'd be well within his right to do whatever the hell he wanted. However, he's got a lot of people depending on him. Does he risk allowing those people to lose their incomes so that he can call himself a hero? Would he be a hero if he risked other peoples incomes or careers? I have to say, if I worked for or with Penn and Teller, I'd be kinda pissed at them if they worked with the guy without considering how it might impact me.

Could you summarise what was said in the video?

Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMODTxNJk4k

I tried, but the link showed me the same message, alas.
If someone could hold YouTube down for me, so I can kick it a few times.
Thank you.

I didn't see that you had changed the subject line instead of just typing your message in the actual message content box.

Some guy Penn worked with briefly was arrested for some unspecified "sex thing". He is now out of prison, and now one must decide if he should be forgiven and allowed back into the business relationship, or shunned for the sake of the show's public image. I hope that is an accurate summary of the video.

Many details are unavailable, so my comment is about the general concept, which may not be 100% true for the real situation.

Why Crackle/Sony must be such douchebags about letting people outside of the US watch Penn Says, I have no idea.

Same here guys. This sounds pretty heavy.