The Ironic Legacy of Jimmy Savile: A Cautionary Tale of 'Stranger Danger'

Noah Silverbrook

Updated Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

The unsettling irony of Jimmy Savile's book cover has recently resurfaced online, sparking a whirlwind of reactions and disbelief. The book, titled "STRANGER DANGER," features a photograph of Jimmy Savile above the bold, capitalized red letters of the title. Alongside Savile's image, the cover introduces Benjamin Rabbit, an innocuous children's character, with the subtext, "WHAT A CHILD NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT STRANGERS."

Jimmy Savile, once a beloved radio and TV presenter, was known for his charity marathons and his popular show "Jim'll Fix It," where he appeared to be a saint to many children. However, the revelations of his predatory behavior have cast a dark shadow over his once-admired public image. Commentators on Reddit have not held back, with one user remarking, "He hid in plain sight," while another stated, "Savile was pure evil."

The irony of Savile lecturing children on "Stranger Danger" is not lost on the community. One user pointed out, "He certainly wasn't a stranger, and any accusations were obviously the deranged ravings of hysterical young girls." This tragic oversight led to a generation of parents who, unaware of the truth, saw Savile as a harmless figure, even encouraging their children to write to him on "Jim'll Fix It."

The juxtaposition of the innocent Benjamin Rabbit character against the backdrop of Savile's crimes makes the book cover a stark symbol of misplaced trust and the dangers of assuming safety based on public persona. One comment humorously noted, "If you're starting a *Museum of Sick Irony*, this would be a great exhibit."

The cover has also sparked discussions on broader societal issues. A user highlighted the modern paradox of warnings against strangers, noting how technology has normalized summoning strangers through services like Uber and food delivery apps.

Jimmy Savile's story is a chilling reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to critically assess the people entrusted with children's safety. The book cover, intended as a guide on avoiding danger, now stands as a grim testament to how appearances can be deceiving. As one user poignantly put it, "A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met… or a raging p***phile, but life *is* a gamble."

This resurfacing image serves as a powerful lesson: always question and investigate, for evil can often hide in plain sight.

Noticed an error or an aspect of this article that requires correction? Please provide the article link and reach out to us. We appreciate your feedback and will address the issue promptly.

View source: Reddit

Top Comments from Reddit

Fantom_Renegade

What am I missing ? Edit: damn, I missed A LOT

Every-Progress-1117

Here's the thing, he \*wasn't\* a stranger...he was more or less the most popular radio and TV presenter, he did marathons for charity, he worked with patients at hospitals, he was a saint to many children who watched and wrote to the Jim'll Fix It show - almost compulsory viewing at the time. **We all knew him**, he certainly wasn't a stranger and any accusations were obviously the deranged ravings of hysterical young girls.. He hid in plain sight. Those that knew didn't want to tell because they knew they¨d all end up in the s\*\*t. Much better to warn about strangers and not the nice TV personality who wouldn't do such things.... Saville was pure evil.

mike_pants

I guess he'd be the expert on the subject.

WinOk2515

Jesus. Talk about hiding in plain sight

Zealousideal_Luck322

A Serious Question though. My parents did not see him as a threat or problematic at all, and I think, rather admired him. They almost encouraged me to write to him on Jim’ll fix it, but I didn’t really want to. I, as a child, sensed he was creepy, dangerous, someone to avoid, etc. etc. Did anyone else have a childhood sense that their parents didn’t seem to be aware of ?

abuzar_sid

He used his expertise

sloppyredditor

They'd have been much better off listening to *STREET SMARTS!*

jerseyanarchist

the fun part is, kids were told "don't take rides from strangers" but we have uber, which is literally summoning strangers from the internet for a ride. don't take candy from strangers; doordash/eats/grubhub/postmates again summoning strangers from the internet to give you things what a world technology has made

Uniquarie

What a child needed to know about Jimmy Saville. Written by someone with great knowledge…

FocalorLucifuge

Welp, you can't say they didn't use a perfect shot of Jimmy Savile, like he's perving gleefully right through that hole at the little reader.