Is Richard Stallman cancelled?*

In a 2019 email thread Stallman made remarks about rape that lead to his resignation from MIT and the Free Software Foundation. He had been discussing deceased MIT professor Marvin Minsky, who had visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island for two academic symposia. Virginia Giuffre, who is an alleged victim of Epstein's sex trafficking ring, claims that she was directed to have sex with Minsky by Ghislaine Maxwell. Stallman argued that Minsky may not have been guilty of rape objected to the wording of the accusations against him. Stallman apologized, and subsequently returned to the Free Software Foundation in 2021.

I've called him [Jeffrey Epstein] a 'serial rapist', and said he deserved to be imprisoned. But many people now believe I defended him—and other inaccurate claims—and feel a real hurt because of what they believe I said. I'm sorry for that hurt. I wish I could have prevented the misunderstanding.

• Famed Computer Scientist Richard Stallman Described Epstein Victims As ‘Entirely Willing’ - VICE