Messup434
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Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
This is a topic that I think is important and needs to be discussed, but in a considerate way for the wide range of audience on here.
This was one of the most shocking and devastating events that I've had in awhile (which is saying a lot in 2020). At first I felt like I was surprisingly unaffected by the news, but it's stayed with me so much and I've been pretty low the past couple of days because of it.
If anyone doesn't know what this is, Drew Drechsel was arrested on Tuesday for the abuse and luring of a minor. As much I hate to believe one of the people I've looked up to so much over the past few years (and cheered on at numerous events) did this, there is no doubt at all in my mind. I've lost all my respect for him. Things don't get better with the fact that investigators also found illicit and highly inappropriate photos saved on his computer. It does make me worry that there are more victims out there from him.
It's insane that this creep has been working at a ninja gym for five years with kids of all ages. And how many people looked up to him. I have to say, these things don't usually have a lasting effect on me as sad as they are. But since the news broke, even thinking about Ninja or doing obstacle training just feels wrong to me. I hope that doesn't seem silly or like I'm minimizing the problem to this. I'm not. It just shows how much this has left me in shock and horror at what someone I admired and supported is.
The man we saw on the course is sadly not who he is. He's good at obstacles and that can't be denied. But he is not the type of person you see on the course. He's depraved for what he has done, and for how he has continued doing such inappropriate stuff up until now.
I am actually surprised at how almost all of the ninjas are completely disowning him. I think it's good - there is no doubt he is guilty of this based on the evidence. For those who are holding out for him to be ruled guilty, I get it. It's incredibly difficult to go from one day idolizing/being friends with someone to immediately accepting them as an awful human being. It's been hard for me to do so too.
I know many people who were personally coached by Drew, but can only imagine their emotions right now. This will heal, but it will have a lasting impact on those it affected most. I feel awful for April and his son. It's an awful situation all around.
I never thought I'd make this topic. So disappointing.
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8/Aug/20, 6:53 am
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Takeshi1
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
The evidence is fairly concrete - no doubt he'll be behind bars for a long time and so he should. Manipulating and abusing kids in this way for his own sexual purposes is absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. It would have taken the victim so much strength and bravery to speak out against this so the fact she has is admirable. My heart goes out to the victim and her family, any other victims of his who could be out there and anyone who has gone through this and knows how it feels. This will be a gut-wrenching blow to all those who have idolised him for his ninja talents and commitment to achieving Total Victory as well as all the kids he has trained over the years. I think it will be very difficult for April to have to come to terms with this and one day tell Korey what happened to his dad and I'm also feeling for Flip right now who has been incredibly open about the sexual assault he suffered in his past so to have someone he called his friend for so long doing these horrific acts behind his back will I'm sure have hit him immeasurably hard. This whole case is disturbing and horrific but I'm glad the show has taken swift action and I hope that if anything good is to come from this it is making sure that all the kids in the ninja community are protected from these atrocious acts in the future.
Edited by Takeshi1, 8/Aug/20, 11:38 am
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8/Aug/20, 11:36 am
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Brekkie
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Is shocking and disgusting and puts NBC in a tricky position with their upcoming All Star series with pretty much no choice but to cut ties. and no doubt rewrite history and effectively wipe out his total victory.
But you always have to have in the back in your mind innocent till proven guilty, and false allegations can ruin peoples lives too. We've only heard the prosecutors side so far, but the case does appear to be pretty clear, so guess whereever he's locked up they'll need to make sure the walls are more than 14 feet high!
Edited by Brekkie, 8/Aug/20, 11:29 pm
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"It's a bit like water boarding. It's got water in it... and I'm bored!"
Charlie Brooker on Total Wipeout
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8/Aug/20, 11:27 pm
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Messup434
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
I do think that while what he did is absolutely disgusting and irredeemable (obviously), there's no real reason to remove his victory.
No matter what, he won the show and you can't take that away (although from a post I read on Sasuke Maniac, it sounds like NBC can take his million dollars away!). It just doesn't make sense. People have said refer to Isaac and Geoff as the two winners, but that's not only inaccurate, but raises many questions with Drew's younger fans that could just be avoided otherwise.
It's not like they talked about Isaac and Geoff all that much after they won and didn't return, so how about they just don't touch the subject.
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9/Aug/20, 7:04 am
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Takeshi1
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
They can very easily mention a Total Victory without mentioning him. Only two men have ever won the million dollars, Only three men have completed all three stages or even just ignore tht completely and say Can anyone achieve Total Victory and become the next American Ninja Warrior?
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9/Aug/20, 11:17 am
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Brekkie
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Once someone achieves Total Victory are they usually able to come back and try again? I'm not sure why (other than the money) they'd want to considering they'd already proven they can beat the course and considering they have enough spin-off now for the All Star contestants I think it would be better for the show to move on with new talent anyway.
As for NBC taking the prize away - I suspect it is paid as an annuity rather than a lump sum (say $50k a year for 20 years), so probably a get out clause for NBC in there to stop the annuity in a situation like this, which when you look at the situation is completely understandable.
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"It's a bit like water boarding. It's got water in it... and I'm bored!"
Charlie Brooker on Total Wipeout
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9/Aug/20, 1:22 pm
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Messup434
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
They can come back. Similar to Sasuke, the winners return to see if they can beat the new/remodeled course.
I mean that theoretically since none of our winners have done so  There also isn't very much evolution after a Total Victory in ANW or Sauke these days, so beating it twice does seem a bit pointless. I guess it's good for the show and allows fans to have favorites and the like.
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14/Aug/20, 9:21 am
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Messup434
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
Still no court date, this is taking way too long!
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13/Jul/21, 11:29 pm
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Brekkie
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
Finally some movement on this after three years with a plea deal done,, but sentencing still won't be till October and he still faces up to 60 years in jail.
Alot of detail in this post which makes uncomfortable reading.
https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2023/06/drew-drechsel-update-guilty-plea/
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"It's a bit like water boarding. It's got water in it... and I'm bored!"
Charlie Brooker on Total Wipeout
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20/Jun/23, 4:16 pm
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Messup434
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Re: Drew Drechsel: Arrested and Banned from Ninja
And it’s about to be three years that this has been a thing.
Just horrible. My uncle believes that if he took a plea deal for 60 years in jail, there must be some expectation that his sentence won’t actually be that long.
Either way he should be in there for awhile. Get f***ed.
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25/Jul/23, 6:35 pm
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