What are your thoughts on Oda defending a Sex Offender
Bad: Oda said (if I remember correctly) that the man was good and he hated people who turn their back on others very fast. So it was disrespectful, not politicized enough and therefore problematic. A statement was necessary but his was closer to a patriarcal allyship than a real ethical stance. And this is not surprising, he is a japanese man with very little understanding of patriarchy and adultism. His work is proof of that to an extent.
I believe in change and I'm anticarceralist so I believe more in reparations than sanctions. And I'm not even sure I would be capable of cutting ties with people I love myself fast (to a certain degree of course, I have my limits). So I understand the pov of Oda. Watsuki doesn't seem to be completely lost. BUT without reparations, without politicization, without change, the words of Oda are unhearable, worst, hurtfull for the victims.
And I can't be sure of that change and I don't think there is a reparation ongoing. I believe Watsuki is rich because of Kenshin, he should be acting to help the victims of get reparation at THE VERY LEAST. A new world can't be created without people who do bad things, but the current world is not letting the victims heal. So in my knowledge, the situation is currently unacceptable. I won't boycott One Piece for that. But it stays in my mind.
Remember: Change is possible, but reparation must ALWAYS be at the center of it.