No agony over ecstasy for Fry

Stephen Fry, the actor and writer, mounted a spirited defence of his
controversial comments on ecstasy yesterday, saying he would rather resign
as rector of Dundee University than lie about his use of the drug.

Describing as "fatuous" the furious response to his confession in Neon
magazine that he had taken ecstasy once, Fry said he had not advocated use
of the drug.

"Do I advocate the use of illegal drugs? No, I do not because they are
illegal," he told listeners to Radio One DJ Mark Radcliffe's Afternoon Show.

"I was asked in an interview if I have done ecstasy. I said yes I have. I
said it didn't really do much for me because it's all about dancing and I'm
not much of a dancer.

"But, unfortunately, we live in a society where we are expected to make
greasy moral pronouncements.

"Of course I didn't recommend that people go out and stuff themselves full
of illegal chemicals, because they might collapse or die and lots of awful
things happen to them.

"But to be put in a position where one is expected to sound like a greasy,
moral sanctimonious little prick; the idea of anyone taking any notice of
what I do is fatuous."

Asked if he felt he could carry on as rector of Dundee University, Fry
said: "I really didn't want to sound like some moral prig. If giving moral
leadership involves being dishonest then I will resign.

"If they want me to lie then I will have to resign because I am not going
to lie."