It was a weak attempt to "own it" instead of hiding in shame with that sword hanging over you in every conversation. Which, granted, is the only real option you have, but it doesn't undo the damage.
I wouldn't call it perfectly, but it worked enough for his supporters to continue to be his supporters openly.
Though given his place as the "shameless asshole" of the atheist movement, he really didn't have anywhere deeper to go and they were big on that "sex positive, all kink all the time" thing at the time.
It was a weak attempt to "own it" instead of hiding in shame with that sword hanging over you in every conversation. Which, granted, is the only real option you have, but it doesn't undo the damage.
By all accounts it worked perfectly and he faced no downsides or consequences of any kind.
I wouldn't call it perfectly, but it worked enough for his supporters to continue to be his supporters openly.
Though given his place as the "shameless asshole" of the atheist movement, he really didn't have anywhere deeper to go and they were big on that "sex positive, all kink all the time" thing at the time.