Grief has no price tag
Damian is lucky to be so close to his mum as he deals with this tragic loss
There is a deep sadness surrounding any suicide. Pure grief is deepened by the horrifying, unwarranted guilt felt by close family and friends. So headlines around the half-a-billion dollar inheritance that Steve Bing might leave after his death feel pretty distasteful.
Bing was the playboy father of Liz Hurley’s son, Damian. He famously denied paternity until a DNA test proved otherwise. With a distinct lack of gallantry, he said, ‘Ms Hurley and I were not in an exclusive
Steve (inset) and Liz were an item in the early 2000s relationship when she became pregnant. It is her choice to be a single mother.’ A second paternity test proved he had fathered a daughter with a tennis player – another child he had refused to believe was his.
We can all dream of his inherited billion-dollar riches, but Bing’s life was a classic example of money not buying happiness. The man had a monumental social life and revelled in his role as film producer, but clearly had issues. What makes his death particularly sad is that Hurley revealed they had become close again in recent months. Generously, she paid tribute to a ‘sweet, kind man’. She said they had last spoken on Damian’s 18th birthday in April. What an absolute tragedy for that young man. To have your existence denied by your father, then reunite, only to lose him weeks later before really getting to know him is impossibly cruel. It’s a good job Damian’s glamorous mum is such a solid tower of support – no amount of inherited wealth could make that pain go away.
Good hair day
I have just had THE best invitation. Joining Bradley Cooper on his private jet to a Greek island? Nope. My hairdressers have just rung to say they can fit me in on 4 August. I have never been more excited about anything in my life, ever.
Nicely put, Chris O’dowd
‘I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY SAY, I WON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE GYM BEFORE THERE’S A VACCINE. OR AFTER THERE’S A VACCINE.’
Mugged off
Mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins has been talking about how she took on two teenagers who were mugging an old lady. She sprinted across two lanes of traffic to confront the thieves because no one was helping the victim.
She said, ‘I never want to be that woman who looks the other way.’
Bravo, Katherine – for an opera singer, you totally rock.