Poor Laura at Whit’s end as she takes a pop at paps
KUDOS to Laura Whitmore because she has done phenomenally well in the notoriously cutthroat and competitive world of showbusiness. Laura is no overnight success and she has forced her way from the fringes of MTV to present some of the UK’s biggest shows. Her success has come through a mix of hard work and talent and there is no denying she is whip-smart with a degree in journalism to boot.
But must she take the rest of us for thickos? This week Laura took a nasty broadside at the media that had no small part in her meteoric rise. In rationalising her recent leather-clad pregnancy photoshoot she sniffed loftily: ‘I knew that the first time the world sees my bump, it won’t be because some weird man has followed me and taken a picture and sold it. Last year, there was a story in the paper that Iain and I had got engaged, with a picture of me on a run with my engagement ring on.’
For context here, Laura lives on the outskirts of London which is not a hotbed of celebrity or a hangout for hopeful photographers. If the paparazzi are going to be hanging around anywhere it is Knightsbridge, Belgravia or Central London – not random parks in the suburbs.
If ‘weird’ little men do schlep out to the sticks it is because inside intel whispered in their ‘weird’ little ears. I am not suggesting that Laura or Iain were the source of her engagement leaks. It is a proven showbiz truism that loose lips lead to papped pics.
It is also horribly hypocritical for Laura – who has positioned herself as a leader of the ‘be kind’ brigade – to label someone who is just doing their job ‘a weird little man’.
It is also an attempt to rewrite her rise to fame given pictures of a previous unknown Laura show her conveniently ‘popping up’ in the right places to smile broadly for the lens of those same men she slates. Weird that, isn’t it
Disney villain of its own f ilms
THE Disney channel with its full catalogue of films featuring adorable wacky animal tales and cast of villains provided a welcome retreat from lockdown misery. A couple of hours of escapism into the celluloid world of Disney is the perfect antidote for small kids, and grown-up ones like me.
But the insane wokery sweeping state institutions, health departments and even the BBC has now reached Disney and, suddenly, what was yesterday viewed as harmless fun with a sprinkling of magic dust is now toxic racism or some other kind of ‘ism’.
We all laughed at the capers of the two Siamese cats in Lady And The Tramp but who would have thought that portrayal was racist? And however did we make it through childhood without the need for some politically correct reprogramming after being exposed to the laugh-a-minute antics of Miss Piggy and a little green frog?
But that was then and this is now. So before today’s kids sit down for a bit of magic they are treated to an in-your-face real life Orwellian doomsday warning that ‘This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures’. Before the curtain is lifted parents are required to engage in ‘the gospel of realism according to the word of wokery’ by explaining to seven year olds the meaning of cultural appropriation or some such nonsense.
The same warning is now on a host of well-loved classics.
So with a heavy heart I cancelled my Disney subscription this week. In a world gone politically correct crazy, we are not even allowed an hour’s escapism without being lectured to. Fine. But I’m not paying for the privilege.
Ad body seems to lack real inf luence
THE publicly funded quango that is the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland this week released results of research commissioned in what could reasonably be called a ‘Pointing Out the Obvious’ Poll . The poll reported that the ‘majority of Irish adults believe social media influencers are inauthentic and misrepresent real life’. In announcing the results, the ASAI chief executive Orla Twomey said: ‘With power lies great responsibility as consumers are demanding more from the influencers they follow and trust.’
This is a group of people who filter their lives beyond all realms of reality and who shill cheap Chinese make-up and tat as their own creation to the gullible. So anathema to responsible behaviour are some influencers that when questioned on some of their many dubious practices they resort to either blocking, insults or retreating into a pit of self-pity.
I am in a state of flux as to whether Ms Twomey was being facetious or farcical ascribing ‘power and responsibility’ to influencers who know nothing of either.
Paralympians are true source of pride
IN CONTRAST to influencers, the group of young Paralympians on The Late Late Show are precisely the type of people others should be influenced by. They know and own exactly who they are and instead of trying to filter themselves into a more perfect version they are proud of their imperfections.
There was no whinging or selfpity but an abundance of pride with one athlete telling Ryan Tubridy that she prefers to be called a ‘Paralympian and not an Olympian’ as the para tag attached to her name and achievements may be a source of inspiration for other para athletes. Now that is power and responsibility. And they didn’t even have to be paid a penny.
Tiger’s greatest win in golf is yet to come
HAVING watched the new Tiger Woods documentary what struck me was despite golf being the absolute love of his life, he never really got to enjoy the game itself.
He had a life spent putting for his father, for sponsors, for fans, for the win but he never seemed to take joy in just hitting the green and enjoying the camaraderie and fun that comes with golf.
That was until recently when he was smiling as a proud papa as he teed off with his son Charlie. That day Tiger enjoyed a round of golf. So while his car accident could be career-ending, let us hope that after all he did for the game he’ll be back not for more trophies but simply for the love of the sport.