My shock at reading Wendi’s diaries on Blair, by Murdoch
RUPERT Murdoch has spoken publicly for the first time about his shock at reading his ex-wife’s girlish notes about Tony Blair.
In a rare interview, the media mogul also confirmed that claims of Wendi Deng’s closeness to Mr Blair prompted him to file for divorce days after he was told they had spent weekends together.
Mr Murdoch, 83, made it clear that claims Mr Blair secretly met his wife at their Californian ranch had played a central role in his decision to end their 14year marriage.
It was alleged in February that Miss Deng, 45, had written notes to herself in which she praised Mr Blair’s ‘good body’, his ‘really, really good legs’ and his ‘butt’.
In a list of reasons why ‘I’m so missing Tony’, Chinese-born Miss Deng later gushed in poor English about his ‘pierce blue eyes which I love. Love his eyes. Also I love his power on the stage’.
Questioned by Fortune magazine in the US about her intimate musings, Mr Murdoch said: ‘I was shocked. But I didn’t read them and I was not given them until after I had filed for divorce.’
When asked whether reading the notes made him feel justified in divorcing Miss Deng, Mr Murdoch replied: ‘Right.’
Without naming Mr Blair – who denies an affair with Miss Deng – Mr Murdoch confirmed reports that friends had kept him in the dark about rumours over the pair’s relationship and their meetings at the ranch.
But as soon as he heard the stories he questioned staff and filed for divorce just a week later after rushing to find a lawyer.
But he said he would rather have divorced quietly and regret-
‘Never telling me anything’
ted allegations about his wife’s relationship with Mr Blair surfacing in Vanity Fair magazine in February. Confirming reports that friends and aides had kept quiet about his wife’s relationships with other men, Mr Murdoch said: ‘Well, you know, everybody was talking about these things and never telling me anything. But then I was told two pretty circumstantial things about the ranch. I was in Australia. When I got back, I naturally asked staff and it opened up.
‘That’s the story. And then, you know, a week later I filed. As soon as I could find a lawyer.’
His comments tally with claims in Vanity Fair linking Mr Blair, 60, to at least two suspicious trysts at the ranch with Miss Deng.
In October 2012, she reportedly told her husband she was having a girls’ weekend. However, only one girlfriend joined her before leaving early. Witnesses said Mr Blair then arrived and left with Miss Deng the following day.
Mr Blair allegedly failed to mention he had been staying with the tycoon’s wife when he spoke to Mr Murdoch a week later.
Vanity Fair said they then met at the ranch in April 2013. Miss Deng was to spend the weekend alone but Mr Blair arrived with his bodyguards by private jet.
Witnesses said he went straight to Miss Deng’s bedroom. They reportedly embarrassed staff by feeding each other at dinner.
Mr Blair was an old friend of the Murdochs and godfather to one of their children. According to Vanity Fair, Mr Murdoch had already heard rumours that his third wife was having affairs. But he was ‘taken aback’ when he learnt of a ‘too familiar’ relationship with Mr Blair.
Mr Murdoch said he had ‘turned over a new page in my life’ but was in an ‘unhappy situation’.
The Daily Mail has no evidence of an affair and Mr Blair has always denied there was one, but sources close to Mr Murdoch say he hasn’t spoken to his former friend and ally for months.