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Monday, 18 July 2011

A right pen and Ink



Whilst we await the next Hackgate resignation - people, this scandal is better than an episode of The Wire - thoughts turn to appropriate media behaviour. It's not just the phone-hacking and the entrapment, but the daily stream of toxic celebrity tittle-tattle too. As political columnist Henry Porter commented in yesterday's Observer, 'Murdoch played to our worst instincts and he is responsible for a fair amount of the heartlessness, coarseness and spite we see every day in the tabloid press.' And he's not wrong. The fuss made over TV presenter Fern Britton's tattoo, last week, is a case in point. Lambasted by the Mail and the Telegraph for daring to have an inky design on her abdomen at the ripe old age of 53, Britton remarked:

'I believe in growing old in any way that makes me happy. I get treated as if I've done something terrible. But I never have. I've never murdered anyone. Perhaps I should have had "I'm a twat" tattoed on my forehead. Would they have preferred that?'


Phone-hacking. Fern Britton. Personal privacy. What do you think?



Photo: Woman & Home
Fern Britton quote: The Guardian
at

12 comments:

  1. A Thrifty Mrs18 July 2011 at 15:04

    I hadn't heard about Fern's tattoo. Right old meeja scandal eh?

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  2. Patti18 July 2011 at 16:12

    I don't know this woman but I love her and I am stealing her quote: "I believe in growing old in any way that makes me happy."

    Murdoch: here come those chickens, home to roost.

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  3. Alison Cross18 July 2011 at 16:26

    Poor Fern - it doesn't matter what she does, someone in the meeja has a pop at her. And it's not as if she's a drunken slag photographed tipping out of nightclubs!

    Go on yourself Fern!

    Ali x

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  4. Wildernesschic18 July 2011 at 17:49

    As I am actually considering being inked myself .. and I am a woman of a certain age and a Tat virgin.. I am amazed at the reaction to poor Fern's abdomen.. she looks absolutely amazing and why not celebrate xx

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  5. Vix18 July 2011 at 18:17

    I love Fern and completely agree with her growing old quote. Why are people so threatened by forthright, attractive women? x

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  6. WendyB18 July 2011 at 18:37

    I'm laughing at "I'm a twat" image...

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  7. highheeledlife18 July 2011 at 21:28

    I often wonder what is missing in the lives of some people that they feel they have the "right" to judge others - who have done nothing to hurt anyone, and are going about living their life. Fern's response made me smile ... I hope she and all of us continue to live our lives for us and not worry or give any thought to the negative comments of others.

    Great post! xo HHL

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  8. Tiffany18 July 2011 at 22:04

    Spouse (he once worked at News here in Oz) and I are greatly enjoying the rage that's being directed at Murdoch. It couldn't happen to a more deserving man ...

    As for the tattoo, only on the weekend was I thinking that I quite fancy another one (the one I have I got in my early 20s). What business is it of anyone else's? And what relevance does age have to ink?

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  9. WeShop18 July 2011 at 22:11

    Good for Fern. I'm not a huge fan of tattoos, but if it was what she wanted then why not? xx
    We Shop Therefore We Are

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  10. Anonymous18 July 2011 at 22:20

    I've been avidly following the #notw scandal(s) on twitter.

    In some ways, the media have created a certain level of uncivility in the world we're living in.

    If a woman wants a tummy tattoo at age 53--that's HER business.

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  11. Fashionistable21 July 2011 at 13:58

    She is damed if she does and damed if she doesnt. Since she had the gastric band fitted the press seem to feel they can have a go at her. Personal choice is personal choice. Then again as she is talking about it people are going to have an opinion. They dont bat an eyelid when Beckham adds to his collection (which in my humble opinion is looking quite gross now). But it is not hurting anyone in any way so what the heck. Xxxx

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  12. Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted26 July 2011 at 12:06

    I think Fern is fabulous. The press are so petty and ridiculous. I still get stuck on Mail online for bloody hours without meaning to xx

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