Please or to access all these features

Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

Why Justine Roberts should not give in to demanding celebrities

158 replies

IwantToRetire · 11/01/2026 20:36

Please note this post is NOT about the politics of the letter itself but about the ill advised attempt by celebrities to put one woman on the spot in public, and misunderstanding what the power of mumsnet is.

Irrespective of whether anyone does or does not support the letter written by self regarding luvvies https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJv6qEHsa8XAQHfc_wjzUvNTqI2uCrvU0k45uk8H-UM/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0 they have no right to put one woman in the public spotlight by demanding Justine Roberts works with them.

So this was my first reaction to this situation. It is about as rude and unsisterly as demanding that Starmer's wife joins their campaign. Or like those immature tv presenters who long for a gotcha moment and go on and on asking the same question to try and get some celebrity or politician to make a public statement.

Secondly, with all due respect to Justine Roberts in her skill and willingness to create such an important forum for "mums", what makes mumsnet important is the wide range of contributors who do not look to JR like hive bees do to their queen!

So if these self publicists want mumsnet to get behind them, have the decency to sign up to mumsnet or request a guest post and then be prepared to respond to what will be a wide ranging and no doubt intense debate.

So not only should they not have put JR on the spot in the public domain, if they suceed in getting a "mumsnet" response via MNHQ then it leaves mumsnet open to any number of no doubt sincere campaigners demanding that they to get MN recognition.

So stop the public bullying of JR.

It is not a very nice thing to have done.

(for those who want to discuss the campaign itself there are a number of threads, one on AIBU and one on FWR)

Open letter: Mothers Appeal To Mumsnet CEO Justine Roberts

Dear Justine, While sharing the magic of Christmas with our children, it was heartbreaking to see images of little boys and girls just like ours in flooded tents and without food or warmth or medical support in Gaza, after everything they’ve already be...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJv6qEHsa8XAQHfc_wjzUvNTqI2uCrvU0k45uk8H-UM/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
peacefulpeach · 17/01/2026 22:51

Lazychains · 13/01/2026 08:46

Maybe we could pick one of them at random and send them an open letter asking them why they haven't done anything about one of those issues? I am sure they would really welcome being individually spotlighted in the press and see it as an entirely reasonable way to go about things.

Great idea! They’ve all got a fan base and influence after all.

Shedmistress · 17/01/2026 06:08

So it was blackmail after all. What a surprise.

IwantToRetire · 17/01/2026 01:50

Not saying its true but Big Issue have reflected concerns about public door stepping, but has allowed the luvvies the last voice to make it look like they did nothing wrong.

Quote:

While many were in support of its goals, others objected to Roberts and the UK-based Mumsnet forum being publicly asked to take a view on an international conflict.

The organisers told the Big Issue that they contacted Roberts privately before the letter was officially released, and that Roberts has agreed to meet with the organisers to discuss the issues raised.

https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/famous-mums-jessie-buckley-judi-dench-mumsnet-maternity-gaza/

And of course glosses over the real issue which asking JR to sign as a sucessful woman, is totally different to get her to sign so that they can say mumnet(ters) are behind their campaign.

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 15/01/2026 06:53

Who mentioned conspiracy theories? Confused

IwantToRetire · 15/01/2026 01:39

Just to illustrate the danger for JR, who I am sure will handle the crass behaviour of this group very well, look at the uproar to today about JKR.

She posted about what has been happening in Iran.

So now she is being deluged with posts / tweets about why is she posting about this when she has never posted about Gaza?

If you are in the public eye you have to watch your step.

After all, most of us on here have, thanks to JR, the comfort of being able to hide ourselves behind user names.

OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 15/01/2026 01:35

There is some obsessive poster who obviously thrives on conspiracy theories.

But just to be clear I did start a post on FWR about this attempt to trap JR and it made me uncomfortable.

But these nut jobs who now seem to haunt mumsnet and make many threads just silly, seem to think there must be a "motive".

So sorry to disappoint but like many I use this discussion forum to get feed back. And as a result of that I first thought, because the luvvies riled me so much I would publish an open letter to them complaining about their rudeness and tell the media I had done it so they could puff it up bigger that it really was, and ask anyone who agreed that what is effectively door stepping isn't very sisterly.

But then someone suggested site stuff, because as I said in the OP, this isn't about the politics of the cause, but the behaviour of these self regarding individuals.

So I took up that situation.

It is becoming a creeping negativity on MN that so many poster immediately jump on a thread and presume it isn't a true post by whoever the OP is, but some conspiracy or something.

Of like the repetitive posts on this thread going on and on about it must be part of a conspiracy, a bit like someone on a thread on FWR saying posters were only saying what they were saying because they had been paid by russian dollars or something.

OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 15/01/2026 01:26

Gjill · 12/01/2026 11:31

The reason people object to it is because it puts JR in an impossible position. Either she agrees to support it (but inevitably achieves nothing because mn has no unified view or power here) and is forever inundated with similar requests OR she ignores/refuses and people call her heartless or start attacking her for ‘supporting Israel’.

Astonishing about of whatabouterry, but this posts by Gjill summarises my longer OP.

None of the luvvies who signed it were approached in public.

JR has been.

And of equal importance mumsnet has influence because of its diverste range of users. That is the real power.

JR in enabling discusion to happen is a skill, but it is not, anything to do with her as an individual representing the diverse range of opinions of however many users there are.

And yes, in terms of campaigning "ettiquette" you just do not, put someone on the spot in public. Although it is the tactic of those for whom politics is just performative.

OP posts:
Lazychains · 13/01/2026 17:09

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 15:07

Because the entire aim of such a letter is to raise awareness and create publicity for whichever cause they are highlighting. You are all doing a wonderful job of doing that for them by complaining about it.

I have no issue raising the profile of this cause it's one I have a lot of sympathy for. However I have lost a lot of respect for the celebrities who chose to single out an individual and target them with an open letter. I don't want to live in a society where people can bully like that

Lazychains · 13/01/2026 17:08

ProfessorBinturong · 13/01/2026 16:56

Then why was everyone who's signed contacted privately? Why was there no open letter to each of them?

Exactly. Why did Justine get a different treatment from all the signatories of the list?
Would they like to be individually singled out in an open letter in the press insisting that they take on some cause or other?

ProfessorBinturong · 13/01/2026 16:56

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 15:07

Because the entire aim of such a letter is to raise awareness and create publicity for whichever cause they are highlighting. You are all doing a wonderful job of doing that for them by complaining about it.

Then why was everyone who's signed contacted privately? Why was there no open letter to each of them?

Pacificsunshine · 13/01/2026 15:29

The best course of action would be for JR to ignore this and all other begging letters. She has enough punch to directly support what she wants to. Otherwise just don’t jump on any band wagons.

peacefulpeach · 13/01/2026 15:11

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 15:07

Because the entire aim of such a letter is to raise awareness and create publicity for whichever cause they are highlighting. You are all doing a wonderful job of doing that for them by complaining about it.

You hadn’t heard of this particular cause before now?

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 15:07

elgreco · 12/01/2026 15:14

Those who think its such a fab idea need to explain why it couldn't be done privately.

Because the entire aim of such a letter is to raise awareness and create publicity for whichever cause they are highlighting. You are all doing a wonderful job of doing that for them by complaining about it.

Shedmistress · 13/01/2026 09:26

SpringBulbsPop · 13/01/2026 09:01

It’s a great letter.
Honestly - what a waste of time getting annoyed with this!

It is fantastic. If the aim is blackmail. Otherwise no.

ProfessorBinturong · 13/01/2026 09:26

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 07:37

I, for one, would not have been aware of this request if you hadn't all got cross about it. Therefore you have all raised its profile, so the publicity they hoped it would receive has been.

What do you think the 'it' is that has received publicity? The situation in Gaza or Justine's views on that situation?

If the former, why would an open letter to someone in government/the Israeli ambassador/another relevant person not have done the same? If the latter, why is that important?

BIossomtoes · 13/01/2026 09:22

Lazychains · 13/01/2026 09:17

You clearly don't understand the profoundly concerning implications of this setting a precedent

What are those concerns? And don’t respond with the “private individual” shtick because the letter was addressed to Justine Roberts, owner and MD of a multi million £ business with strong influence, not Justine Roberts private individual.

Lazychains · 13/01/2026 09:17

SpringBulbsPop · 13/01/2026 09:01

It’s a great letter.
Honestly - what a waste of time getting annoyed with this!

You clearly don't understand the profoundly concerning implications of this setting a precedent

SpringBulbsPop · 13/01/2026 09:01

It’s a great letter.
Honestly - what a waste of time getting annoyed with this!

Lazychains · 13/01/2026 08:48

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 07:37

I, for one, would not have been aware of this request if you hadn't all got cross about it. Therefore you have all raised its profile, so the publicity they hoped it would receive has been.

I have no issue with them raising the profile of these concerns.
That's quite separate from my issues around the way they have gone about trying to strong arm Justine into getting involved. I have to say my respect for all the women who signed that letter has plummeted because it's clearly unacceptable to target an individual in the way they have done. And really it's accomplished nothing whereas an open to Yvette Cooper would have at least kept it high on the relevant government ministers agenda

Lazychains · 13/01/2026 08:46

peacefulpeach · 13/01/2026 08:08

Perhaps several of the signatories of the letter are now thrilled that their names have been identified as supporting a letter that asked the MN lady to rally MN membership to Uhm oh I’ve forgotten women and girls Palestine something like that. Social justice points for said celebrities, with no personal effort whatsoever. Unless you count lifting a pen. Not even that these days.

Perhaps now these erstwhile celebs can do the same for women and girls in Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan, grooming gang victims in the uk, child brides in the US, women and girls in Pakistan.

I look forward to all of these Letters demanding action from a woman in the UK.

Maybe we could pick one of them at random and send them an open letter asking them why they haven't done anything about one of those issues? I am sure they would really welcome being individually spotlighted in the press and see it as an entirely reasonable way to go about things.

peacefulpeach · 13/01/2026 08:08

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 07:37

I, for one, would not have been aware of this request if you hadn't all got cross about it. Therefore you have all raised its profile, so the publicity they hoped it would receive has been.

Perhaps several of the signatories of the letter are now thrilled that their names have been identified as supporting a letter that asked the MN lady to rally MN membership to Uhm oh I’ve forgotten women and girls Palestine something like that. Social justice points for said celebrities, with no personal effort whatsoever. Unless you count lifting a pen. Not even that these days.

Perhaps now these erstwhile celebs can do the same for women and girls in Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan, grooming gang victims in the uk, child brides in the US, women and girls in Pakistan.

I look forward to all of these Letters demanding action from a woman in the UK.

HewasH2O · 13/01/2026 07:37

peacefulpeach · 12/01/2026 22:34

‘Well it’s achieved it’s purpose’

Has it? What has it achieved?

I, for one, would not have been aware of this request if you hadn't all got cross about it. Therefore you have all raised its profile, so the publicity they hoped it would receive has been.

PencilsInSpace · 12/01/2026 23:32

BIossomtoes · 12/01/2026 11:52

Of course they have. How else would you categorise recruiting Reform voters on a journalist’s behalf? Why else would said journalist want the stories and images of MN members?

Do you genuinely not understand how 'Media Requests' on MN work or are you being deliberately obtuse?

Do you also think this thread is MN endorsing recreational drugs for mothers?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5438686-media-request-the-taboo-of-mothers-taking-recreational-drugs

In this thread, are MN advocating for children to be kept off school in the run up to Christmas in case they catch something?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5460276-media-request-choosing-to-keep-children-off-school-this-week-because-of-all-the-winter-bugs-going-around

Are MN shilling for private healthcare in this thread?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5436392-media-request-looking-for-people-who-have-opted-for-private-healthcare-over-nhs-waiting-lists

Or are all of these, along with the reform thread, very obviously media requests which are simply being passed on, without endorsement, for a fee?

Does the text at the top of the board not give you a clue?

'If you're a journalist and are looking for case studies, or would like MN users' input on stories, please contact [email protected] and we will post your request here.'

Or the identical post from MN in each OP?

Hi there,

We've received the following media request.

Thanks,
MNHQ

HighStreetOtter · 12/01/2026 22:45

flatterlylatterly · 12/01/2026 10:43

OK, thanks, got it. The letter is just for Justine and they are asking her to speak out in support of the women of Gaza. Why is this a problem? No doubt they are also speaking out on their own account. I genuinely can't see any issue with this. Not saying there isn't an issue.

I think it’s because they haven’t asked her privately to make a decision about this.

now people know she’s been asked and will watch. If she doesn’t speak out/doesn't get MN to run a campaign on it she runs the risk of being targeted by the likes of Palestine Action who will no doubt set up a camp outside her house with flags and whistles and chanting.

If she doesn’t speak out she will upset the people who say “ah well what about Oct 7th”.

sometimes it feels like an impossible situation and I do think she should have been afforded the courtesy of a private decision. But of course the purpose was to,put her in a difficult position to increase the chance of her agreeing to what they want. It’s a bit bullying to be honest.

peacefulpeach · 12/01/2026 22:34

HewasH2O · 12/01/2026 19:20

Well it's achieved it's purpose. I wouldn't have been aware of this letter unless you had started to complain about it. You have all publicised it brilliantly. Well done!

‘Well it’s achieved it’s purpose’

Has it? What has it achieved?