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Original poster

Would you sell a story for £££

105 replies

IsntThatYourThirdPlate · 21/05/2020 12:46

Something weird happened this morning with OH and a A list celeb it’s quite funny and unusual. I wrote to the papers and they have offered us 1k if we give them permission to use our story and the evidence. I think it’s slightly cringe but the money would come in handy right about now!

Would you do it?

OP posts:
torthecatlady · 21/05/2020 14:48

If it wouldn't embarrass the celeb, I'd haggle but be prepared for the journalists to twist the story and exaggerate it. I would ask for a proof before print too. Although I've never sold a story so not sure what the protocol is.

Limpetlike · 21/05/2020 15:40

The weirdest thing about this is that you immediately thought of monetising this non-event.

ViciousJackdaw · 21/05/2020 15:42

What a dreadful invasion of privacy. If it was the s*n or Daily Fail you wanted to tell tale to then that's even worse.

hippoherostandinghere · 21/05/2020 15:44

Honestly, I don't think anything good would come from money gained in that way.

Qwerty543 · 21/05/2020 15:45

I'm struggling to see how someone buying a second hand item is funny or newsworthy really.

What was the item?

Mrsemcgregor · 21/05/2020 15:49

I dunno, if it’s a celebrity that exploits people for a living (Jeremy Kyle) or similar maybe I would....

Someone lovely like Dawn French buying an inflatable flamingo? No I’d respect their privacy.

ParkheadParadise · 21/05/2020 15:50

No Fucking Way.
When my dd died, reporters thought nothing of standing outside our house, asking neighbours to give a story. It was horrendous.
We were asked if we would talk to a paper. It didn't matter how many times we told them to get lost, it didn't stop them.
I have never bought a newspaper since or would ever sell a story on someone.

LizzieLoafer · 21/05/2020 15:57

However it is a bit sneaky isn’t it!

It's low life. Just as bad as taking a fat minus on The Chase. Shameful.

SunflowerSeedsForever · 21/05/2020 16:55

I once sold some stuff on eBay to someone really really famous

I thought it must be be the same name (very unusual) but google told me otherwise.

It was second hand children's stuff (they must be very well off). I didnt think for a second of telling anyone and never have (named them)

BettyUnderswoob · 21/05/2020 17:05

What was the item, OP?

CoolShoeshine · 21/05/2020 18:21

As you have already contacted the newspaper with the details they’ll probably publish it now whether you take payment or not!

whiplashy · 21/05/2020 18:54

No!

lachy · 21/05/2020 19:06

Definitely not. In a previous job I had quite a lot of contact with a few actors from a well known soap.

I wouldn't dream of contacting the press about our conversations, or what they bought from me!

Kez200 · 21/05/2020 19:19

No. Because I dont trust them to tell YOUR story. They will write what they want to write which may (or may not) reflect on you badly.

Its happened to me. I didnt sell my story, I was invited as a prize for losing weight many years ago. The travel, outfit hire and make over were free. It was a big named publication.

I was given no choice over the images used and the story they took from me was rearranged so I sounded like a dork! (I know, haha maybe I am one!). Anyway, the report written wasnt what I said, nor did they give me any ability to proof read it.

So, no I wouldn't.

GreyGardens88 · 21/05/2020 19:20

Yeah I would as long as it's nothing mean

MitziK · 21/05/2020 19:21

You've already told them the story.

The sort of rag that's interested in 'Tom Cruise bought a booster seat for a Ferrari' cannot be trusted to report it correctly, to respect your privacy (have you locked down social media? Otherwise there will be shots of you pouting or pissed) or to pay you.

GreyGardens88 · 21/05/2020 19:23

Someone lovely like Dawn French buying an inflatable flamingo? No I’d respect their privacy

Dawn French always crops up on the rudest celebs you've met threads on here

iMatter · 21/05/2020 19:25

So "an A list celeb" bought something from your oh and you want to sell a story arising from that transaction to the press for £1000?

Ok then.

It feels sneaky because it is. And really shitty.

Viviennemary · 21/05/2020 19:26

You should ask for more money. I would. They are probably short of gossip at the moment.

tillytoodles1 · 21/05/2020 19:29

My friend used to work in a department store in Manchester many years ago and the Coronation St cast were regular shoppers there. It was a sackable offence to tell anyone what they'd bought. Whatever happened to privacy?

GiantKitten · 21/05/2020 22:10

Mavis Riley used to shop at our Booths. I packed for her once. Couldn’t have told you what she’d bought even immediately after she’d left Grin

Mrsemcgregor · 21/05/2020 22:19

Dawn French always crops up on the rudest celebs you've met threads on here

well that’s disappointing

covetingthepreciousthings · 21/05/2020 22:25

Dawn French always crops up on the rudest celebs you've met threads on here

To be honest after watching the documentary about the paparazzi guy who used to practically stalk her to get images, I had a whole world of sympathy for her and wonder if that's perhaps why she's become (comes across) 'rude'..

covetingthepreciousthings · 21/05/2020 22:27

I find this a bit of a shitty thing to do, like others have said, the newspaper might stretch the truth.

I find it bizarre that your first thought was to write to the media in the first place.

massivecheeseplant · 23/05/2020 07:37

Bingo! https://mol.im/a/8349599

In this particular case, you're doing them a favour by helping to add to their daily quest for column inches. They're probably delighted that you sold the story Grin