In thinking there is something properly, deeply wrong with Jedward?

[CalamityKate]

I never felt much towards them either way, but the more I watch of them lately the more they make me genuinely uncomfortable.

A bit of Googling reveals that there have been murmurs that they're maybe Autistic, but that's been strongly denied by their manager.

It's just.... I dunno. I accept that probably, they mostly behave like they do because they've always got each other for affirmation, unconditional approval and whatnot, but something just isn't RIGHT about them.

What do you lot reckon?

picnicbasketcase That doesn't surprise me actually. If you watch them you can see that one of them is considerably more 'bonkers' than the other - I think John is the leader and is the one who generally starts the 'random' conversations and general acts of stupidity and Edward seems to follow, but with an almost resigned look on his face. DH has noticed it as well.

I don't think SN are involved, I think that they've developed this persona (one rather than two) and it's being milked for all it is worth. They wouldn't be famous if they weren't horribly annoying and 'generally stupid' because they can't sing for fucking toffee.

They were on Alan Carr Chatty Man over the Christmas holiday, and poured hair gel all over Ruth Jones. I genuinely thought that she was going to cause them serious harm.

I can't say I'm a fan, and yes, when they get lots of air time it rankles me, but I don't dislike them and tend to think "Good on them".

Yes they're odd. I think that's what I like about them. I also like the way that nothings seems to phase them and they seem up for anything... I don't think they're stupid and they obviously have a great manager.

"what were they for?" ArtVandelay

They are very reminiscent of my ADHD/Autism spectrum nephew (still undergoing diagnosis so not 100% what his condition is yet). I think HereIGo makes a valid observation that this affected dialect is quite a phenomenon not unique to them.

By all accounts they really are like this, its no act. Its a marketeers dream. Record execs and PR companies who need to generate spin for their 'talent' usually need to work hard to get soundbites/outrageous incidents/etc from them, but with Jedward, they just do all the work for them.

Kayano I take your point. I didn't mean to imply that "Autism/SN = wrong" and in fact I very nearly added a bit onto my OP to explain just that.

My DS has Asperger's and I don't see him in any way wrong.

I know that sounds a bit "Some of my best friends are black so I can't be racist"

That's why I said 'just saying' because I didn't think you meant it like that iyswim

:)

I think they were very young when they were first in the limelight and acted like annoying teenagers. It worked so they have kept it up and ramped it up.

People keep up their personas for years. Look at the Krankies (bleugh) etc.

I find them annoying and out of control. I would not be able to put up with them for five minutes and I think they have that affect on most people.

Wouldnt it be funny if as soon as they got back stage one sat down with a pipe and a kindle whilst the other tended his begonias before checking his shares online?

HereIgo is right.. Jedward speak in what is sometimes known as a 'Dublin 4' accent (upper-middle class accent not uncommon in most of the private secondary schools in Dublin a couple of Jedward attended, and in certain well off parts of the city - the '4' refers to a well-to-do postcode area in Dublin.)

As for John and Edward themselves... I really don't know what to think at times... they are now 20 years of age, as a previous poster said it'll be interesting to see what they're like in another 10 years.

I've seen them on 8 out of 10 cats twice.

The treatment of them is merciless and hilarious. I should feel bad but they have consented to this life/their appearances.

I agree that one of them in very much in the shadow of the other.

I too think it will be interested to see what becomes of them in the future.

This is true - a farmer in Dorset used Jedwards music to increase milk production in his dairy cows. Jedward and cows Says it all really!!

DH refused point blank to play Jedward to his cows, because he didn't want to scare them!

I love jedward they can be so funny

Yep. They're about as funny as a cup of cold sick. Talented? Not in the slightest. Thought provoking? Only in so many wrong ways! Time for them to do the decent thing and slope off quietly.

I thought this when they were on BB, but one of them more so than the other..can't remember which. Their picking up on social cues was just a bit off. They didn't really squirm when they should IYSWIM, and just kept going with inappropriate/ age inappropriate behaviour even when it had gone too far. Afterwards they seemed to understand they had to apologise, but it didn't quite 'fit' and seemed rehearsed. I would be very surprised if that was an act.

I live in Dublin there is a certain contingent of teenagers that speak in the sort of American OMG type accent. But Jedwards is very exagerated. I think they could possibly have a touch of ADHD, but just as likely it is hammed up for publicity. Don't think there is anything 'wrong' with them, even if they do have some type of SN.

Gooseysgirl they are from Co. Kildare! Now Ross O Carroll Kelly is D4, Jedward? They wish!

They are intensely annoying...but make me feel very sorry for them somehow...

I reckon the gag on 8 out of 10 cats was about right - in not so many words - one is mad as a box of frogs and a bully and the other one is normal but just with Stockholm syndrome. Did you see the way that trashed that womans flat though zukie WTAF. All her beautiful burlesque costumes...

I had only heard of them not actually seen anything on them on tv until I caught a little bit of Celebrity Big Brother. I thought their behaviour, the lack of manners and their disreguard for any one else appalling. The time when they spilt cereal on the floor, noticed it then purposley let almost the whole box spill without batting an eye and leaving it up to someone else to clean while denying it was them had me open mouthed and reaching for the off swtich

They are rude, bad mannered, self centred and if I wereE their mother I would be ashamed I had bought dragged up two little darlings

well Ive obviously dragged up my adhd/aspergers son then as he can be rude, obnoxious, no social graces, self centred quite often

It wouldnt surprise me in the slightest if jedward had some kind of special needs but we will never know will we.

I feel sorry for them. If they do have problems then shame on their managers etc for exploiting them.

makes me quite annoyed actually

My sister's a psychiatrist (and a Dubliner) and she's 100% confident they have ADHD.

As an old work colleague of mine used to very diplomatically say after dealing with a particular loopy loop from cuckoo land off the wall bizarre customer..

"oh, yes, he is quite unusual isn't he ?"

Whoops they're from Lucan as far as I know.