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AIBU?

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think Myleene Klass will win no friends with this...

500 replies

CarlaVeloso · 05/02/2015 11:46

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11391753/Myleene-Klass-Ill-be-collecting-unicorn-money-for-my-daughters-birthday.html

She has tweeted two emails from mothers at her daughter's school asking for cash donations for their children's birthday parties. She's changed their names but clearly they are still recognisable to anyone with children in that class and presumably the whole school will know about it nowthat it's been published in the papers and online.

I agree the emails are completely crass and I would privately think the same but they haven't committed any crime or sent her an expletive-filled rant about something. I opened it expecting to see a request for an actual kindle when they are just suggesting £10. Crass, vulgar, materialistic etc etc, yes, but I think her response (shaming them publicly) is really nasty and may not win her or her DD any friends at the school gate.

OP posts:
MajesticWhine · 06/02/2015 09:22

Some parents I know ask for no presents and a donation to their chosen charity or child's choice of sponsor a polar bear or whatever. I think that's nice, particularly for older kids.
But as someone else said children love giving and receiving tat so the joint presents take a little of the joy out of it. So in that sense Myleene was right. But she didn't need to respond as she did. So crassness and wankiness all round really. In a North London private school, who would have thought?

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 06/02/2015 09:25

@dexter73

I wouldn't have thought MNHQ would want to support someone in humiliating other parents in a school environment

Totally agree and a bit disappointed to see that.

Agree with those who've said our tweet was misguided. We've been contacted by press multiple times on this and have given a much more balanced response plus made the point that really it's not fair on kids or other parents to air it all so publicly. Tweet was a mistake, for which I apologise.

FamiliesShareGerms · 06/02/2015 09:26

Justine - thanks for acknowledging that and apologizing

AugustaGloop · 06/02/2015 09:49

Update on DM (sorry) this morning suggests that the emails in question were actually sent last year (reference to party on 9 Feb which is a Monday this year supports this).

Also that when MK was confronted by one of the parents at pick-up yesterday she apparently said to the parent that if she had something to say to her she should say it in private. Which is a bit rich!

I am in the camp that although emails were not great, MK's response was much worse. Particularly if it was last year - clearly publicity driven rather than an immediate not thought through reaction to an email.

dexter73 · 06/02/2015 09:53

Justine Thanks

vindscreenviper · 06/02/2015 09:57

I agree with you AugustaGloop, and not just because you also have a Roald Dahl nn.

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 06/02/2015 10:02

re today's Telegraph article, linked to upthread

if Myleene doesn't normally do the school run (PP said whenever she did, she alerted the paps-till people complained) it's a bit odd that she should do it today, no?

just after digging out and tweeting two invites from a year ago-and getting her name in the papers

I'm sure it's just a coinkydinky

Haggismcbaggis · 06/02/2015 10:11

The emails were completely fine. They are sent by friends of the mothers in question. Not by the mothers themselves and not at the instigation of the children. Completely optional way for people to club together ONLY IF THEY WANT TO .

I have kids in both state and independent schools. I've had emails exactly the same as the ones Myleene refers to at the independent school. They are not grabby or entitled in tone. In the unlikely situation that someone sending a child to £15k per year school is unable to spend £10 on a present / they can bring an individual present. I have not had such emails in the state school. In that instance you can't make any assumptions about what people can or can't afford - and thus these emails haven't become the norm.

Hilarious report by the local newspaper the Ham and High where Myleene's accused by the disgruntled mothers of - sometimes being late for pickup AND parking on double yellows outside school. GrinGrin

The school in question goes through to 18. That's going to be a loooong 11 years for Myleene and her daughter.....

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 06/02/2015 10:15

tsk

not today

yesterday afternoon

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 06/02/2015 10:17

That's going to be a loooong 11 years for Myleene and her daughter.....

that ^

imagine putting publicity before friendships

forago · 06/02/2015 10:19

in see I've woken up to the same MN parallel universe. Everyone I know, state or private, takes presents to a child's party. Everyone I kbow, state or private, spends around the £10 mark. Everyone I know has (when asked) suggested a group present or money towards something the child is saving up for. I really don't get why this is a problem, at all. I much prefer it to when people regift crap or unsuitable presents that their kids didnt want.

squoosh · 06/02/2015 10:24

'One mother, whose daughter was the subject of the email, is said to have shouted: “Why did you do it, Myleene? Why?”
'Klass, a Classic FM presenter, shouted back: “If you’ve got a problem with it, talk to me in private.”'

Bit late to be thinking about keeping things private Myleene! Grin

Haggismcbaggis · 06/02/2015 10:25

Exactly Forago!

These parents weren't asking via their friends for £250 a head to by the child a top of the range iMac

Haggismcbaggis · 06/02/2015 10:25

Or even "buy"

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 06/02/2015 10:27

Myleene Klass has massive, swinging ladyballs though, has to be said. Imagine showing your face...

vindscreenviper · 06/02/2015 10:33

More column inches though innit...
Just doing what she's good at.

forago · 06/02/2015 10:41

indeed, minor sleb, star is fading, work drying up, school fees to pay - now she's in all the papers, has set herself up as a parenting "authority" - the Wright Stuff invitation will no doubt follow.

to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing was cooked up by her management company - you can imagine her taking the class down to Neros (or wherever the N London equivalent is, probably somewhere classier) and saying, look ladies, these coffees and manicures don't come cheap, I've got a mansion to pay for and the buggers are about to tax me, can I use an old email to drum up some trade and I'll cut you in on the action.

ChoochiWoo · 06/02/2015 10:43

Apparently she got ganged up on *chuckles

MaybeDoctor · 06/02/2015 10:47

I have never minded Myleene as she does have real talent as a singer/pianist, but I am fairly appalled that she would share private emails in this way. It would take very, very little for those children/parents to be identified.

I spend about £8 plus card on presents - this seems about right to me but I suspect that some people spend more (independent school). I always try to choose something which is good quality (puzzle, book etc) rather than compete tat.

The phenomenon of lots of presents is not particularly environmentally friendly and I think it has probably due for a re-think, particularly when children get a bit older and already have lots of toys.

Suzannewithaplan · 06/02/2015 10:56

?Very badly worded, the reply just makes her look a bit dim for that alone ?

Marynary · 06/02/2015 11:02

Although it was quite crass for the mothers to ask for contributions to their children's birthday present, her reaction was over the top and not nice.
I think that people normally spend about £10 to £15 on children's birthday presents where I live but only if they're friends and have been invited to a birthday party.

Marynary · 06/02/2015 11:08

I have kids in both state and independent schools. I've had emails exactly the same as the ones Myleene refers to at the independent school. They are not grabby or entitled in tone.

Whether it is "grabby or entitled" is matter of opinion though. Most people feel that it is rude to ask for presents full stop. The polite thing to do is wait until people ask you what you or your child wants first (or don't say anything if they don't ask). It is nothing to do with whether people can afford them so whether or not the child goes to a state or private school is irrelevant.

BreakingDad77 · 06/02/2015 11:10

I understand where she is coming from but Myleene and her first world problems again lol

forago · 06/02/2015 11:15

how do you know those emails weren't in response to people asking them in the playground "what does such and such want for her birthday, anything in particular?"

I always do this. My kids have often wanted to have whole class parties in the past as a) they get on with everyone in the class and b) they have seen people being hurt at not being invited. I've been happy to pay for them. I have at times though felt a bit uncomfortable the day after the party at the sheer amount of individual presents they have to open. And wondered about the message it is giving them. They don't appreciate that some of the presents were cheap or re-gifted or cost £5-£10. To them it looks like "lots of stuff". AS they have got older and more aware, I almost prefer people to contribute towards a larger present or give them money which they can save.

aphrodites · 06/02/2015 11:38

How Klassy. Who can blame the poor girl? with the dreaded mansion tax (potentially) looming she needs to set that money aside, she doesn't like paying tax, surprise surprise she doesn't like to pay for presents.

The email whilst a bit tasteless does stipulate that this is optional? As for the talk to me in private comment, as always the irony is lost on her.

Still, credit where it is due! Her PR people must have worked hard to drum up some publicity out of this, after all, life can't be easy for a has been pop star when your 'talents' are mediocre at best.