Nigella's helpless carrot act

[BaylisAndHardon]

Don't get me wrong, I do like Nigella Lawson and her cookery programs, however:

Has anybody else noticed that she pretends not to have proper knife skills and flails around in a sexy, helpless, becarrotted damsel in distress any time she has to chop something?

It reminds me of secondary school when some of the girls would pretend to be ditzy and thick so boys would like them.

It's 2020 fgs.

AIBU?

I don't disagree, although I would say Nigella possibly had a hand in it; she started being very self-aware and knowingly camp around the time Domestic Goddess the book came out.

But actually I was talking more about what the 'real' Nigella might be like and what some on here are saying she might be like; my point is that I don't think she necessarily had mostly takeaways when living with Saatchi –maybe he did while she cooked for herself. Or, if she DID mainly eat takeaways, it might have been him controlling or influencing her so she couldn't or didn't feel so much like cooking.

It irritates me too. Her overt sexuallity and provacative finger licking and faux incompetence. And the way she bounces about with a wine glass and eats sprawled on the sofa without getting a drop on her. And the candles and lights all around her house and midnight cooking in slinky dressing gowns... It's all so extra.

But I watch as I love to cook and like exploring different recipes. But I do wish she'd tone it down a few notches. Anyone who is overly fake is always annoying.

Presumably she needs to earn a living somehow?

@IntermittentParps

I don't disagree, although I would say Nigella possibly had a hand in it; she started being very self-aware and knowingly camp around the time Domestic Goddess the book came out.

But actually I was talking more about what the 'real' Nigella might be like and what some on here are saying she might be like; my point is that I don't think she necessarily had mostly takeaways when living with Saatchi –maybe he did while she cooked for herself. Or, if she DID mainly eat takeaways, it might have been him controlling or influencing her so she couldn't or didn't feel so much like cooking.

Could be. Supposedly he used to tell her how much he disliked her cooking. Imagine saying that to your wife about the thing she took so much pride in. What a tosser.

Yes, quite, Purple. tosser indeed.

I love Nigella. Lots of jealous people on this thread I imagine. Hate it when Mumsnet is like this.

There’s been a few mean threads about her now. Why is it that women seem to be the first to tear down other women?

@RosesAndChocolates

I love Nigella. Lots of jealous people on this thread I imagine. Hate it when Mumsnet is like this.

There’s been a few mean threads about her now. Why is it that women seem to be the first to tear down other women?

So would it be OK If we said that Gorden Ramsey was an obnoxious loudmouth? Or that Jamie Oliver was an annoying git. Would that mean we were 'tearing them down'?

I'm pretty sure comments along these lines have been made on MN in fact. Presumably that's all OK because they're male?

Are women ever allowed to be critical of women in the public eye?

I cooked the fishfinger one. It was good. Would I cook it again? Not sure, but it was cheap, easy and nutritious as we doubled the spinach and fishfingers are a good source of protein.

I like nigella, and Jamie and Gordon. But I would most like to have supper with Nigel Slater in his lovely kitchen made with 10 tonnes of butter or cream or whatever in brown paper and glass jars.
And no one will ever better St Delia.
Love Mary and Prue too.

@IcedPurple what has she actually done that’s so wrong though?

@RosesAndChocolates

I love Nigella. Lots of jealous people on this thread I imagine. Hate it when Mumsnet is like this.

There’s been a few mean threads about her now. Why is it that women seem to be the first to tear down other women?

Why is jealous always trotted out? Why does disliking her style and manner mean one's jealous of her? That's ridiculous talk. That's what kids on the playground comfort each other with when someone's mean to them "she's just jealous of you".

Gosh I also bounce around with a wine glass, eat sprawled on the sofa and cook at midnight in my slinky dressing gown (see bouncing around with a wine glass)

Hwr salmon and prawn Thai curry is fab too, just use a quarter of the sugar. 😋

@RosesAndChocolates

I love Nigella. Lots of jealous people on this thread I imagine. Hate it when Mumsnet is like this.

There’s been a few mean threads about her now. Why is it that women seem to be the first to tear down other women?

Why does the word "jealousy" always have to crop up if a woman says she is not keen on another woman?

I am not jealous of Nigella in the slightest. She is an attractive woman but so are many other women and I have never once thought I would like to look like her.

She may have money but has 2 failed marriages. I may not have her money but I have been married 40 years and am very happy. Money is not everything

I also have no wish to be as fake as her. There are plenty of female cooks/chefs who don't feel the need to simper and act the way she does.

@lynsey91
Her first husband died. While she was still married to him. That doesn’t count as a failed marriage.

[quote RosesAndChocolates]@IcedPurple what has she actually done that’s so wrong though?[/quote]
Have you not read the thread that you're slagging off? Some people find her 'act' contrived and annoying.

You may not agree, and that's fine. But Nigella is a public figure selling a product, and that product is herself, or the idea of herself she portrays in her books and TV shows. She's made millions from it, and it's a perfectly legitimate subject for discussion.

I see you didn't answer my question above. Are we 'allowed' to criticise Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver? Or is it only women that women have to be 100% uncritical of?

[quote RosesAndChocolates]@IcedPurple what has she actually done that’s so wrong though?[/quote]
That is what I was thinking too!
I actually don’t like all the Jamie Oliver hate too. He has achieved a lot and seems like a generally well meaning person. Good recipes too.
Gordon Ramsay is more controversial due to behaviour and general rudeness so I can see that.

@laudemio

Hwr salmon and prawn Thai curry is fab too, just use a quarter of the sugar. 😋

Must try that when my son's home. He would adore it.

I was just thinking this is a very English thing. We are quite vicious with people in the public eye.

@Mendocino

I was just thinking this is a very English thing. We are quite vicious with people in the public eye.

Are you? That's awful!

How do you know the nationality of everyone posting here?

It seems an English thing to ' build them up then knock them down' ! It Happens a lot.

Well actually no, I have not been vicious but I have lived elsewhere for half my life ( N. America) Mostly successful people are admired unless their behaviour is unkind or rude etc. I actually don’t understand this weird pulling apart of a person. It is a part of the culture here to obsess over and pull apart public figures.

Oh I love nigella. Shes definitely smarter than she lets on.

I prefer her earlier stuff, I do think shes taking the piss out of herself these days.

But hey she makes money for it and I'd certainly do what she does for probably far less money

The highest compliment my husband has ever paid me was to tell me I looked like a ginger Nigella. Very sweet, but alas very untrue 😆

I love her books and her recipes. I had no idea she had another series but may we'll catch up with it. She's a journalist and a writer, not a professional chef, but is a very experienced and talented home cook. Her style of cooking and prepping are more easy to aspire to than, say Marcus Waring (who is the only reason for watching Masterchef 😍).

Who needs men to tear down women when you have MN?

She's one of very few women with a series (Mary Berry and?? UK only please) and clearly what she does works. Personally I do find the flouncing and all that a bit off-putting in the same way Jamie Oliver is a Mockney pillock.

Would be nice to see Monica or Angela get their own series as professional female chefs seem to be underrepresented.