Have you met a celebrity villain?

[pawsies]

Someone that is controversial in the media or comes across unpleasant on TV or whatever?

What were they like in real life?

AIBU to think there might be some surprises and some of them will be a persona on TV or whatever?

Please look up the meaning of 'bullying'! (Hint: it isn't about someone disagreeing with you or posting differently from you)

I agree that ‘bullying’ isn’t the right word.
It annoys me when posters try to hammer their opinions home by exaggerating or misrepresenting what the other person has said.
It’s not necessary and, as I said above, very Piers Morgan.

I've worked on the sound desk for Craig Charles at one of his comedy gigs and he was good fun to be with.

I still want to know why a pp described him as a villain.

My dad met Jimmy Savile and also said he had a really bad feeling about him

@Iamthewombat I think you’re letting your hatred of the royal family colour your judgement asking for “ evidence”.

Nobody on this entire ( very entertaining and interesting) thread has provided sworn statements or witnesses as evidence. Just enjoy the thread or move on.

I met Elsa in the cinema once she said “ let it go, let it go”

@Riquesh

I've worked on the sound desk for Craig Charles at one of his comedy gigs and he was good fun to be with.

I still want to know why a pp described him as a villain.

He has had issues with drugs and was on trial for rape. (Cleared) That might be it?

It's that that concerns me - the accuser admitted that she'd made it all up but not before he'd been through help on remand and in the press.

Bit much to decide a totally innocent man is a villain.

*hell

I don't know the details of the case?
I just vaguely remember it being on the news. I don't know if she lied or the jury decided she did?
No idea if he's a villain, think he's a sleaze ball though.

I don't know if she lied or the jury decided she did?

Both. She later admitted it. He was attacked with a knife while on remand.

I think @Iamthewombat is cross because her heroes Marx and Stalin kicked the bucket before should meet them and kiss the hems of THEIR robes!

@nogooddeedgoesunpunished

Trump is a well known germaphobe who was bathing in hand gel before we all started using it. I find it hard to believe he was shaking hands

@nogooddeedgoesunpunished I can provide further details if you require would you like the precise date? Location? Weirdo.

I worked with someone who was a former actor who played a psychopathic villain who raped a well loved character. Everyone hated him but his costars often spoke about what a gent he was.

In real life, for many years I thought he was a very sweet lovely man who was a father figure to young acting students and actors making their first steps in the industry. He would take them under their wing and was almost universally loved by them all.

Later I discovered he actually genuinely was a psychopathic villain and would coerce his young students and costars into sex. Pretty horrible sex that took the young women many years to come to terms with. He’d gently suggest there might be a negative impact on their career and he’d emotionally manipulate them to think he owed them sex. He was mid 40s at the time and often targeted young students at the place of work (over 18 up to age 30) who had mental health problems or were going through trauma. He’d single them out for special attention, often for years, making them feel like they needed a little extra support and guidance and often he would be great at doing that. Really earned their trust. Then he’d make his move. Then destroy them emotionally. Total groomer. He was always a “cuddly bear” of a guy so as colleagues, often on the receiving end of the hugs and his crocodile tears we probably turned a blind eye just thinking he was too nice to ever be untrustworthy.

The stories were awful. And mostly not believed. For every brave young woman who was willing to sacrifice her acting career there was another 100 people thinking she was some psycho who was making a false
accusation of a much loved uncle/father figure. He’d groomed everyone, you see.He was quietly asked to leave and got a job at another educational establishment very easily as well as more positions of power in the industry. He’s still out there, unpunished and most people are actually blissfully unaware.

I did notice he got extremely thin when #metoo took off. I suspect he didn’t sleep for a while. One of the students did write about her experience anonymously on Twitter and didn’t name him but it was obvious to us that knew who it was about and seeing as all of her fellow students retweeted it and he followed them all on social media he must have seen it. Once a student confessed to me that he’d held pinned her against a wall and got in her face and said “maybe you should fuck off and get the fuck out of here” and that he was frequently verbally abusive to her when they were alone. She had complex mental illnesses and had spent a lot of time in psychiatric hospitals and was often volatile and argumentative so I’m sorry to say we all thought she was lying. He said something one day years later that was a very very watered down version of what she had said, word for word, about another student ie “I gently put my arm round her and said “look, maybe it’s time to consider leaving” but he had a glint in his eye as he said it and laughed. At that moment I knew he’d pinned that other girl against the wall and told her to fuck off.

Despicable human being. And weird. He used NLP and psychology techniques on everyone. Master manipulator. I trusted him for many years. Would have considered any allegations against him totally false.

Have also met other TV villains - they are all really lovely in real life. But then I would have said that about him.

But Cain Dingle, Judge Rinder, Tracey Barlow, Craig Revel Horwood etc are all really really lovely folk!

Prince Charles does have a good memory, my sis has met him sever times, and as a musician does often have her cello as a reminder when they meet. He used to play the cello and chatted about it on their first meeting, but has since brought up other stuff that she told him. She likes him.

Working, we once once were awarded a queen's award for excellence in HE. Sent the two profs mostly involved to the ceremony. One, a German republican, came back buzzing as she had clearly been briefed well on his specialism and asked good questions. He took British citizenship shortly afterwards, i still laugh at him about it, it was way pre brexit was even an idea, but he was totally queen struck

Heather Mills.
I was a minder for her when she did a gig for a charity I worked at. She'd fired her PR just before our event and was high maintenance and we were worried at one point she wouldn't show.
I spent a few hours with her. She had just started seeing Macca.
She was charming with a steely undertone.
Smelled lovely!
Very slim.
At one point we were sitting on some quite uncomfortable chairs and she started to lose her balance and slide off, she grabbed me and laughed. That's always stayed with me as despite her reputation she is someone who lives with a disability that affected her doing something a simple as keeping upright.

@NameChangedForThisFeb21 I knew my husband was abusive but it wasn't until I was in therapy that I realised quite how abusive and manipulative he had been. Since then I've always had a little doubt or a big fear that all these slebs I'm so fond of are actually just as believable as him and are like the person you have described. It scares me.

I hope you are in a better place now @DoverSoul, it made my blood run cold reading @NameChangedForThisFeb21 post

[quote DoverSoul]**@NameChangedForThisFeb21 I knew my husband was abusive but it wasn't until I was in therapy that I realised quite how abusive and manipulative he had been. Since then I've always had a little doubt or a big fear that all these slebs I'm so fond of are actually just as believable as him and are like the person you have described. It scares me.[/quote]
Having been in a similar relationship, it wasn’t until I got distance and counselling that I was able to see how I’d been abused and the extent of the “cleverness” of the manipulation - and like you it sowed seeds of doubt about other people. Well done for getting away

Having worked in the industry, I’d say a large percentage of the more powerful and influential people and some actors/models/celebs would score extremely highly on traits of narcissism and callousness, lack of empathy were they to be tested. Alot of those who succeed are obsessed with self promotion, manipulation and only see others as a tool to climb up the ladder of power. They will screw others over to get what they want. It’s been quite scary! I was once (a lonnnnnnnggggg time ago!) a young actress and found myself manipulated and propositioned by directors and even tutors but oddly, when I’ve also been an older slightly more powerful woman in the industry I’ve found young male actors trying to flatter me and get in my pants to get parts! Telling me how beautiful and talented I am and how much I blow them away and oh could I help them get a better agent? Very bemusing. And the fact is some of the women in power in theatre and film/tv are amongst the worst of abusers, chewing young male and/or female actors up and spitting them out...sleeping with the young lads whilst hinting at being able to help them career wise and often simultaneously bullying quite talented, pretty young actresses to the point they don’t want to carry on in their careers. And WORST of all turning a blind eye to or enabling/directly helping the Weinsteins of the world.

I’m too old now to make a switch out of the industry really and the way I try to work is to be a bit of a sanctuary/haven and offer quite a non competitive environment...quite often though I just want to tell the lovely peeps I work with to get out while they can! Acting/Modelling etc is quite a toxic place to be. Got laughed out of a room once when I told a young actor (who wanted to know why I’d stopped acting) that it felt like an abusive relationship that and I was much happier since choosing a “behind the scenes” career. More fool them!

Just because of the nature of my work, I know a lot about the soaps/serial dramas etc made up North. There’s some well loved or at least not hated soap stars who are utterly revolting to their colleagues and especially actors who come in for a short filming period (ie playing a cop or nurse on Corrie). Some of the scary characters are the nicest you could hope to meet.

I’d also say that there is a higher proportion of people aspiring to be famous/celebs who have mental health problems which is extremely sad. Quite often some of the people who make the headlines are incredibly vulnerable and the industry and tabloids and social media make it all worse. I know a lot of actors who actually have BPD and it’s so sad. When they self destruct they end up in the tabloids for their “antics” when actually they are self harming in some way and behaving impulsively so that’s part of why they do stuff the general public and press see as “batshit crazy”. One wonderful, sweet young actor I worked with, and incredibly talented was schizophrenic. Another quite famous one with an awful rep is an alcoholic who was raised by alcoholics and his real story and the way that really he’s hurt himself is heartbreaking. But he sells papers, doesn’t he?

Seriously...if you have kids try and keep them away from the entertainment industry!

Wow, Namechange, that's so interesting but so bloody sad, these are real people. My ex's narcissism and abuse became 100 times worse when he got into the thing that he gave up a normal life for, not dissimilar to the acting profession. He thinks he's as yet undiscovered but he's just a sad little man with a personality disorder. I should feel sorry for him really but I don't.

Thank you, Simply and Namechange, I am in a much better place now but will always have some hangovers from that relationship. I am very happy on the whole though

Sorry to derail the thread!

As a very small child, the Krays. My Dad had lived in the same road as a child, so when we went to see my Nan, I often waved to their mum and sometimes one or both were visiting their mum. Apparently when I was born they sent 100 pounds round to my Nans for me.
My family weren't fooled by them and stayed away much as possible. My dad said when they walked into a party or pub, the atmosphere changed immediately.
You still have old east enders that revere them, no doubt never a victim of theirs.

@murasaki

Prince Charles does have a good memory, my sis has met him sever times, and as a musician does often have her cello as a reminder when they meet. He used to play the cello and chatted about it on their first meeting, but has since brought up other stuff that she told him. She likes him.

Working, we once once were awarded a queen's award for excellence in HE. Sent the two profs mostly involved to the ceremony. One, a German republican, came back buzzing as she had clearly been briefed well on his specialism and asked good questions. He took British citizenship shortly afterwards, i still laugh at him about it, it was way pre brexit was even an idea, but he was totally queen struck

I heard an interview on the radio with a doctor who had worked in a war zone, he had PTSD and was at the palace for some ceremony and there was a big dinner. He said he started to feel panic due to his PTSD. He said the Queen was watching and realised what was happening. She asked him to go with her to see the dogs. She sat with him while they gave treats to the dogs and kept everyone waiting for the meal, I bet the chef was impressed. When he was back in control they went back to the table.

I've never been very for or anti royalty but that story impressed me.

@Rubyupbeat

As a very small child, the Krays. My Dad had lived in the same road as a child, so when we went to see my Nan, I often waved to their mum and sometimes one or both were visiting their mum. Apparently when I was born they sent 100 pounds round to my Nans for me. My family weren't fooled by them and stayed away much as possible. My dad said when they walked into a party or pub, the atmosphere changed immediately. You still have old east enders that revere them, no doubt never a victim of theirs.

I used to live in the East End. Was coming home one day and there was a funeral cortege moving up Roman Road. Every single shopkeeper was outside their shop, head bowed and the streets were lined with well- wishers paying respects. I thought someone royal must have died. But it was one of the Kray gang. Not sure which one. It made me realise I didn't really know the area I lived in.

My Dad used to be in a business that put him into contact with some interesting people.
One day I was off school for some reason and so he took me to London with him, this was probably about 1980 and I was 9/10. He went into a meeting and left me outside, I was given 20p and told if I behaved he would take me to the shop to spend it afterwards. I dropped my 20p and couldn’t find it so was getting upset when a man came over to see if I was ok, I told him what happened so he said he would look for my money for me and gave me £20 (a lot of money in those days) and told one of the secretary’s to take me to the shop and I should get whatever I wanted and keep the change. When I got back with loads of sweets he also gave me “my” 20p he had found. When my Dad arrived back he was very polite to the man but seemed in a rush to leave. We got home and I overheard my Dad telling my Mum and there was obviously something going on.
I later found out the man was one of the Krays enforcers who was there to collect money

Met Peter Stringfellow. Just as 'handsy' and sleazy as you would expect. Lots of "helloooo ladies". However this was in the 90s and that was behaviour that you did not question then.

Also met Chris Eubank who was as you would expect. Sat very upright holding a cane and hoping people would check him out. Patted me on the knee and said "don't worry", because he thought I was intimidated and impressed by him. Had a right laugh about that in the loos 10 minutes later.

Although should stress neither Peter Stringfellow nor Chris Eubank were villains. Rather caricatures.