Boris Johnson in the sea

[sambaa]

Did anyone else find the coverage of this mildly annoying. I found it to be so for three reasons -

1. the BBC commentator made a joke about “oh is that Angela Merkel a bit further out?” Boris is the size he is, but if it were a woman of a similar size the papers would have a field day (or just any female politician of any size tbh).
   
   
2. He has then set it up so that he is filmed walking down the beach with his shirt off. Carrie, of course, can’t be pictured in a swimsuit because of the way the press / society is, so she’s walking alongside in a long dress (even though she’s 20 years younger and the rest of it).
   
   
3. I can’t stand him anyway.
   
   AIBU?

[MrsBunHat]

“Carrie, aged 34, showed off her post baby body in a size 10 swimsuit from blah blah, price etc etc.

That's shallow tabloid twaddle, but it's hardly a vicious attack and nothing like as bad as things that have been said about his appearance, style and body.

Media and individuals both tend to talk about the appearance and outfits etc of people in the public eye. Hardly surprising. I don't think women should be subject to it more than men, and I don't think people should be shamed for their weight/body, but apart from that, it's daft to pretend no one's interested.

Honestly as I said below, if I was her I'd love to go for a swim and I certainly wouldn't hold back for fear the DM might say "Carrie, aged 34, showed off her post baby body in a size 10 swimsuit from blah blah, price etc etc" - who cares? I'd happy tell them where I got my swimsuit and encourage people to enjoy a swim into the bargain.

There's this weird thing where people seem to say that "women can't do things like that" "Ooh a woman can't go in the sea in a swimsuit people might talk" how is that any different from old-school control of women? How does that fit with "How to have a beach body. Have a body - go to beach"? Women should get out there and go for a swim if they want to and stand up to sexist tabloids as and when necessary.

[WeatherwaxOn]

@Macncheeseballs

I am no fan but liked the fact he was on the sea

I felt sorry for marine life.

[Witchesbelazy]

Thought this was going to be a vote on if we launch him in to the sea or not. Disappointing

[Jennyfromtheculdesac]

@sambaa

It’s the wider hypocrisy of the whole thing that irks me. Just imagining the papers if Angela Merkel had done the same thing?

Also, Carrie knows full well she can’t go in the sea because the press would be there with long lenses. In the Fail it would be, “Carrie, aged 34, showed off her post baby body in a size 10 swimsuit from blah blah, price etc etc.”

I’m genuinely perplexed by these comments. Anyone is free to have a swim in the sea if they want to. Or not. The choice is theirs.

Boris is generally a tosser but I do think it’s good that he’s promoting that he’s at least trying to be a bit healthier and lose some weight. They’ve had a very busy few days. Well done him for finding the time (and motivation!).

[WorraLiberty]

Carrie, of course, can’t be pictured in a swimsuit because of the way the press / society is, so she’s walking alongside in a long dress (even though she’s 20 years younger and the rest of it).

She's probably witnessed all the awful threads on Mumsnet, where celebrities are literally torn apart for their looks/sense of style.

But apparently they're 'fair game' because they're well known.

[stackemhigh]

Washing Post

[stackemhigh]

It’s the wider hypocrisy of the whole thing that irks me. Just imagining the papers if Angela Merkel had done the same thing?

Done what? Am I missing something? Here's an article about Angela Merkel going on holiday, there was no body shaming of her in a swimming suit in any of the articles?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302273/Feeling-euro-crisis-heat-Angela-Merkiavelli-pictured-bathing-gear-takes-break-Cyprus-chaos-Italy.html


And the Washing Post on Merkel's holiday for the DM avoiders:

www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/in-germany-angela-merkel-photos-show-secret-family-life-of-chancellor/2013/04/06/31b68786-9e28-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_story.html

[denverRegina]

It's a total sham

[TheVanguardSix]

This thread starts out claiming that men don't get body shammed and then poster after poster body shames a man. No wonder feminism is losing.

Body shammed? I think we've been Boris shammed, to be honest. With leaders like him, of course everyone loses.

[TheVanguardSix]

He deserved a nice swim. It's June, he's worked his socks off for the last couple of years, had a baby, been ill, got married etc.

Who are you? David Attenborough commentating on the migration of the Humpback de Pfeffel?

[denverRegina]

"Doing lengths of what? The Atlantic?"

Now that I'd like to see 😂

[newnortherner111]

@Goldieloxx pond life is valuable to the world. Unlike the Prime Minister.

[LouiseBelchersBunnyEars]

@NeedNewKnees

I'm happy for him to get in the sea.

I'm not happy for him to get back out again.

This is really fucking vile, even as a joke.

You don’t like the man, fair enough, but this is just gross.

[Sparklingbrook]

The problem seems to be just that it’s Boris. Nothing else.

[Dailywalk]

I can’t get see what’s the problem.

[CecilyP]

It's nonsense to say they didn't make a show of their wedding, that is exactly what they did plus make a big hoo ha about how his other weddings weren't really valid.

Did they? It’s been endlessly discussed but that was because it was a surprise to people. Largely because it didn’t fit with our assumptions about the Catholic Church. Presumably they asked at Westminster Cathedral and it was allowed.

[CecilyP]

I mention the Johnsons because they have just made rather a show of having a Catholic wedding. The least they could do is attend Mass for a few weeks at least.

I thought they made the exact opposite of a show managing to keep it secret so that absolutely no press were there. Whatever we think of Johnson that was quite a coup.

[mustlovegin]

Leave the man alone. Why can't he go swimming?

[TurquoiseLemur]

@SoapboxFox

Yes Rousette. I don't seem to have explained it well, but I meant that people mistake sincere believers for the photo-opportunistic type. TurquoiseLemur claimed Theresa May made 'a great show of going to church' but she would have attended anyway, photographers or not.

I didn't mention Theresa May. I mentioned Margaret Thatcher.

Am not a great fan of May but I agree she would have attended anyway, she is a committed Christian.

[Peregrina]

I never said that they didn't make a show of their wedding beforehand - indeed, they had sent out 'save the date' invitations, but afterwards - I don't know how many column inches were written about how his Catholic wedding was allowed.

[Rosebel]

@Peregrina

I suppose it’s like marrying as a Protestant. Very few are regular churchgoers.

In your opinion, but posting myself as one who is a regular Church goer.
It's nonsense to say they didn't make a show of their wedding, that is exactly what they did plus make a big hoo ha about how his other weddings weren't really valid. But that is the measure of Johnson.

I thought the public didn't know about the marriage until afterwards. If so they hardly made a big thing of it.
Perhaps they did announce it though and I missed it . I don't pay that much attention to what Boris does.

[GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]

Yanbu for the “I can’t stand him anyway” . I feel the same!

But I would be in the sea any chance i got so don’t blame him.

Agree with what you said about female politicians not being able to get away with the same.

[Peregrina]

My uncharitable thought was that he has enough blubber to keep him warm.

[Goldieloxx]

Pond life contaminating the sea

[Peregrina]

I suppose it’s like marrying as a Protestant. Very few are regular churchgoers.

In your opinion, but posting myself as one who is a regular Church goer.
It's nonsense to say they didn't make a show of their wedding, that is exactly what they did plus make a big hoo ha about how his other weddings weren't really valid. But that is the measure of Johnson.