Two faced red tops.

[chocolateorangeinhaler]

Seeing the newspaper's today all lined up with Sarah hardings face on they was really sad. Was nice to see the nice comments about her from the red tops.

However. It left me slightly annoyed. A few years ago they tore the woman to shreds. Criticized her hair styles, men she dated, the times she was out on a night out.

Same happened to Freddie Mercury. He was always described as 'AIDS Riddled singer' or poofter, queer or other derogatory terms. But now and red top paints him as the most talented rock star that ever was.

Am I right to feel angry at the vultures that write this stuff.

Totally agree. I think the coverage of Caroline Flack’s death was some of the worst hypocrisy I’ve ever seen. Torn to shreds by the media until she couldn’t take it. Same media then mourns her and try to suggest that everyone else but themselves were responsible for her death.

Those newspapers reflect the attitudes of their readers. There are plenty of people even on MN who will lay into celebrities (or even regular people) and their life choices and then still be all upset when/if they die or fall on hard times. It's just what a certain type of gossipy opinionated demographic is like.

I remember them pulling Amy Winehouse to shreds and mocking her when anyone could see she desperately needed help. Also some tv presenters did it too.

@AFS1 as you say and then the same newspapers were promoting the whole Be Kind thing. they do it a lot with celebs, try and stir up gossip about them and completely exonerate themselves from any fault.

Am I right to feel angry at the vultures that write this stuff.
I am much more angry and the fucking vultures who buy it. If people stopped buying shit papers, we'd either have no papers or decent ones.
This stuff doesn't operate in a vacuum.

What’s a red top?

@BrendaBubbles

Those newspapers reflect the attitudes of their readers. There are plenty of people even on MN who will lay into celebrities (or even regular people) and their life choices and then still be all upset when/if they die or fall on hard times. It's just what a certain type of gossipy opinionated demographic is like.

Exactly. Some cunts must be buying the Daily Mail, too.

@riotlady

What’s a red top?

A "newspaper" (shit rag) with the name in white on a red background - eg The Sun.

Thing is more people than really care to admit to it really enjoy the content of those sorts of newspapers. IIRC the daily mail online is the biggest if not one of the biggest outlets online. If this stuff wasn't consumed to the extent that it is then it wouldn't be as popular as it is.

@DynamoKev gotcha, thanks. I did try to google but it just took me to Next to buy a red jumper xD

YANBU, this is why don't take much interest in celebrity culture. I've not been following it much but I hope her hope that her experiences saves other women's lives come true.

Agreed. Here in the states, it’s all “Free Britney” now, with tabloids/newspapers writing about her legal conservatorship battles. Where was all this concern for her when she was having a very public mental health crisis? Nowhere, they were all too busy writing about how crazy, fat, slutty, etc. she was and stalking her in the streets often putting her life in dangerous situations. Makes my blood boil. Media chews them up, spits them out, then sits there all “aw, you poor thing, you’ve been eaten alive, how tragic.” Sickening.

Same thing happened when DIana died. Private Eye got hold of most of the Sunday papers that were pulled because of her death and every one was very critical of her lifestyle, her friendships, the way she was 'neglecting' her sons by being in the Med with the dodgy Fayeds etc etc. Come the published issues she was a saint.

These publications appeal to people’s worst instincts.

They should be regulated better. Harassment and bullying of people in the public eye shouldn’t be acceptable.

It's hardly a new phenomenon, OP. It's been that way for years. What was the Leveson enquiry for?

If you read those red tops, or those ghastly gossip magazines then you are complicit.

There was a programme on not so long ago about celebrities and the press and one guy, a photographer I think, openly admitted they build them up then when they're at the top they knock them right down. I was only half watching but I think he was quite 'laughy' about it.

If people didn't enjoy it they wouldn't sell so many papers. It's grim

Its not just the papers it's social media too. Often the papers are just a mouthpiece for a lot of public views. I always liked Sarah Harding I thought she was wonderfully full of life and was genuinely saddened by her death. But I remember lots of really unpleasant comments about her a few years ago after she did Celebrity Big Brother, some real nastiness which wasn't warranted. I knew there would be loads of faux sad posts now from people on SM many of whom were the ones slating her just a short while ago. It is hypocritical in the extreme.

I agree, but you should also be looking to social media too. Those same people who tear celebrities to shreds, often @ ing them, are the ones who then use the #bekind.

As bad are the ones who will tell everyone to be nice to 'their' celebrity while being vitriolic to the ones they don't like. Jonny Depp and Amber Heard stans spring to mind here

"We apologise for the Princess Diana page one headline DI GOES SEX MAD, which is still on stands in some locations. It is currently being replaced with a special 72 page tribute issue : A FAREWELL TO THE PRINCESS WE ALL LOVED".

National Enquirer statement 31/8/97

"I am much more angry and the fucking vultures who buy it."

I am completely in agreement with this.

Most media outlets are only feeding appetites. The only reason they publish such vitriolic, intrusive and often inflammatory crap is because millions of people lap it all up gleefully....

I know this may be controversial, but the BBC was slated for obtaining the Diana interview on false pretences. How many of the outraged complainants were sat on the edge of their seat salivating over the juicy details of her private life?

It's hardly a new phenomenon, OP.

@KaptainKaveman I don’t think the OP suggested it was. As well as Sarah Harding she also mentioned Freddie Mercury in her post, who died about 30 years ago.

Solution -

Don't buy them.
Don't click on their links.
Don't shop with their advisers and let them know why.