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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Fiona Phillips' dementia announcement has been timed to save her husband's arse

107 replies

kerrycgeorgie · 05/07/2023 11:20

AIBU or cynical in thinking the timing of this announcement could have been orchestrated by her husband/pr team to divert attention away from his failings over the Schofield scandal and general bad behaviours amongst the IT exec?
To be clear, this isn't to deny the sadness of the situation, it is very sad especially given her age.

OP posts:
badluckorbadvibes · 05/07/2023 11:32

In what way will it 'save his arse'?

Humidititties · 05/07/2023 11:32

Ouch!

curlycat · 05/07/2023 11:33

We have just had that conversation at work and I do think the timing has been worked for his advantage

Caroparo52 · 05/07/2023 11:36

Interesting. Cynical view but quite possible.

Tinkerbyebye · 05/07/2023 11:36

badluckorbadvibes · 05/07/2023 11:32

In what way will it 'save his arse'?

The sympathy vote

BeverleyMacker · 05/07/2023 11:36

Hmm wondered this myself...

badluckorbadvibes · 05/07/2023 11:38

@Tinkerbyebye

The sympathy vote

Form who?

SmoothSeasDoNotMakeGoodSailors · 05/07/2023 11:55

They’ve known about the diagnosis for a year apparently so the timing is suspicious. I do hope not though.

TheSeaDoesntKnowMyName · 05/07/2023 12:02

Fiona Phillips diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease - not general dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer's is a specific disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.

I know technically AD is dementia, only now because i googled , but in case anyone else is wondering the difference I thought I would post here

WomblingTree86 · 05/07/2023 12:04

Not sure how it would save his arse and I think it's quite a horrible/cynical suggestion. She has done lots on Alzheimer’s over the years as her parents got it at a young age and she always dreaded getting herself. I don't think the timing is suspicious at all given that she probably had to come to terms with the diagnosis before announcing it.

mikado1 · 05/07/2023 12:06

TheSeaDoesntKnowMyName · 05/07/2023 12:02

Fiona Phillips diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease - not general dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer's is a specific disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.

I know technically AD is dementia, only now because i googled , but in case anyone else is wondering the difference I thought I would post here

Thank you. I get a, likely unrational, bee in my bonnet about this distinction sometimes. Family member has dementia.

WomblingTree86 · 05/07/2023 12:08

Tinkerbyebye · 05/07/2023 11:36

The sympathy vote

Show quote history

They probably know better than that. As demonstrated on this thread, some people will be nasty rather than sympathetic.

ThisTimeIts · 05/07/2023 12:08

I feel sorry for her, she tried with her parents and saw her Dad die quickly in hospital. I doubt her husband will try as hard for her. I think he was heartless to staff and some of the ideologies he pushed on This morning caused lots of social harm.

It must be a very anxious time for Fiona. There was never anything unpleasant about her so I am sad. It can't have been a shock though, with her family history. As she had children late in life they will not have a Mum present at their Weddings or grandmother for their children, it's sad all around.

blotchyredanditichy · 05/07/2023 12:09

I agree with @WomblingTree86 What a horrid thing to say. I feel so sorry for her and her family - she has been active for years on this issue due to her tragic family history. I wish her the best of luck and think she deserves our sympathy.

Rhondaa · 05/07/2023 12:12

Surely if that were the case they'd have announced it a few weeks ago when the Schofield thing was headlines?

SoSoSoSo · 05/07/2023 12:13

It isn't uncommon for celebrities to wait a year or so before releasing information of a diagnosis to the press. I don't blame them. I'd want time to process it, tell loved ones and gather as much information as possible.

Chocolateship · 05/07/2023 12:16

I doubt many people know who her husband is. She has spoken a fair bit about her parents battles with alzheimers so it doesn't seem that wild that she's talking about it.

Freepo · 05/07/2023 12:19

I don’t agree. I imagine this has been a heart breaking diagnosis for her, and difficult for her to accept given her past experience with this disease. She deserves our support.

Pearlsaminga · 05/07/2023 12:19

I agree with the op, her husband knows fine well that public sympathy will go someway to eclipsing public negativity over the Phillip Schofield issue

Qbish · 05/07/2023 12:19

TheSeaDoesntKnowMyName · 05/07/2023 12:02

Fiona Phillips diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease - not general dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer's is a specific disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.

I know technically AD is dementia, only now because i googled , but in case anyone else is wondering the difference I thought I would post here

There's no such thing as "general" dementia. If you have a type of dementia (which Alzhiemer's is), then you have dementia.

It's all so awful for her. I don't know who her husband is, or how he is connected to the Philip Schofield mess - I'm not sure who would be giving him sympathy, exactly?

SoSoSoSo · 05/07/2023 12:20

Surely if that were the case they'd have announced it a few weeks ago when the Schofield thing was headlines?

Yes. If that was their intention they'd have released the information then.

LizzieSiddal · 05/07/2023 12:20

It’s the first thing I thought. I’ve worked in PR and it’s been perfectly timed for Mr Frizell and more importantly the whole of ITV’s morning programming.

Bluebells1970 · 05/07/2023 12:21

I feel horribly sorry for her, but did wonder about the timing....

I worked in care, and saw many lives decimated by dementia of whatever form it took.

LizzieSiddal · 05/07/2023 12:21

Surely if that were the case they'd have announced it a few weeks ago when the Schofield thing was headlines?

No that would be the worse time to release it as it would not get as much attention as it is now.

Duckafuk · 05/07/2023 12:22

Yes YABU.

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