Prue Leith on Meghan Marble

[ZebedeeDougalFlorence]

I just saw this article about Prue Leith's pronouncement on Markle's new programme, which she says she would never watch. She says that she isn't a Markle fan because of all the "touchy feeliness" and talk about what creams you put on your hands. She says life is too short to think about what people think of you. Prue Leith is around 80 years old (?) is alway impeccably and colourfully dressed, her hair just so, her skin is lovely, she is always talking about food that is or isn't "worth the calories" - all of which which suggests that she very much cares what people think of her and that she takes a lot of time with her own appearance even though she is much older than Meghan who I would argue - as I would for all young women - that they should enjoy and relish their youth and beauty and make the most of it while it lasts.

My question however is about why Leith found it so easy to make this comment in public. I can't imagine her judging another celebrity so publicly and forcefully. So what makes Meghan different to the others? What makes Leith so incensed that she had to be so negative about her in a TV interview? I am sure that Meghan is not the only touchy feely, hand moisturising celebrity on the planet.

Aside from your feelings about her estrangement from the royal family which has been discussed ad nauseam what legitimate reason is there for treating her like that?

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/netflix-meghan-markle-duchess-lady-gaga-sussex-b1216699.html

Who. Honestly. Cares?‽‽‽‽‽!

No, it is not American to want to impress friends. Real friends are comfortable with each other.

Is it unkind to say you don't like a show when asked?

Not unless you’re a public figure and what you say makes headlines. Just my opinion.

But mostly celebrities are like politicians. She wouldn't have answered as candidly if the question had been posed about any other public figure - unless they were a serial killer or something - but she felt that she could answer that way because it was about MM.

I dunno - there's something about your juxtaposition of MM with a serial killer that makes your assumption quite pejorative.

No one (not even Prue Leith) - apart from you, OP - has put MM in the corner with the serial killer.

Come on...you know what I'm getting at.

It's very rare for celebs to pull each other down unless the celeb in question is found to have done something really bad like sexual misconduct, but with MM there seems to be this impunity and the things that people complain about seem so trivial in comparison. I just find it very strange.

Betty Davis and Joan Crawford would like a word! 🤣

Really? The only celebs you can reference are from the 40s and 50s?

Also, those two had worked together. They knew each other and just didn't get on (professional jealousy). They weren't badmouthing another celeb they didn't know. And actually, they would often be quite clever in interviews and give each other backhanded compliments rather than direct criticism.

I was being humorous!
however you seem to be deficient, but no those are not the only celebs I could reference!
do you really want me to provide you with a list?
because I can and will !
and it will include many up to date celebrities but a fair warning, it’s a going to be a very , very long list!
and it may well derail your thread!
do you wish me to compile and post?

You choose to put yourself and your lifestyle in the public eye for the cash, don’t be surprised when people have an opinion.

Also, don’t be surprised when that opinion doesn’t mirror your own, that way self absorbed twattish-ness lies.

@ZebedeeDougalFlorence Why shouldn't Prue Leith use her voice (as MM likes to say) and express an honest opinion that she doesn't like someone. Why should she be obliged to lie and fudge? Don't you think quite a few questionable celebrities of little talent would have had their gravy train run out of track had people been allowed to express an honest opinion about them? Leith is an extremely experienced cook and restauranteur, with decades of work behind her in the field. She'd never in a million years hope to get the sort of Netflix deal MM did for doing nothing whatsoever of note in the food industry, simply for marrying Prince Harry. MM has done considerably less than many, many talented YouTubers, ordinary working women without fancy studios, sets, cameramen, editors etc, who produce wonderful cookery tutorials, lifestyle blogs and tips for enhancing everyday living on a budget. What is Leith supposed to say about MM's universally panned programme (panned across all media, left, right, mainstream and independent) that doesn't sound like an insincere lie? Why should she have to lie?

It's very rare for celebs to pull each other down unless the celeb in question is found to have done something really bad like sexual misconduct

Is it? Do you remember this time last year and all the celebrities laying into Catherine Middleton. Blake Lively, Sheryl Crow, Kim Kardashian, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Owen Jones, all the women on The View, to name but a few?

It's a tad unkind to say you don't like a show you haven't actually seen, when asked.

@ZebedeeDougalFlorence What is youropinion of celebrity chef, Jameson Stocks, receiving death threats for not wanting to get involved in MM's show, becasue he thought the whole thing would be insincere. He was right, wasn't hem given the critical response.

I think the OP wanted to know why Prue felt so free to be so scathing in her reply, not just why did she say what she said.

I don't think the answer to that is much of a mystery - she cares what people think of her so hopped aboard the bamdwagon. Dame Prue is a bit of a mean girl.

She was asked a question on TV and answered it. She didn't just volunteer that information. She was asked what she thought, she said she didn't like MM. I don't think she said anything specific about the show, she said there's more to life than thinking about how you look and what your friends think of you, which is the general vibe of the programme. She's not obliged to like the style of show or its protagonist. She's also not obliged to be kind.

Actually, she said she'd probably alienate half her audience in speaking her true feelings. Hardly hopping a bandwagon. And since the programme has been universally panned across all media, it's more like a juggernaut.

I think the op had entirely different ideas for this thread!
but each to their own opinions.

Why did she castigate it without even watching it? She could simply have said she hadn't seen it. You know the saying "If you can't find anything nice to say, say nothing." She should have remembered that one, but instead she chose to be nasty, which imo is not a good look, and I'm going to hazard a guess that the producers of the show that put her on the map will be wondering what possessed her to be so rude.

Many thanks @FromTheOfficeOfJammyTodger! Was about to compile my list, realised how long it would take me to type one fingered on an iPhone and thought bugger it!!!
im sure most people know already! And here you are! 😀

Yeah, the point about why women should have to be nice and lie all the time just flew right over your head there, didn't it @mathanxiety . Prue Leith has been "on the map" for decades.

Is Bernard Castle any relation to Barbara Castle.
😉😁😁.

I actually think the pp's opinion is spot on. I think it was a "mean girl" move by Prue, and a jumping on a bandwagon. I think MM is now a very easy target.

I totally agree. And most celebs would have made some polite remark. She didn't. She felt she could be nasty and get away with it.

Very good point!
I think Prue like many women before her , has got to the age where being polite and “kind” and not voicing her opinions is over!
why ? Why are women expected to always be nice?
men are not expected to sugar coat everything.