Tom Bower's "Betrayal" Book discussion thread

[BasiliskStare]

My copy of Tom Bower's new book "Betrayal" has transported itself on to my Kindle . Just started it.
A thread for those reading for discussion if anyone is interested.
All opinions welcome , but no spitting , no fighting 😂

What do you make of his statement on This Morning where he admitted some of the sources for the material of his book came from trolls on the Internet?

Do yo not think this makes it more harder to trust what is in the book is true as it could be fabrication as the sources are nor credible and thus renders it more like a gossip rag?

Reporting on internet reaction isn’t the same as using them as “sources”.

Going to order it from Blackwell 's. I can't get it on Kindle in the US.

I’m going to listen on Spotify.

If the sources are telling the truth, and what they say can be proven to be the truth, it doesn't matter if it is a troll or a Palace source or a NUJ reporter.

I am pretty sure everything he has written will have been lawyer-checked.

Edited to add the last sentence, and to clarify the middle clause of the first sentence

We will soon find out if stuff is untrue as M and H will sue won’t they ???

Amazon were supposed to deliver my copy today, but I got a "your order has been delayed" message instead, with no delivery date mentioned. 😡

Except he clearly hadn't verified it. Did you watch the interview? I caught it and was pretty shocked to be honest that anyone would actually do that. They grilled him pretty hard about that point and he just flustered about with his answers.

I don't personally think if he isn't being sued is a sign the information is true either. Its pretty damming already to admit you used Internet trolls.

Talking in general terms now if you were told hey the information you just read about was from an internet troll would you believe it?

I have a hard copy arriving on 29th. Thanks for starting the thread 📖

Ill just add a quote of what he said "what I do with that particular instance is say that the trolls say that and I don’t particularly believe it"

So he doesn't believe what the trolls are saying is true but quotes them in his book. From the horses mouth...that is pretty damning.

I don’t care one way or another about M &H but I do know this man is a nasty misogynist. Won’t read anything he wants me to pay for.

He's being a good journalist. He's addressing rumors and then saying that he doesn't believe them.

I remember numerous threads on here where people have gone after RF family members based on internet troll comments and refused to refute them when confronted with proof they are wrong.

I've read Bower's other books. You can tell if he doesn't like the subject but he is upfront about his material.

Omid Scobie took a similar approach in Endgame. He referenced the online rumours about William and Rose Hanbury, clearly stated that they were unproven and he didn’t believe them, but explored how their circulation helped shape a broader narrative and influenced public perception of the Waleses.

I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with discussing rumours, as long as they’re presented transparently as speculation. It can actually be quite insightful to examine how these stories (true or not) feed into the wider public image and influence how people interpret events and individuals.

I saw him on TV, too. He was vicious and seemed quite unhinged. I wouldnt hold out much hope that this book is based on reality.

I am annoyed, as my book was supposed to arrive today and now it’s delayed. Looks like he’s had a run on copies!

This is a reading of the prologue by a lady with a lovely voice. I am wondering if Misan Harriman amongst others is no longer Meghan’s friend and has been talking. The One Young World org seem to have shelled out rather a lot for very little in return.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4zMfOylj6ZE&pp=ygULdGhlIHJ1bmRvd24%3D

They love to clap back about things so yes?

I’m not a fan of him personally, he’s a friend of Nigel Farage, but I read his book about the Beckhams (which I found quite the revelation) and will probably have a look at this one.

He was quite good at looking at the relationship between the Beckhams and the media, and the difference between the public and private.

@Indianrollerbird 😉

You’re just rubbing it in! 😂

The blurb on this is so ridiculous it reads as a parody, but unfortunately it's not. Tom Bower's publicist should be cancelled for using the term "Megxit" - and yes, of course the misogyny is in plain view! But even without that, the way it's worded is almost an incitement ("treachery", really ???) - not particularly responsible given that public overreactions have been so inexplicably extreme over the Meghan/Harry relationship even before they ceased to be working Royals and left the country that Parliament had to form a committee to investigate it. I'm uncomfortable that Bower and Co seem to be intentionally exaggerating and stirring up ill feeling just to make a buck.

Friends with Nigel Farage, you say? Follow the money.

Perhaps Nigel will be his next subject. I’d like to read his assessment

Tom focuses on media relationships and money , both of which id like to understand about Farage

I’m sure I read an interview where he said that’s the case…

Yes I remember lownie posted the internet troll rumours about w and k ! , then apparently removed it and claimed it was an a young over excited intern who was running his site for him when he was called out about it!