The Mail, Laura Robson and Cher Lloyd
Back in July, the Mail was understandably annoyed when a BBC tennis commentator made an unpleasant remark about the weight of 16-year-old tennis player Laura Robson.
Some might say that portly commentator David Mercer should keep his views to himself on the subject of weight.
That did not stop the BBC veteran offering the opinion that British starlet Laura Robson needs to lose some ‘puppy fat’.
Mercer, 60, was forced to say sorry to 16-year-old Laura for his words, broadcast live on the BBC’s ‘red button’ service to cable and satellite viewers.
I think they're kind of undermining their own argument by commenting on the commentator's own physical appearance, but still, you have to say it's not a nice thing to be judging a 16-year-old on their physical appearance. Given that it was the evil BBC doing it, it pushed the right buttons for the Mail.
I mean it's not as if they'd be making catty comments about a teenager's weight, is it?
Is it...?
Oh.
She's the Cheryl Cole lookalike widely tipped to be in with a chance of winning this year's X Factor.
But it appears the pressure is really getting to Cher Lloyd, who was pictured out in London yesterday looking incredibly skinny and [f]rail in a blue jumpsuit.
The 17-year-old looked drawn and distracted as she walked along with an member of the X Factor crew.
"The pressure" - of what? Being in a singing competition? Or being judged on her weight in public?
While being interviewed in the street Lloyd's body language made her appear anxious.
Possibly because she saw there was some twat with a honking great camera lurking a few yards away, ready to sell the photos to a national newspaper who'd be only too happy to made nasty little remarks about her weight...? Who knows.
Back to the Mail's story about the BBC and Laura Robson:
But the apology failed to pacify charities which said such thoughtless comments were in danger of encouraging eating disorders among the young.
Thoughtless comments in danger of encouraging eating disorders among the young... good job the Mail would never stoop so low, eh?
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September 26th, 2010 - 14:19
It’s ghoulish, isn’t it: they’d love for her to have an ED.
September 26th, 2010 - 14:29
Isn’t the physical condition of athletes a fair subject for a sports commentator anyway? The Mail seem to think so anyway…….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1300996/DES-KELLY-Cesc-Fabregas-shouldnt-Arsenal-captaincy.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1093424/Fat-asy-football-league-As-Sol-Campbell-quits-Notts-County-Sportsmail-puts-teams-tubbies-winner-takes-food-clash.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1028776/Footballer-Sol-Campbell-shows-love-handles-Caribbean.html
September 26th, 2010 - 16:24
I’ve been rather more put off by DM’s obsession with Chloe Victoria, although they are not the only newspaper guilty of reacting as though they’ve never seen a prostitute before. As to Cher, she looks to be the same size she was when she auditioned, so as usual it’s much ado about nothing from Dacre Towers
On a related subject: Possibly one of the worst articles I’ve ever seen about a celebrity was the one the Daily Mail did about Keira Knightley. They actually accused her of having ’caused’ a teenagers death from anorexia. There was no evidence whatsoever that this girl was even a fan of Keira and I was flabbergasted that they would use that girl’s tragedy to pointlessly flog a celebrity.
Bleh. I’m pointlessly ranting here. Anyone up for a game of bingo? http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/aliasvaughn/mailbingo.png
September 27th, 2010 - 16:37
It’s just another example that it is considered widely acceptable behaviour by the media and the public to point out that someone is looking rather thin, and to draw all sorts of negative conclusions about a person person based on their slim frame. But as soon as someone points out that a public figure (an athlete even!) may be a little on the heavy side, everyone is outraged. Double standard…. Wait…The Mail…
December 10th, 2010 - 21:31
The Daily Mail isn’t all written by the same person. Don’t you think that a newspaper should include a variety of perspectives? Does everyone who writes for the Guardian agree about everything?
December 11th, 2010 - 10:31
But those perspectives on Cher Lloyd etc are disgusting.