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Barack Obama and David Cameron pose for selfie with Danish PM Barack Obama and David Cameron pose for selfie with Danish PM
(35 minutes later)
No matter how famous you are, it appears, few can resist the appeal of the selfie.No matter how famous you are, it appears, few can resist the appeal of the selfie.
As Barack Obama and David Cameron joined hundreds of dignitaries and tens of thousands of South Africans paying their respects to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela at a memorial service in Johannesburg, they took the opportunity of posing for a self-portrait with Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the Danish prime minister (and daughter-in-law of Neil Kinnock).As Barack Obama and David Cameron joined hundreds of dignitaries and tens of thousands of South Africans paying their respects to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela at a memorial service in Johannesburg, they took the opportunity of posing for a self-portrait with Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the Danish prime minister (and daughter-in-law of Neil Kinnock).
Ignoring the etiquette tips that have proliferated online since 'selfie' was declared the Oxford dictionary's word of the year, the three world leaders appeared to momentarily forget the solemnity of the occasion, adopting the mandatory cheesy grins. Michelle Obama maintains her dignity and refuses to join in the antics. Ignoring the etiquette tips that have proliferated online since 'selfie' was declared the Oxford dictionary's word of the year, the three world leaders appeared to momentarily forget the solemnity of the occasion, adopting the mandatory cheesy grins. Michelle Obama maintained her dignity and refused to join in the antics.
The US president and the Danish leader picked up on the South African spirit of celebrating Mandela's life rather than mourning his death, and were were photographed laughing and chatting during the ceremony, while the US first lady looked on. The US president and the Danish leader were photographed laughing and chatting during the ceremony, while the US first lady looked on apparently unimpressed.
But Michelle was also caught in conversation with Thorning-Schmidt, confounding those always eager to stoke speculation.
The Cameron-Obama-Thorning-Schmidt selfie soon went viral online, leading to a backlash from some who felt it was inappropriate behaviour for a funeral. But many remarked that the world leaders were joining in the South African spirit of celebrating, rather than mourning, Mandela. "Lighten up people, it was a celebration of life," tweeted ‏@s_phire.
"From everything I've read about Mandela this week, sounds like he'd have found the Obama selfie / Michelle Twitter gags pretty funny," tweeted Sam Parker.
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