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| George Clooney and the Daily Mail: can the man get any cooler? | George Clooney and the Daily Mail: can the man get any cooler? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It seems only a few months ago that I | It seems only a few months ago that I |
| was here celebrating George Clooney, his engagement to the human | was here celebrating George Clooney, his engagement to the human |
| rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin and the positive effect that this would | rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin and the positive effect that this would |
| have on his public image. (Guess what? It was.) And already there is | have on his public image. (Guess what? It was.) And already there is |
| cause to sing his praises again, as he rejects grudging attempts by | cause to sing his praises again, as he rejects grudging attempts by |
| the Daily Mail to placate him over a false story which it published | the Daily Mail to placate him over a false story which it published |
| about his impending marriage. The UK tabloid had reported that | about his impending marriage. The UK tabloid had reported that |
| Alamuddin’s mother, Baria, had made it public knowledge in Beirut | Alamuddin’s mother, Baria, had made it public knowledge in Beirut |
| that she was against the wedding on religious grounds. Mentions were | that she was against the wedding on religious grounds. Mentions were |
| made of religious traditions ending in the death of the bride. As | made of religious traditions ending in the death of the bride. As |
| mother-in-law jokes go, it was among the worst. | mother-in-law jokes go, it was among the worst. |
| Clooney issued a statement damning | Clooney issued a statement damning |
| unequivocally the paper’s story and accusing it of incitement to | unequivocally the paper’s story and accusing it of incitement to |
| religious violence: “We have family members all over the world, and | religious violence: “We have family members all over the world, and |
| the idea that someone would inflame any part of that world for the | the idea that someone would inflame any part of that world for the |
| sole reason of selling papers should be criminal.” As if that were | sole reason of selling papers should be criminal.” As if that were |
| not robust enough, he has now refused to accept the apology that the | not robust enough, he has now refused to accept the apology that the |
| Mail issued in the wake of his original statement. His response cites | Mail issued in the wake of his original statement. His response cites |
| evidence that the apology itself, as well as the story that | evidence that the apology itself, as well as the story that |
| necessitated it, is a tissue of lies. “I thank the Mail for its | necessitated it, is a tissue of lies. “I thank the Mail for its |
| apology,” he says, his magnanimity strangely amplified by what | apology,” he says, his magnanimity strangely amplified by what |
| follows: “Not that I would ever accept it, but because in doing so | follows: “Not that I would ever accept it, but because in doing so |
| they’ve exposed themselves as the worst kind of tabloid. One that | they’ve exposed themselves as the worst kind of tabloid. One that |
| makes up its facts to the detriment of its readers and to all the | makes up its facts to the detriment of its readers and to all the |
| publications that blindly reprint them.” | publications that blindly reprint them.” |
| I want to cheer at that. Many before | I want to cheer at that. Many before |
| him have accepted the fabrications of the tabloids as part and parcel | him have accepted the fabrications of the tabloids as part and parcel |
| of the tacit contract between celebrities and the media. Clooney, | of the tacit contract between celebrities and the media. Clooney, |
| though, is willing to risk the animosity he will now engender from | though, is willing to risk the animosity he will now engender from |
| this famously grudge-bearing organ. Think of the 16-page splash that | this famously grudge-bearing organ. Think of the 16-page splash that |
| will result if he dares to expose so much as a dangling nasal hair, | will result if he dares to expose so much as a dangling nasal hair, |
| let alone a cellulite-stippled thigh, in the proximity of a | let alone a cellulite-stippled thigh, in the proximity of a |
| paparazzo’s long lens. | paparazzo’s long lens. |
| As well as his general willingness to | As well as his general willingness to |
| stand his ground, there is also the no-nonsense tone of both | stand his ground, there is also the no-nonsense tone of both |
| statements, especially the new one. Several questions arise from it. | statements, especially the new one. Several questions arise from it. |
| Can the man get any cooler? Could he parlay some of that coolness | Can the man get any cooler? Could he parlay some of that coolness |
| into his choice of film projects? And would he be willing to offer | into his choice of film projects? And would he be willing to offer |
| short courses to fellow celebrities in how to slap down one’s | short courses to fellow celebrities in how to slap down one’s |
| tabloid tormentors without inadvertently cultivating an air of “poor | tabloid tormentors without inadvertently cultivating an air of “poor |
| ickle me” or allowing some of the dirt to splash back onto one’s | ickle me” or allowing some of the dirt to splash back onto one’s |
| own shoes and trousers? Steve Coogan and Hugh Grant would surely | own shoes and trousers? Steve Coogan and Hugh Grant would surely |
| clear some space in their diaries to pop along to the local Marriott | clear some space in their diaries to pop along to the local Marriott |
| Business Hotel for an afternoon’s PowerPoint presentation on the | Business Hotel for an afternoon’s PowerPoint presentation on the |
| subject. | subject. |
| Furthermore, could he hire out his | Furthermore, could he hire out his |
| services as a letter-writer so that we might all for a modest fee | services as a letter-writer so that we might all for a modest fee |
| take advantage of his directness and articulacy? (I bought a tower of | take advantage of his directness and articulacy? (I bought a tower of |
| plastic beakers from a leading supermarket last weekend. Each beaker | plastic beakers from a leading supermarket last weekend. Each beaker |
| had a minuscule hole in the base. Imagine the sort of redress Clooney | had a minuscule hole in the base. Imagine the sort of redress Clooney |
| could whip up with one of his sternly worded dispatches!) | |
| Clooney has had to overcome so many | Clooney has had to overcome so many |
| disadvantages in his life – extravagant talent, wealth, intelligence | |
| and good looks – but those are not the reasons to be cheerful about | |
| his existence today. Seeing old orders and hierarchies challenged, | his existence today. Seeing old orders and hierarchies challenged, |
| even jeopardised, is a heartening thing. Clooney is using his own | even jeopardised, is a heartening thing. Clooney is using his own |
| power and clout to redefine the damaged dynamic that has existed | power and clout to redefine the damaged dynamic that has existed |
| since the days of gossip-columnist hatchet-jobs in old Hollywood. | since the days of gossip-columnist hatchet-jobs in old Hollywood. |
| Unlike other celebrities who have | Unlike other celebrities who have |
| complained about the tabloids, it is not the attention itself Clooney | complained about the tabloids, it is not the attention itself Clooney |
| resents but its fraudulent basis. His objections revolve less around | resents but its fraudulent basis. His objections revolve less around |
| a defence of A-listers than regret over the decline in journalistic | a defence of A-listers than regret over the decline in journalistic |
| standards. (As he points out, his own father was a TV journalist.) No | standards. (As he points out, his own father was a TV journalist.) No |
| one wants stars to be beyond criticism. It would be useful, though, | one wants stars to be beyond criticism. It would be useful, though, |
| if any brickbats lobbed at them weren’t made of sponge – if | |
| accusations aimed in their direction could be shown to be not merely | accusations aimed in their direction could be shown to be not merely |
| in the public interest but factually true to boot. | in the public interest but factually true to boot. |