RIGHT, enough is enough. I’m sick of ghastly trolls on social media making people’s lives a misery and causing distress and upset.
I was fuming this week to see the utterly delightful Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah in Coronation Street, being asked if she’d had a “fat transplant” and being told she should be “ashamed”.
Tina O’Brien looks sensational but trolls still wanted to take a pop at her
Not only was this hideously cruel, it’s also completely ludicrous.
Tina, who is 37 but looks about 17, is a beautiful woman with the kind of figure that makes men want to burst out cheering.
She’s also a cracking actress and one of the most believable and authentic characters on the Street.
The combination of her success, beauty and happy home life clearly grates on the green-eyed monsters who inhabit the dark sewers of social media.
I honestly have no idea what makes these low-lifes think they can be mean and spiteful to someone in the public eye.
Never in a million years would they say these things to Tina’s face if they met her outside the studio or out shopping.
Tina is confident enough not to let comments bother her
They’d probably gush and ask for a selfie.
Thankfully Tina is very mature and well balanced so the barbs won’t hurt as much as they might have done when she was much younger and just starting out in her career.
With admirable grace and restraint, Tina gave the perfect riposte, saying: “I should feel ashamed? And we wonder why women struggle with self-esteem.
“Instead I choose to feel love and gratitude for my healthy body that allows me to run around the garden with my son and bounce on the trampoline with my daughter.”
She’s right, of course. Unless you are Piers Morgan, who has the hide of a whole herd of elephants, these sorts of cruel remarks are very hurtful and can be damaging and even life-threatening.
Tina is one of Coronation Street’s top stars
I’m just so glad Twitter wasn’t around when I was starting out as a TV presenter in the late Eighties.
I would have been eaten alive, and I honestly don’t know if I would have been able to cope.
Back in the days of TV-am, it was bad enough getting the “duty log” while we were on air.
This was the typed-out sheet of comments from viewers, including about my accent and the colour of tie worn by the late, great Mike Morris.
There were loads more positive comments than negative ones, but it’s always the nasty ones that stay with you.
So here’s a plea from the heart. Next time you are online and think about having a pop at someone for no other reason than downright vileness, count to ten.
Think about the consequences of your actions, step away from the keyboard and just go back online to join a class or take up a hobby so you can actually make some friends and maybe have a life.
Sleaze sticking to Don
NO doubt the latest accusations of sexual assault against Donald Trump will be water off a duck’s back.
Teflon Don will brush it aside just like the “p***y-grabbing” scandal and all his other alleged misde- meanours.
Allegations against Donald Trump continue to surface
He’s been accused by former model Amy Dorris of shoving his tongue down her throat and grabbing her breasts and bottom.
Amy says this happened in the VIP area at the US Open tennis in 1997, when Trump had her in a tight, “tentacle-like” grip, leaving her feeling “sick and violated”.
Trump’s lawyers have vehemently denied the claims, saying there would have been many witnesses.
There were indeed several people in that VIP area – apparently including Leonardo DiCaprio and illusionist David Blaine.
It will be most interesting to hear what they have to say.
To be honest, even if there was video evidence of the alleged assault, Trump’s supporters would either call it “fake news” or simply not care a jot.
He is, after all, the man who arrogantly claimed in 2016 he could walk down New York’s Fifth Avenue, shoot someone and STILL get elected.
And if Democrats don’t get their fingers out and inspire people to vote for his opponent Joe Biden, Trump will be back in the White House for four more years.
Wrong to heap blame on Jo
FRAGRANCE guru Jo Malone is one of the kindest, wisest women you could meet.
Jo, who started her mega-business in her kitchen aged 21, is always willing to help youngsters who hope to follow in her footsteps, advising and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Jo herself has been at the sharp end of unjustifiable, undeserved and unfair criticism
That’s why I have been so dismayed to see her embroiled in a race row she has nothing to do with.
Just over 20 years ago, Jo’s perfume company was bought by Estée Lauder cosmetics company and named Jo Malone London.
Last week Jo Malone London stupidly airbrushed black actor John Boyega from its ad campaign in China, a cynical, profit-driven move.
John, who was replaced by a Chinese actor, was hurt and angry and resigned as a brand ambassador.
John Boyega was right to be offended by the decision
This rightly led to criticism of the Jo Malone London corporate brand.
Unfortunately this has meant Jo herself has been at the sharp end of unjustifiable, undeserved and unfair criticism.
I know how devastated she is to be associated in any way with accusations of racism. She’s also heartbroken for John.
This would never have happened under her watch, but she has zero control over the brand she sold that now bears her name.
Jo, who has overcome breast cancer with good humour and dignity, has gone on to launch the massive Jo Loves brand, which I think is even better than the original.
And she has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with how the Estée Lauder empire conducts its advertising.
Fifi is timely reminder of mum Paula
NEW photos of Fifi Geldof show she’s grown up to be the double of her mum Paula Yates, who died 20 years ago.
Paula overdosed in September 2000 and I remember being shocked and saddened at the time.
It is 20 years since Paula Yates overdosed
The poor woman had been dealt some truly bitter blows.
She had to cope with her partner Michael Hutchence taking his own life and she had lost custody of her daughters Fifi, Peaches and Pixie who were living with their dad Bob, the rocker and Live Aid campaigner.
Then Paula discovered her biological dad was the unsettling oddball TV presenter Hughie Green.
No wonder she was in such a fragile condition.
I interviewed Paula many times and really liked her. She wrote a funny, sassy and honest column for this newspaper and was as smart as a whip.
It might have looked like the interviews she did on The Tube and The Big Breakfast were off the cuff but Paula always diligently did her homework while making it look easy.
Daughter Fifi is rocking short blonde hair just like her mum
At first, many assumed she had deliberately overdosed.
But people who knew her best have always dismissed this theory.
They say Paula would never have done such a thing, especially as she was alone in the house with daughter Tiger, the child she had with Michael Hutchence.
And I agree. Paula’s daughters were her life and she adored them.
She had come off drugs and was living a quieter life with Tiger in Hastings, East Sussex, writing books and generally getting back on track.
When she returned to London, Paula caught up with “friends” who gave her drugs – and that’s when everything unraveled.
She apparently hadn’t taken heroin for two years and her system simply couldn’t tolerate it.
The coroner at her inquest said her death was down to “foolish behaviour”.
Her death was a tragic accident, which makes those photos of eldest daughter Fifi, so very poignant.
Fifi is now 37, just four years younger than her mum was when she died.
The family went through even more trauma when Fifi’s little sister Peaches died in 2014, also overdosing on heroin.
Somehow Bob, Fifi, Pixie and Tiger have managed to rebuild their lives and I’m sure they remember Paula as a laughing, loving mum who adored her girls and would never willingly leave them.
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