WHOOPI GOLDBERG has been lambasted for advice she gave to Bella Thorne, whose phone was hacked by a creep who threatened to publish “compromising” naked photos.
Whoopi pointed out, quite reasonably in my view, that the young actress should not have those sorts of images on her phone in the first place. She said everyone knows such photos can be hi- jacked and used to threaten and embarrass.
I am sure that Whoopi meant well but it all backfired when an emotional Bella posted a video saying how upset she was at being “shamed” by the presenter and actress, — calling her actions “sick and disgusting”.
I find it utterly baffling that Bella was more distressed by the words of a middle-aged woman who had her best interests at heart than the saddo who tried to embarrass her by releasing nude photos on to the internet for all the world to see.
It’s a great shame this has now escalated into a row between the two women, because I truly admire Bella for how she has handled the whole potential blackmailing situation.
Instead of paying up, she simply decided to post the photos online herself.
It was a masterstroke and instantly took all the power away from the snivelling little git who was hassling her. Bella was not ashamed or embarrassed by the intimate pictures and would not be held to ransom. Good for her.
But surely it was far more upsetting to be the victim of a potential crime than receiving a slight scolding from Whoopi for being naive enough to take and keep those sorts of images in the first place.
Bella had a right old rant on Instagram and has vowed never again to appear on The View — a chat show co-hosted by Whoopi which is the US version of our Loose Women.
I feel very sorry for Bella because she was clearly extremely upset by what Whoopi had to say but I think her anger is misplaced.
Whoopi was makIng a really important point, which affects everyone, not only those in the public eye.
She was speaking for worried parents of teenagers and twentysomethings everywhere who are concerned that online photos of their children getting drunk, posing nude or even having sex will come back to haunt them.
It is one of the real dangers of social media that our accounts are not really secure. they can be hacked with relative ease, falling out of “the cloud” and on to your boss’s Facebook — or, even worse, getting viewed by your mum and dad.
There are people who think it is a jolly wheeze to post explicit photographs of former lovers online, or who do it as “revenge” for being dumped.
Of course, there are those who have no common sense and post pictures of themselves romping in hotel rooms with girlfriends or boyfriends or boozily feeling each other up on holiday.
Do they really want future employers to have viewed them in situations that should be private?
The authorities are now cracking down. Last August, a man who hacked into hundreds of iCloud accounts of Hollywood actresses and leaked their nude pictures was sentenced to eight months in prison.
George Garofano stole private photographs from movie stars including actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst. It was horribly distressing for these women and I completely sympathise.
However, the ease with which that slimy toad was able to access personal images proves that if you don’t want to have potentially embarrassing photos put out there, then don’t take them in the first place — or just press the delete button.
Maybe even go back to the Dark Ages, invest in a Polaroid camera and keep your naughty pictures under lock and key. The hackers are vile, but let us not give them the ammunition. And take heed of the advice from wise women such as Whoopi.
I SINCERELY hope the latest rumours from the troubled set of the new Bond film prove to be without foundation.
It’s being claimed that the film’s director, Cary Fukunaga, held up cast and crew during a complicated shoot because he was playing video games on his PlayStation.
Apparently the production crew and actors were not amused at having to hang about for three hours because Cary wanted to play with his toys. I don’t blame them.
I cannot believe someone would be so inconsiderate to fellow professionals.
I was, however, more aghast at finding out Cary isn’t a spotty teenage geek, but a 41-year-old man.
Surely he should have outgrown PlayStation by now – especially when he is already in charge of the world’s best video game, involving Aston Martin car chases, shootouts, beautiful women and dastardly villains.
WILLIAM and Kate showed how royals should react when their lifestyle causes harm to a member of the public.
Widow Irene Mayor, 83, was hit by a police motorbike escorting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Windsor Castle. She is in hospital with serious injuries.
As soon as Wills and Kate found out, they sent flowers and a hand-written note and have told Irene’s family they want to visit her whenever she is ready.
I HAVE never watched Love Island. So it’s odd to see images and videos of strange, orange people with impossibly white teeth, like Molly-Mae Hague on my online news feeds and splashed across magazines when I haven’t a blinking clue who they are.
And it is utterly bizarre that they all look and sound exactly alike.
To be honest, if I really need to see fit youngsters strutting around, uttering meaningless sounds and having sex, I will tune into a David Attenborough documentary.
THE Fab Five presenters on makeover show Queer Eye are making the world a better place – one scruffy, messed-up person at a time.
Makeovers are hardly a new concept but this series does much more than give someone a new outfit and haircut.
The hosts lovebomb shy misfits who ask for help, as well as big-hearted people who just neglect themselves – then change their lives for ever.
It’s a show full of heart and soul and I blub during every episode.
This week I met the British star of Queer Eye, delightful Tan France, from Doncaster. He had a hard time growing up in a world where he had no role models and he feels a huge responsibility to young gay Asian men such as himself.
Tan and the Queer Eye boys feature in the video for Taylor Swift’s new single, You Need To Calm Down, with some of my favourite people including RuPaul and Ryan Reynolds.
The song hits you over the head a bit with its inclusivity – no bad thing – but the Queer Eye boys do it better just by being themselves.
I HAD to look twice at this gorgeous selfie posted by This Morning’s Alison Hammond.
She’s glowing with confidence and happiness.
After becoming the spokeswoman for a slimming club Alison has lost so much weight and looks stunning.
She has talked about being “embarrassed” by weighing 20st. But I’m so glad she lost weight gradually with a healthy eating plan and doing exercise she loves.
I wish Alison all the best with her battle towards being happier, healthier and fitter and I know she will have helped other women with their weight issues too.
I BLOODY love Matt Lucas. The Little Britain star saw on Twitter that Amy Dunn was being bullied because she had lost her hair and was being derided as a “Matt Lucas lookalike”.
The comedian immediately sent the 27-year-old a message of support telling her she was beautiful and how flattered he was to be compared to her.
Amy, who suffers from alopecia, has had people laughing and pointing at her in the street because she happens to have a condition that means she is bald.
I hope having Matt on her side has cheered Amy up and given her the confidence to ignore the morons who hurled abuse, and maybe even feel sorry for them for being such ar**holes.
Matt is right. Amy is beautiful, and so is he.
I’M very much liking the look of Beecham House, the new ITV drama set in 19th Century India that airs tomorrow night.
The trails look sumptuous and now Poldark’s Aidan Turner has gone all grungy, leading man Tom Bateman is a most welcome piece of eye candy.
Beecham House is on ITV tomorrow at 9pm.
