Updated below. George Clooney spoke out against a story published in The Daily Mail alleging the mother of Amal Alamuddin, his finance disapproved of him. He decried it and called it “dangerous” for exploiting religious conflict and inciting violence. The British tabloid retracted the story and published an apology.
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While we have seen many a tabloid story that is little more rumor, gossip, speculation, fabrication, embellishment and even pure fiction, it’s not every day that we see a celebrity speak out against it. And even more rare that a publication will retract the story and apologize.
All this has happened within hours after George Clooney took to USA Today deliver an impassioned denouncement of a story. The original story alleged that his bride to be Amal Alamuddin’s mother not only objected to him, but that her objections were for religious reasons and that she had told “half of Beiruit” about it.
In his response, George Clooney highlighted a particular details of the fabrication: “It says they joke about traditions in the Druze religion that end up with the death of the bride.
“Let me repeat that: the death of the bride.”
He went on to say there was no factual truth to the story, noting that Alamuddin’s mother was not of the Druze religion and had not even been in Beiruit since he had been dating her daughter. He also acknowledged that tabloids, including the Daily Mail print fabricated stories about him and his fiance all the time and he went on to explain why he had spoken out, saying:
“But this lie involves larger issues. The irresponsibility, in this day and age, to exploit religious differences where none exist, is at the very least negligent and more appropriately dangerous. We have family members all over the world, and the idea that someone would inflame any part of that world for the sole reason of selling papers should be criminal.”
The eloquently written editorial is far from the complaint of a celebrity over an unflattering story. He makes a powerful point especially in this day and age in which public figures find their private lives or perceived private lives to be merely existing for insatiable and voyeuristic consumption.
Along with bringing to light the serious issues at stake, George Clooney’s editorial also prompted the Daily Mail to remove the story from their Web site and to issue a statement saying:
“The MailOnline story was not a fabrication but supplied in good faith by a reputable and trusted freelance journalist. She based her story on conversations with a long standing contact who has strong connections with senior members of the Lebanese community in the U.K. and the Druze in Beirut. We only became aware of Mr. Clooney’s concerns this morning and have launched a full investigation. However, we accept Mr. Clooney’s assurance that the story is inaccurate and we apologize to him, Miss Amal Alamuddin and her mother, Baria, for any distress caused.”
While they deny “fabrication” it’s still quite significant that the story was retracted. One would hope first of all that it has not already sparked any religious strife in the region, and secondly — perhaps a hope against hope — that it might become the proverbial watershed moment. Enough is enough. But celebrity watching at all costs has become perhaps too endemic for such expectations.
You can see George Clooney’s full editorial here.
* Update: Clooney responded to the Daily Mail apology with another op-ed in USA Today in which he made it clear he does not accept their apology. Specifically, he took issue with managing editor Charles Garside’s claim that the story is not a fabrication.
He said in part:
“The problem is that none of that is true. The original story never cites that source, but instead goes out of its way to insist on four different occasions that “a family friend” spoke directly to the Mail. A ” family friend” was the source. So either they were lying originally or they’re lying now.
Clooney also noted that the Daily Mail had printed a story earlier announcing his engagement in which they stated correctly that that Alamuddin’s mother is not Druze. He went on to note: “So I thank the Mail for its apology. Not that I would ever accept it, but because in doing so they’ve exposed themselves as the worst kind of tabloid.”
The full text is here.
Pictures: PR Photos
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/DI5cxeKXK7I/
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