65% of the British public paid 50p to vote for a man who recently starred in a violent rape flick, called ‘Killer Bitch’, to win a television show. Musclebound Alex Reid, who was filmed strangling a woman, later celebrated a cage fighting victory by posing for photographs, both biceps up, with his foot on the head of his unconscious opponent. I seemed to be the only one on the Internet to voice a protest, with the tweet, ‘if Alex Reid wins this, I’m leaving the country’.
It was retweeted back at me countless times, and one Twitterer even offered me a ticket to Iraq, because Alex mysteriously became the nation’s favourite. Vinnie Jones rightly predicted it was, ‘an impossible feat to turn the British public around in just three weeks.’ But you know, I’m all for remarkable comebacks. I love it when the bad turn it round and become the hero. Jones is a case in point. He committed GBH on the football field, chomped the nose of a journalist, and ended Gary Steven’s career, but, remarkably, became an accomplished actor, mellowed out in LA, and turned his attention to acting instead of hell-raising. He loves his wife, whom he nearly lost during the birth of his daughter- a fact he kept away from the Big Brother cameras.
I ghost Vinnie Jones’ column in Loaded, and he’s among a number of our regulars who are born again heroes. Who would have backed Richard Bacon to survive that cocaine scandal? Us Brits seem to love the fallen hero: Knock ‘em down, and build ‘em up again. Jade Goody was a racist and a bully, but in her battle with cancer she somehow vindicated herself to the public.
Which brings me back to Reid. Was this his turnaround moment? No. He simply got paid £100,000 to appear on a television show (remember when CBB used to be for charity?) it ended, and he got the most votes. In three weeks he managed to not cross-dress, not mention his girlfriend (the most hated woman in Britain), and not appear in violent pornography. Fifty pence? Money well spent, after all, he’s giving it all to charity. Isn’t he?
Tags: Alex Reid, big brother
I think the average member of the British public is the biggest loser. How gullible and short are their memories? This guy is a joke and an idiot. I’m thoroughly disappointed in the British public.
So, have you left the country then or what?
Surely if you’re going to delve into the murky world of celebrity you have to do it with a bit of common sense. Everyone is bad (the examples you’ve given at least), but, can be redeemed by making a career for themselves after some bad things (which they may well regret or feel remorseful for, if given the bloody chance).
But, by your logic that Vinnie Jones now does movies, Richard Bacon does radio and Jade Goody well, um, had cancer, how can Alex Reid doing Big Brother not be the start of something that shows him as a better person than the past sins you seem happy to condem him to hell for?
Perhaps he will give all the money to the female victims of rape?
Chris, sorry to have to simplify it for you, I was enjoying the rhetoric.
Yes, Vinnie, Bacon et al, all showed remorse. Reid hasn’t.
This appears to come down to a matter of what you decide is morally acceptable. Whilst the law should account for most circumstances, the British public are happy to be vigilante against things they find unpleasant.
Remose or not, Vinnie and Bacon appear (by your own arguments) to have broken the law and therefore should show remorse. Apologies if I’m mis-informed about Reid, I’m going from the facts you’ve displayed.
You’re not an Alex fan, then?
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