What’s your first thought when celebrities complain about fame? Should we sympathise even if their money makes them unrelatable? (Picture: Getty)
In today’s MetroTalk, two readers have written in to talk about fame, or more specifically the fame of two former teen X-Factor alumni Liam Payne and Harry Styles.
Some may argue that although money and fame might not buy happiness, it’s more comfortable to deal with problems in luxury, like crying in a Ferrari instead of on a bus.
So, is Liam in his rights to complain about his time in One Direction – in its time one of the biggest boy bands on the planet? Are his mental health complaints just as valid anyone without his wealth?
And do you think rich celebrities like Harry Styles are obligated to donate their earnings to charity? It’s what anyone would do in their position, right? If we could.
What do you think?
‘I struggle to sympathise for Liam Payne’
Singer Liam Payne, who recently spent 100 days in rehab, says his time in boyband One Direction ‘definitely left scars on me’ (Metro, Thu).
I struggle to sympathise. He achieved his dream and became very wealthy as a result.
Liam Payne said in an interview with Colombian radio station W: ‘I don’t really know if I knew what I signed up for when I started and I’ve been doing my job since I was 14 years old.’ (Picture: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Many thousands of people who are equally if not more talented than him never get even close to a record deal and worldwide success.
I think he should keep this in mind before bleating on about being ‘devastated’. Put the kettle on and put your feet up in your mansion, you lucky fella!
Ray, Romford
METRO TALK – HAVE YOUR SAY
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‘Harry Styles are we meant to be impressed by your charity?’
Harry Styles reportedly earned £460million through his tour (Picture:Dave Benett/Getty)
Are we meant to be impressed by Harry Styles donating £5million to charity after earning £460million through his tour (Metro, Wed)?
This equates to just over 1.1 per cent. I donate more of my earnings to charity than him. What tone deaf PR this is! Sarah, London
Bob Geldof’s however…
Does Bob Geldof’s charitable endeavours entitle him to a knighthood even though he’s not British? (Picture: Staff/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty)
Stephen Walsh (MetroTalk, Wed) says that because Bob Geldof is neither a UK nor a Commonwealth citizen, his knighthood does not confer him the title ‘Sir’.
If there is one person for whom I think we can allow the knighthood and honorary ruling to be relaxed slightly, then surely it is Bob Geldof.
What the man did to fight world famine, particularly in Africa, and other injustices in the world is beyond measure.
He has more of a right to the ‘Sir’ title in his left boot than a lot of the other so-called Sirs put together.
Perhaps he should ask some of them to part with some of their cash for good causes in that ever-so-eloquent way he had. And he was right about Mondays as well. Dec, North Somerset
‘No, Alastair I won’t support Starmer’
One reader says it’s too little too late for Alastair Campbell’s endorsement (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty)
Alastair Campbell and his daughter Grace (Metro.co.uk) have told us ‘lefties’ to forget our differences and unite to get the Tories out!
Well what a pity the Campbells didn’t do what they’re now preaching when Jeremy Corbyn was the Labour leader.
As a lifetime Labour supporter, I will work to keep Sir Keir Starmer out of No.10 by voting Tory or running as an independent candidate against my local Labour MP Seema Malhotra if necessary. Starmer will only get into office over my dead body!
Ian Brown (Former Constituency Labour Party And Trades Union Activist), Feltham
Train strikes on Brighton Pride
Sadly, not for those travelling to Brighton by train (picture: Mark Kerrison/Getty)
Sadly, I won’t be able to write in next week to recount the trials and tribulations of my rail trip to Brighton Pride this weekend, because the Aslef rail union has decided to call a strike on Saturday.
Not only is this a loss of much-needed revenue for the city, just think of all the seagulls who will go hungry, and all the 99p ice-creams uneaten, without the expected 200,000 visitors to its shores.
But let me get back on track, as I have an important point to make.
What signal does it send to Aslef and train operator Govia Thameslink’s LBGTQ+ staff?
Do they not care about their LBGTQ+ staff members? Do they not care about their staff members’ rights to be free, equal members of society?
The Pride movement was born out of protest. You only need to look to the United States to see how, if we don’t keep our foot firmly on the pedal, these hard-fought rights will be eroded.
The failure of Aslef and GTR to support Pride is abhorrent. Shame on you! Steven, London
Readers are also discussing: eating less meat for the climate and free bus pass misconceptions
Would you do a meatless Monday or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday? To help the planet? (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Further to your feature on how we can all do our bit to fight climate change (Metro, Wed).
One of the most impactful actions we could do as individuals is to either switch entirely to plant-based or even have a few plant-based meals every other day during the week.
According to UN agency the Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector is responsible for 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This figure is very close to the carbon emissions generated by the transport, aviation and shipping sector combined (15 per cent, again, according to the UN).
Let’s also not forget that animal agriculture also requires high land and water usage, which also leads to environmental and ecological harm.
It’s estimated that our dependency on animal products is only going to increase in the coming years, with even more impact on climate change.
If we all make a commitment to eat less meat, we can make a big difference. We can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, and protect the environment. Daniel, via email
Some of the poorest nations in the world suffer the worst consequences of climate change (Picture: Getty/imageBROKER RF)
Bernard Rimmer (MetroTalk, Wed) has completely missed the point when he says Oxfam should focus on doing good and stay out of politics like global warming issues after it criticised Rishi Sunak for granting 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences.
Some of the poorest nations suffer the worst consequences as a result of our excesses as a developed country.
The UK not only has the privilege of being able to do the right thing but has a moral duty to. I’m pleased that Oxfam is looking at the bigger picture and only wish our government would too. Jyoti Patel, Ilford
Neil Dance (MetroTalk, Tue) asks whether the elderly drivers priced out of using their cars by ULEZ are the same ones that get free bus passes.
What difference does a free pass make if there are no buses?
For my disabled wife and elderly father-in-law, the nearest bus stop is half an hour’s walk away – and it’s also the closest one to the shops 15 minutes further on. So they absolutely rely on their (non-compliant) cars and blue badges.
And before you ask why we live so far from the local amenities, we don’t.
I can walk that half mile in ten minutes, and I also have two hands free to bring the shopping home.
But I don’t see why they should be denied the pleasure of going down the shops. Anthony Youngman, Belvedere
One reader calls ULEZ a money making scheme (Picture: PA)
Peter Smith (MetroTalk, Thu) asks how the poorest people, the ones on minimum wage, are supposed to get to work under ULEZ when they can only afford ‘clapped-out bangers’?
I get paid more than the minimum wage yet can’t afford to run any car.
I have lived and worked in London for almost 30 years. I have had to make do with public transport. Why can’t they? Alfie Mullin, West London
London mayor Sadiq Khan should go and take his ULEZ money-machine scheme with him.
London’s roads are destroyed. There are cycle lanes that no one cycles on.
We all have ideas to make money but we must remember that not all ideas are fair.
The manner in which the mayor has applied environmental issues to justify his scheme demonstrates his lack of empathy for those who still want to be productive and need their cars to do so.
Hannah, London
If Rishi Sunak is actually on side with motorists he would increase the speed limit on motorways to make up for lost time in the slow and low traffic zones. Ted, Reading
I am disgusted with Rishi Sunak’s cowardice for caving into Britain’s car culture during a global crisis – we shall suffer the consequences in the years to come. In the late 1930s, few British people wanted war against Hitler. Imagine if Churchill had opted for appeasement.
Malcolm Sutherland, Bishopton
MORE : Liam Payne admits he’s ‘scarred’ by time in One Direction
MORE : Harry Styles gave all the Love on Tour as he raises over £5million for charity from 173 shows
MORE : Comedian Grace Campbell gives the Tories a piece of her mind: ‘The country is f****d’
Are celebrity complaints as valid as anyone else’s?
