The model and television presenter Jesinta Campbell is seeking legal advice over an article in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph that said she should postpone her wedding to the Sydney Swans AFL player Lance “Buddy” Franklin because he had been diagnosed with a mental illness.
The story by the gossip columnist Annette Sharp, published on Saturday under the headline “13 reasons Jesinta and Buddy should postpone their summer wedding”, warned that any children the couple had might have a mental illness.
Sharp also suggested Campbell’s “appeal and allure” would diminish once she got married, and Franklin’s illness might weaken his earning power.
“Because Franklin’s career and earning power is less certain than it was a month ago,” Sharp wrote. “With Swans bosses looking closely at Franklin’s nine-year contract — he didn’t reveal his epilepsy to them when he signed which may trigger a contract breach — who’s to say Franklin will still be earning a million dollars in … three years’ time?”
This month Franklin was ruled out of the rest of the Swans’ season because of an unspecified mental health condition. The Swans have said Franklin has mental health problems and also suffers mild epilepsy.
Campbell has responded to Sharp on social media, labelling the article “appalling” and urging the journalist to educate herself on the reporting of mental illness.
She posted a statement on her Facebook page on Saturday saying the article was not worth her time but people with a mental illness were.
“If there is anyone out there who has or is currently suffering from mental illness I want to make something very clear to you,” Campbell wrote. “Your challenges do not define you, and your suffering does not make you less appealing as a life partner.
“You deserve love and happiness and to find someone who will love you, completely.
“Today’s article was shallow and given the seriousness of mental health challenges, in my opinion, irresponsible!”
Last week Campbell was on a panel with Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff Peta Credlin at the Australian Women’s Weekly’s Women of the Future event and spoke about Franklin’s diagnosis.
“I have fallen more in love with him through this process, because he has stood up, he’s been a man, he’s owned his feelings and his emotions and he’s said, ‘I’m not OK,’” she said.
“And sometimes it’s OK to not be OK. He’s put his hand up and said, ‘I’m struggling. I’m struggling and I need help and I’m getting help.’ And I think that is a really important thing for, not only men, but for women to do and own it. Sometimes I think we find the most power when we’re vulnerable, when we’re down.”
But four days later Sharp wrote that the wedding should be postponed because of the diagnosis. “With Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and Jesinta Campbell’s wedding date fast approaching, time is running out for loved ones to stage what might be an important wedding day intervention,” she wrote.
Sharp has defended her article on Twitter, accusing critics of misquoting and misrepresenting what she wrote.
A lot of people leaping on the outrage bus about what amounts to plain good sense as far as I can see ... #whippedalongbymyjeersquad #higuys
— Annette Sharp (@InSharpRelief) September 26, 2015
Guardian Australia has approached Campbell’s agent, Sharon Finnigan, for comment. “We are seeking legal advice on the disgusting article that was written,” Finnigan told the Australian. “I have no other words for it. It was so awful.”
On Monday morning Sharp added on Twitter a 14th reason the couple should postpone their wedding.
14: Because the people closest to you, advising you, are also making money out of you
— Annette Sharp (@InSharpRelief) September 27, 2015
The Australian Press Council has confirmed it has received at least one complaint about the article.
