Whenever there’s been a turbulent time in history, a hero always emerges to bravely lead the people through. Joan of Arc, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela... and now, a new name to add to the list.
Coleen Rooney.
Her Wagatha Christie moment is staggering for many reasons, but not least because it’s exactly what we need right now.
It has also changed the celebrity landscape for ever.
In the olden days, famous people were revered and respected. The public hung on their every word, their private lives were private, and what they did allow to be seen was carefully orchestrated and controlled. Everything was on their terms.
Then, around the turn of the century, there was a shift. The norms suddenly realised they were getting a raw deal, this relationship wasn’t fair... and they got angry about it. Everything changed. Celebrities were now fair game, to be criticised and ridiculed. Exposed and disparaged.
We saw them without make-up, judged their weight, their relationships, their surgeries and their sanity. It was like we were furious they’d had this super-easy ride, and for such a long time, and we were determined to punish them for it.
So we did, and how. The pendulum swung in the opposite direction, and no one famous could get away with anything.
Squirming under our microscope, they were vilified for every transgression, big and small.
Then social media came along, and there was direct access, so you could tell them exactly what you thought of them, in detail, as often as you liked.
Now Coleen Rooney has swung the pendulum back, single-handedly, hopefully to somewhere near the middle.
Because let’s be honest here – we need celebrities, just as much as they need us. It’s a two-way street.
What Coleen has done in the last week is akin to famous people being sent out to entertain the troops during a war.
At a time that is unarguably terrifying, chaotic and bleak, she’s provided some light relief. The perfect distraction from our despair, from everything being serious and troubling.
This frothy bit of nonsense is salacious, shocking and endlessly discussable.
The variety of people – mostly unlikely and surprising – who have started conversations about it with me in the last few days proves just how gleefully we have accepted Coleen’s gift, as a nation.
We needed it, and it’s perfect. There’s drama and intrigue. It’s not quite clear-cut, so there are lots of different opinions about it...
This isn’t a clear cut tale of right and wrong, there are grey areas, twists, turns and enough here to keep us interested, and talking about something other than the B word for days to come.
So thank you, Coleen, from all of us.
Just like the song goes:
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in Roo.
