Gail Walker: Why Jade Goody isn’t that bad
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
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Want to know how wretched one’s life can be? It’s confirmed you have cancer but everyone immediately by-passes concern and goes straight to suspecting the dark art of PR.
Welcome to the world of Jade Goody. The girl whose career foundered after being accused of racism towards Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in Celebrity Big Brother is now seen as pulling an extraordinary sympathy-winning stunt in the hope public illness will also mean public rehabilitation.
Except, not really. Even as more details have emerged at the weekend of how seriously ill this young mother-of-two really is, there still seems to be a perception that it’s some kind of comeback stunt. That there’s not that much wrong with her — well, nothing that an emergency hysterectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy mightn’t solve — and that she’s milking it for all it’s worth.
Since she had an inkling she wasn’t well before she went to India, where she was to appear in their version of BB, then she must have decided to cash in on her cancer — that is, if she really has it, of course — for £100,000.
Astonishing cynicism, yes. But not by Jade Goody. Rather, by the public and media who have turned this young woman’s life — and possible early death — into a free-for-all.
She’s the reality TV star they couldn’t make up. And now her real-life life-and-death drama plays like a soap opera starring the nation’s most loathed chav.
For years Jade Goody (27) has been one of those ‘celebs’ who makes us feel better about ourselves.
From the moment she talked about ‘East Angular’ on BB, her background of drug addict dad and one-armed lesbian mother Jackiey had us fascinated and appalled. The fact that she wasn’t that good-looking and had a cartoon boob job added to the merriment.
But then a spate of articles hinted that Jade might not be as dim as we thought; that her perfume was a bestseller and she’d amassed a tidy bank balance. Happily, just as it looked like the joke was on us, Jade entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, met Shilpa Shetty, and we all got to give her a good kicking again. What’s most disturbing is that our meanness towards Jade Goody has made bullies and stone-hearts out of virtually everyone.
She is partly to blame. It is odd that she went to India with a question mark over her health. You might have thought she would want to stay close to her young sons and family. Then again, she says she needed the money.
But maybe we’ve helped blur the lines for Goody between public and private life. Her fame came through the forensic analysis of her character that is BB and its 24-hour cameras. Is it really any wonder, then, if a young vulnerable woman from a shaky background just keeps on putting her life up for sale?
Her first post-diagnosis interview makes a front-page screamer headline. Most likely, everything up ahead — surgery, chemo, recovery, whatever — will have a price-tag on it, too.
It’s a pity, because what Jade’s desperate news and our response to it shows is that we all need time out. She needs to concentrate on getting better. We need to leave her alone to do so.
It used to be that someone went off, had an illness and dealt with it and didn’t let on, or didn’t deal with it, and we only found out afterwards.
Now, there is an insatiable appetite for every form of collapse, infection, addiction and disease — and we feel somehow cheated if it all happens off-camera. Like Heath Ledger. Or that guy off Emmerdale.
It’s well-known that a celebrity’s stock rises after death, but that’s not much use to the celebrity. So it’s inevitable that some would think it would be a shame not to cash in just that little bit earlier ?
In any case, it’s evidence of just how far we’ve all sunk or been dragged down.
They used to say ‘that which does not kill me makes me stronger’. Let’s hope that’s true for Jade. And the rest of us.
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i am both shocked and disgusted at your opinion of jade and her illness. whoever has to face this cruel disease should feel supported and the fact you had the appauling vision to critisise and doubt her is just vile. Throughout her failing battle her priority has been to plan for the future of her two boys and ensure security for them by which ever means she could and which mother wouldn't?
Posted by mrs annoyed | 12.03.09, 22:39 GMT
I am bewildered by the patronising tone of this article and so many others like it in the 'broadsheets.' Why is it acceptable for John Diamond, Ruth Picardie and Terry Pratchett to talk publically about their illness - but unacceptable for a young, 27-year old? Might there be the faintest whiff of snobbery here? Educated folk who write for posh papers can pontificate about the dying of the light - but common people should just turn up their toes and not make a fuss? Is that the subtext here?
Surely there's only one word for Jade Goody - tragic. Or is it suddenly acceptable that a young woman should progress within 6 months from treatable cervical cancer to terminal decline?
Cancer is a lonely, painful and cruel disease. it's particularly harsh to see a patient die who has all her life in front of her.
Enough of all this horrid muckraking and cruelty!
Posted by Tracy Hofman | 20.02.09, 18:56 GMT
I do understand that she wants to secure her children's future but when you see Harrods giving her dress for free and Elton John of all people giving her one of his mansions, why don't these people donate money to charity. Wouldn't it look better on their part to be supporting the mass and not just one.
Posted by Mrs Annoyed | 18.02.09, 19:32 GMT
My soul yearns with sadness when I hear everyone say it is over, everyone saying there is no hope. Why wouldn't you say so, why wouldn't you feel unnecessarily sorry, when you don't believe in the power in the name of Jesus Christ. As far as Jade is concern she has beautiful and fruitful years ahead of her. There is God and there is power in the name of Jesus Christ (God the Son). If only Jade would believe. she only has to believe that: That Jesus Christ came and died for us all/her that we might be saved. That Jesus Christ is Lord and her personal Saviour. That we all (including I/she) are sinners
We (including I/she) confess now with our/her heart that we are sorry. That she will forever serve Him (God) if she's healed.
Then she can go see her doctor and then she/they (the doctors) with theirs eyes will they see, and with their mouth will they testify that Jesus Christ is Lord. God is only using Jade to inform others in her class that He is God. I'm happy for you Jade.
Posted by Sam-John (07506584625) | 17.02.09, 09:36 GMT
I wish i could get in contact with Jade to let her know that all hope isn't lost for her. A great gospel healer Chris Oyakhilome would pray for her and she will receive her healing as he has done for millions of people. She could book a place on the healing school at www.christembassy.org. God bless you
Posted by pepee | 16.02.09, 15:24 GMT
I hope you feel as bad as you have made yourself look. What a disgusting thing to have said about someone. You are a disgrace!
Posted by Philippa | 05.02.09, 13:03 GMT
At last there seems to be some sympathy pouring out for this young lady who's life has been attacked, I can not believe that what is supposed to be a christian society has attacked this young woman so many times and even when she is diagnosed with cancer ( and god forbid she pulls through this) that the media can acuse her of lying about it, what sort of people have the british society become, no wonder people want to emigrate and get the hell out of here, I have always liked Jade and she has been though a hell of a time, and the racist thing was blown out of the water by the media, lets face is she has a mixed background herself, others have been forgiven for much worse and its about time the british society started to stand by there own and stop trying to destroy people, I ask do the media honestly think we respect all the mud slinging and nastiness because I for one can't stand the behaviour of some journalists, people want news yes but all this rubbish
Posted by Deborah Wenn | 19.01.09, 00:38 GMT