Man Takes Media Celebrity to His Head and Attacks Cyclists #1
In September 2009, z-list celebrity chef James Martin wrote an account of how he ran some cyclists off the country lanes, whilst test driving some sports car. The Mail on Sunday – who for some reason paid him for his words – received lots of complaints. Twitter went crazy. James apologised:
It was never my intention to offend the many cyclists who share our roads across the country. What was intended to be a humorous piece was clearly misjudged.
Unfortunately, said apology is no longer to be found on his website – but it was all just a joke, so who cares. You crazy cat James.
Man Takes Media Celebrity to His Head and Attacks Cyclists #2
This morning (April 2012), twitter rumbled again to the news of London taxi-firm boss John Griffin. He has his own magazine. Plus he’s been on Secret Millionaire and had his cabs featured in The Apprentice, so a step up from Saturday-morning fodder jester James!
John brings the wisdom that the roads of London are busy. He’s instructed his 3500 drivers to use the bus lanes. If they fail to notice any cyclist (especially a new one!), and hit them, then tough – they had it coming. Nice man. After some outrage, he claimed:
I accept that the tone of the article was perhaps a little too inflammatory. It was meant to entertain and generate debate…
Excuse us John – forgive me for not including your in-cab Add Lib corporate magazine up there at the forefront of journalism “opening up debate”. You own it.
Believing Their Own Hype
As any cyclist will tell you, the attitudes of Mr Martin and Mr Griffin are far from unusual. But – blantant disregard for the law and safety of others isn’t usually something you’d write about. Or publish to the world.
John somehow forgot that some cyclists may actually also use his cabs. Or – that they might cycle into work for companies that have a corporate contract with him. #boycottaddisonlee is starting to put some of that into sharp focus.
These individuals think they can spout off such thoughts and get away with it. I’m not too surprised.
As good a chef our James might be, he’s got gas hobs named after him, danced in Strictly and writes about sports cars for a Sunday rag.
John may be successful business man, but we’ve let him think he exists as a higher being via Secret Millionaire, whilst his £250k donation to the tory party meant access to government ministers.
No doubt, when you start to exist behind firewalls surrounded by Yes Men you’ll believe your immune from anything.
Time to wind down the window and smell their own exhaust fumes. Until they are sick.