Changing my mind about Katie Hopkins.
The halo versus horn effect. Some people can do no wrong whereas others are demonised.
Reader I continue on my alt right, far right, pipe line of tropically coconut goodness as I have to inform you that I have listened to not one but two deplorables. One is of course the opposite of Be Kind virtue signaling, Tommy Robinson and the other is of a similar vein. This deplorable is called Katie Hopkins.
Katie is really, pardon my French, quite the bitch. A ruthless woman in her love life and her career, she speaks her mind. For many years I joined in with other women telling her to just be kind and stop hating on people so publicly. Let fat people be fat, let mums name their children whatever they want for f. sake Katie!
I formed the conclusion that this woman was just after money and fame. She came across as a serial antagonist who loves attention but occasionally does have some good points.
It’s funny what happens when you listen to a person talk, when in the past you’ve attributed a certain persona to them. Katie is every bit as ruthless and straight talking as portrayed in the media. Some people say they’re the same and call themselves truth tellers who get unfairly maligned and labelled as bitches. Sometimes they’re truly full of rubbish and are manipulative through and through.
With Katie, as I listened to her talk to Tommy, I got a different vibe. She’s no angel; she’s had affairs with married men, she’s also been dumped by an ex on the day she gave birth to their child. She’s a mum who’s had others tell her how bad a mum she is, with no facts, just based on her TV persona.
There’s been many an accusation flung at her, some true and others false. She’s taken them all without complaint and lived her life facing the consequences of the decisions she’s made.
People are different. I had a Katie-like friend at school and we complimented each other’s personality. I was the reserved one to her no nonsense fiery nature. Later on she told me that one of her children reminded her of me and to hear that she humanised me where I had dismissed myself, was lovely. I had to mention this because when I listened to Katie, I was reminded of my friend and the value I found in her type of personality. Some women stand out from their stereotypical group more than others and like my friend, Katie is atypical in many ways. She’s clearly not the good girl.
So, does not being good and being the TV bitch mean you’re a bigot or criminal? Does it deserve reporting to social services for no crime? Does it deserve threats and harassment?
I look back at the facade of kindness that seemed to emanate from presenter Holly Willoughby, with whom Katie created tabloid TV drama and I think that I like many others fell for Holly’s halo whilst we demonised Katie.
Where is the justice in that?
It’s been most worthwhile to listen to this deplorable woman and find that journalism and the quest for truth is better for having people like her fighting for it.