Behind every Al Fayed or Diddy, there is a small army of enablers: this column is dedicated to them | Marina Hyde
“Entourage” is too wan a word for this motley crew of enforcers, concealers, NDA experts and crisis PRs
I’m afraid I shrieked when I read that Michael Cole – longterm publicist for the late former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed – cannot come to the phone these days. If you covered a certain phase of British public life, you would know that Michael Cole could always come to the phone. Coming to the phone was what Michael Cole did, always to emit some hugely pompous shitblast in defence of his master, who is now the subject of multiple rape and sexual assault allegations. Alas, Michael is currently so shocked that no emission has been forthcoming. Instead, his wife was deployed to inform the press that Michael “is not giving any interviews or talking at the moment”. However, she did claim he found the women’s allegations “terribly distressing” and that “of course” he had been unaware of all of it.
From spokesman to sending out your spokeswife … I would say life comes at you fast, but of course it doesn’t. Fayed ran his entire race without his years of alleged sexual crimes catching up with him, and though he is not entombed in a pyramid on the roof of Harrods, as he wished, he certainly got away with it all. When he died, Cole rushed out to inform Radio 4’s Today programme that his former boss was “fascinating … larger than life … full of great humanity”. Yeah – not the third one.
Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
A year in Westminster: John Crace, Marina Hyde and Pippa Crerar
On Tuesday 3 December, join Crace, Hyde and Crerar as they look back at a political year like no other, live at the Barbican in London and livestreamed globally. Book tickets here
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...Date: |
Topics
-
BBC News - Top stories
Fayed was 'a monster enabled by Harrods', says accusers' lawyer
Lawyers representing victims say the store should "take responsibility" after sexual abuse allegations emerge.3 days ago -
ABC News - Tech
Almost all small businesses are using a software tool that is enabled by AI
More small firms say they’re harnessing AI to help their businesses1 hour ago -
The Guardian - World
With the best glasses donor money can buy, surely Starmer can see that this week has been a total disaster | Marina Hyde
When the only recent PM to have worse approval ratings is Liz Truss, one hopes for a rethink. But he’s not proving to be a natural at this, is he?. Can someone gift the prime minister a designer ...4 days ago -
Inc. - Business
Mystery Client Behind Scale AI's Small Biz Program Revealed as Google
A controversial project known as Bulba Ice saw small business owners provide company data to train an unknown AI. All clues point to the search giant as the developer of the tool.1 hour ago - Google -
BBC News - Top stories
Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods
Investigating alleged serious sex abuse of Harrods staff by former boss Mohamed Al Fayed.5 days ago -
The Guardian - World
To put frockgate behind them, the Starmers could learn from the Johnson administration
The PM – or just his wife – would be wiser to borrow outfits for special occasions, as Sarah Brown and Carrie Johnnson did . Not all of us are good at clothes. Some have the gift of sartorial ...2 days ago -
BBC News - Top stories
Mohamed Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes by staff
Five women who worked at the luxury store say they were raped by the billionaire - BBC documentary reveals.5 days ago
More from The Guardian
-
The Guardian - World
Middle East crisis live: Israel launches new wave of ‘widespread’ strikes in Lebanon after claiming senior Hezbollah leader killed
IDF says it is carrying out fourth wave of strikes today; Israel claims Ibrahim Qubaisi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut. Living in Lebanon: how have you been ...25 minutes ago -
The Guardian - World
Biden says ‘Putin’s war has failed’ and vows support for Ukraine in address to UN leaders – live
Biden makes one of the final big speeches of his presidency in front of the UN general assembly in New York. Minutes after Joe Biden finished addressing the UN general assembly, Donald Trump’s ...24 minutes ago - Joe Biden -
The Guardian - World
Man confessing on TV to mother’s murder starts media ethics row in Italy
Mediaset condemned by fellow broadcasters for airing interview with suspect it came across by chance. The broadcast of a TV interview in which a man confessed to a news reporter that he had ...3 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
Swiss police make arrests over suspected death in ‘suicide capsule’
Criminal case opened after Sarco capsule – which releases nitrogen gas at the touch of a button – used in Merishausen. Police in northern Switzerland say several people have been detained and a ...4 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
Meryl Streep: ‘A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan’
Speaking with Afghan activists the actor condemned the Taliban’s draconian restrictions on women and called on the UN to protect and restore their rights . The American actor Meryl Streep has said ...2 hours ago