MODERN celebrities need to be squeaky clean or face being chucked in the ‘cancelled’ bin. Here are some that defy the odds and still have careers.
Woody Allen
Everyone knows the deal here. Or at least has a vague idea about it. Let’s just say it’s not an ideal adoption scenario. However Woody’s past films seems to have stopped him becoming a true hate figure and he’s just made his 50th movie, Coup de Chance, which everyone likes. The moral of the story seems to be: if you’re thinking of doing something morally questionable, make Annie Hall first.
Ricky Gervais
A lot of his gags cross a line that would end the careers of less popular comedians, and he was pals with Louis CK, which is like telling everyone ‘I haven’t murdered any prostitutes, but I am very good friends with Jack the Ripper’. He’s probably getting away with it due to everyone’s fond memories of The Office and Extras. It’s unlikely his wacky, howling, ‘he’s-mental-he-is’ podcasts with Karl Pilkington would stop anyone being cancelled though.
Princess Charlotte
When you’re under this much scrutiny there’s bound to be something the media can dig up. Maybe she kicked a corgi aged five to see what happens, or threw a piece of plasticine at a classmate? That’s animal cruelty and a campaign of bullying already, and she’s only eight. Watch this space.
Noel Edmonds
We’re not for a second suggesting Noel has done anything wrong, it’s just that statistically speaking he should have been disgraced like 95 per cent of his fellow 70s DJs and creepy TV presenters. Even if it was just hiding vodka bottles in hedgerows like poor old Cheggers. Nope, Noel is squeaky clean, although he did inflict Mr Blobby and Deal or No Deal on us, which deserves the firing squad.
Beyonce
The relentless swing of the cancellation scythe spares nobody. Except Beyonce Knowles. She’s had a few dodgy moments, such as using an unacceptable term for cerebral palsy (children of the 80s will have no difficulty guessing what that might have been) and a bit of uncredited sampling of Kelis. No lasting damage from any of that, though. She must have done something, like inadvertently petting a guide dog. It looks like being a supremely talented superwoman who everyone fancies somehow counts in your favour. Double standards at their worst.
