OH, Serena. The entire world’s sense of disappointment is palpable.
In fact, it is more than palpable, it’s on fire.
Serena Williams is advertising weight-loss medication GLP-1[/caption]
Serena, arguably the greatest female athlete of all time, has faced backlash over the endorsement[/caption]
Williams — arguably the greatest female athlete of all time — has joined forces with a GLP-1 drug (skinny jab, to you and me) in a glossy shoot for a US magazine.
Her skill, power, uniqueness as a black woman who managed to get to the top of a game historically populated by white people has rocked the world of sport — and feminism.
Seeing her inject herself with the drug and evangelise about how she’s finally found a way of ridding herself of her “excessive” muscle mass and weight post-children is a little like hearing the Bible was written by ChatGPT.
Everything we know about this formidable sportswoman — grit, determination, hard work, a refusal to cut corners in her training to make her undefeatable — has been blown out of the tennis court.
This is a sports star who’s had access to the very best nutritionists, trainers, private chefs and mental health coaches to help her reach the top.
Despite all this, Serena now suddenly declares she needs pharmaceutical help to get to her goal weight.
Those of us who have spent years admiring her for the absolute powerhouse and machine that she is, now feel cheated because the underlying message appears to be that she supposedly hated her body all this time.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this whole PR message is forcing feminism back by several steps.
Jabs such as Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy have now become the daily routine for many people, who are using it as a silver bullet to lose the weight they can no longer bear to carry.
It’s the go-to solution and has become more freely available, despite the fact it was originally formulated for the very obese and diabetics.
That in itself is disturbing because we’re now telling women that if you do have extra weight, you have no excuse not to get rid of it now.
So before we know it, we’ll be surrounded by skinnies and anyone with the merest hint of a curve will be frowned upon.
It also means we’ve wasted the past couple of decades telling the world that women should be loved for the skin they are in.
Women of all shapes and sizes have been appearing on our billboards and TV screens and it’s been nothing short of a small revolution.
I grew up with images of models with long, slender legs, petite boobs and tiny waists, and it didn’t align with my heavy bust and bowed legs.
To that end, I felt like an outlier and felt shame over my “normal” body.
Serena admitting she uses weight-loss jabs suggests to women that, even if you train hard, eat the right things and measure every bit of food that goes in and out, it is unlikely you’ll have a body you like unless you stick a needle in your abdomen and to hell with the side-effects.
She was actually the last person I would expect this from.
The very loud message coming from Williams is going to have a profound effect on impressionable young women.
‘HEROIN CHIC’
Maybe I should ease off with my disappointment, because my fundamental belief is that women should be entitled to do as they please with their bodies. That’s true female empowerment.
Except, I’d be more forgiving if I knew Williams was on the back foot — had fallen on hard times, needed the profile and the cash. But that’s not the case.
She knew what she was doing and did it anyway.
Personally, I think this will be a hard one for her to come back from.
The next generation of girls will now think they don’t have to bother looking after themselves or accepting their natural, curvier body, because there is a jab out there that can help them get scrawny.
It is like we’re back in the Nineties when heroin chic taught women that we should be all vessel and no substance. I beg to differ.
Nothing tastes as vile as skinny feels.
PUT AN EYELID ON IT
EAMONN HOLMES has always been kind to me when we have met.
But I’m growing increasingly irritated by his insistence to become a gold member of the Grumpy Old Men’s Club.
Last week, when discussing plastic surgery on GB News with my dear friend Kerry Katona, he suggested she might look “oriental” on account of having an eyelid lift.
Kerry was stumped at the suggestion, but not as stumped as Eamonn when it was pointed out that he shouldn’t refer to someone as looking “oriental” as it could be offensive.
He huffed and puffed through a convoluted and meaningless apology, petulantly insisting that the world’s gone mad and that “you can’t say anything nowadays”.
Yes, you can Eamonn.
We just don’t understand your point if your suggestion was that it was somehow detrimental to look “oriental”.
Trying to garner a reputation as a misery who sulks and pouts when anyone tries to make you have empathy and understanding is deeply unattractive.
But maybe he is past that already.
I CAN’T deny that the future terrifies me.
Technology is moving at such a pace that I’m relieved to know I won’t be around when humanity is entirely replaced by bots.
And that might not be too far away.
We know that dating apps already use AI (that’s artificial intelligence – not insemination) for a variety of features, such as matching profiles based on visual preferences or personality traits.
Some even use AI to suggest conversation starters and flirting – those awkward initial stages of online dating.
I actually had a guy send me two AI-generated responses when I asked him about feelings. So we’re already up s**t creek.
If you have to use AI to communicate with someone at the very start, there’s not much hope for an ongoing relationship is there?
Now I learn that “Ani” is Grok AI’s new 3D anime-style chatbot, left.
She talks, flirts and role-plays.
She will even change outfits and has been dubbed a virtual girlfriend.
She simulates affection and supposedly builds emotional bonds.In short, she’s blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.
If this teaches young people that they can depend on a bot for friendship, there is no hope for the future.
They will believe they do not have to make an effort to learn to communicate, which is one of the most important skills in life.
PAT ON BACK, BECKS
SAY what you like about the Beckhams, but they are still going strong despite being married for 26 years, having faced countless rumours about their relationship.
Regardless of the truth, what I love most about this couple is that they show each other constant PDAs.
David and Victoria Beckham are still so affectionate after 26 years[/caption]
This week, David was patting Victoria’s bum tenderly.
To still be doing that two decades on, in today’s capricious relationship landscape, fills me with hope.
Bearing in mind David and Victoria had four children together, moved countries, endured his retirement, her change in career and a supposed feud with one of their son’s wives, this shows romantic grit.
Marriages don’t often last as long as our grandparents’ did, predominantly because women now have greater independence.
So, I salute the Beckhams. It would have been easy to have thrown in the towel at times.
But they are clearly still each other’s sweetheart.
I HAVE FAITH IN BOB
I’VE got nothing against nepo babies – if they have talent in their own right.
Turns out Bobby Brazier – son of the late Jade Goody and TV presenter Jeff Brazier – has bucketloads of talent.
Bobby Brazier is quitting acting follow a calling from Hare Krishna – a branch of the Hindu faith[/caption]
Not only as Freddie Slater in EastEnders, but when he did a full-on Fred Astaire on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, and his successful modelling career.
But at 22, Bobby’s decided to pack it all in and follow a calling from Hare Krishna – a branch of the Hindu faith.
He’s moving to India and leaving behind the fickle world of showbiz.
Many are surprised Bobby, above, is quitting at the height of his game.
But I think it shows depth and a willingness to explore spirituality – something I’ve also done.
He has his whole life ahead of him and may want to explore it in many different directions
I wish Bobby luck.