Some people will do anything for publicity, some people will attend the opening of an envelope and some people like to speak about things like politics without really having an idea what they are talking about. A few rare people combine two of these faults, but it is rare to see someone who has, in my opinion, all three of these pathetic traits. Yet I believe Konnie Huq, TV presenter and Olympic Torch carrier, qualifies.
Firstly she apparently embarrassed the BBC a few months ago by speaking at an event that was seen by many as a political rally in support of Ken Livingstone. One might have expected that this would mean she would be more careful about speaking out on political issues, but no. This week, clearly worried about how she would look, she hinted at her displeasure at the Chinese regime and it was rumoured that she would not carry the Olympic Torch. However, she quickly denied this, seemingly so awe struck at the chance to be surrounded by sporting stars and important people, and despite claiming that carrying the torch "does not condone what China is doing", she shows that if hypocrisy was an Olympic sport, she would be in the British team.
In one interview last week she even hinted that she might wear a "Free Tibet", T-Shirt, which highlighted two other pieces of information about her. Either she is so stupid that she did not know that you have to wear an officical China 2008 tracksuit or she was deliberately telling porkies. Either way, it does her no credit.
If I had anxieties about China, but felt that it should not be used to ruin the Olympics, I would have kept my mouth shut in the first place, which is what Ms Huq should have done. As it is, as soon as she started spouting off about China and raised concerns, she should have been consistent with those comments she made to the media and withdrawn. The course she has taken is ludicrous and shows a real lack of knowledge.
It seems that for Konnie Huq that the chance to put on her CV that she carried the Olympic Torch was too much of a lure. I don't blame anyone for wanting to carry the torch so long as the but don't then lecture us all on politics afterwards. It is entirely legitimate for all those torch bearers to carry the torch today if they choose not to turn it in to a political issue. If you believe, probably correctly, that sport and politics shouldn't mix, as I heard Sir Steve Redgrave explaining on the radio whilst refusing to be drawn on the politics, then you are justified. But in my opinion Ms Huq showed a stunningly gutless way to espouse her views, wanting to have her cake and eat it. There may be some in Tibet who hope she chokes on it.
P.S. The anonymous troll who keeps sending stupid and abusive comments from the same IP address will not get their comments published. You know who you are.
17 comments:
Well she got her just deserts. Someone tried to snatch it off her.
She also said: "it's just unfortunate that China has such a terrible track record when it comes to human rights and they are the host nation."
Unfortunate? Makes it sound like when you lose a fiver, or trip over your shoelace. It isn't unfortunate, it's a disgrace and sickening to see us fawning over these Olympics.
When interviewed afterwards by the BBC, she was asked if she wore a protest symbol under her tracksuit.
"No", she said "I wasn't wearing anything under my tracksuit."
Saucy!
I have to say that Konnie Huq shows the makings of a top class politician in that she pays lip service to a cause but would rather further her own career. She has spoken a great deal of rubbish this week, some of it after "wrestling" with the man who tried to grab the torch. If only she had the moral fortitude of Francesca Martinez who showed her moral fibre along with her comedic timing in withdrawing from the torch procession live on Channel 4 news.
Good comments about Konnie - these people are quite deplorable in how they condemn China and then become the lead actor in their 'coming out party' - albeit for 5 minutes. Its up to us to ensure that her hypocrisy is not forgotten for a long time to come.
There is always some idiot who makes out that it is all due to race.
Next someone will be commenting that you are only criticising China because THEY are asian too.
I think Nick Clegg's line on this shows no hypocrisy at all, after all, he didn't criticise China then do PR for them by running with the Olympic Torch.
I agree with all of the above. Konnie Huq is a joke. She is desperate to shake-off her "former Blue Peter presenter" tag and to move into serious TV, but this was a big mistake. Her views on the subject are at the best inconsistent - she seems to believe by doing this she has helped support the pro-Tibet movement by giving them a forum to protest - huh???
She should probably sack her agent, Ian Monk Associates, (http://www.ianmonk.com/clients.asp?id=138) - I mean, do they really think this will endear with the great British public? Surely a publicity own-goal.
Well, I don't know much about Konnie Hug, but wouldn't be nice to just have a sporting event or people coming together for a change with out the political, or without the religious stuff. Everything is jumbled all together anymore. There's something to be said just being human and being together and enjoying some fun and having a brew. I hope we can come back to that - a girls gotta dream.
I agreed with you when I first read this, however having seen Konnie talk today on TV about her position, she seems very knowledgable about the situation in Tibet and has cleared up her position somewhat.
If I were in her position I think I would have done the same thing. Getting to be a torch bearer is a great thing and turning it down would do no good to anyone.
Quite right what you say about Ms Huq. She is a modern product of the BBC - her Blue Peter mate, Matt Geordie-No-Talent is also trying to get into serious TV to further his career - and he has no talent either.....
Still, she gave us a great shot today, very small with the torch, then all of a sudden came the 19 stone protester, then the Met Bike Squad on top of him, then the Official Chinese Triad all piled on top of them. The look of terror as they all descended upon her was hilarious. Maybe she was going for a gold Blue Peter badge - being squashed under the most plod and chinese security, ever....
Come on. The Chinese Olympics are a disgrace, but surely there are many more deserving candidates for your fury than Konnie Huq? The final sentence of this post is just barking lunacy, mate.
Why not lambast Gordon Brown instead, who greeted the torch but gave the feeblest imaginable nod towards public concern by symbolically refusing to touch it? How about that for cake-having/eating?
And if you're intent on focussing on the minor celebrity aspect of the story, compare Konnie's sentiments
with those of Duncan Goodhew. I don't think she comes out all that badly, and I don't think her "lecturing" is remotely controversial.
Maybe you're right that the lure of glory was just too much. But there are a lot of more serious crimes than that being committed in relation to this issue, so how about some perspective, eh?
Your comments are well made. The only difference is the profile that Ms Huq has made of her torch bearing compared to others. I have not seen Duncan Goodhew doing interviews on all the major networks, Duncan Goodhew was not on TV this morning or the radio, and I think as an Olympian he has a god excuse for carrying the torch.
The circumstances are different.
Sure they're different, and as you say, I wouldn't criticise Duncan Goodhew for carrying the torch. But he *did* make an issue of it: he explicitly criticised the pro-Tibet protesters. Konnie did the exact opposite. So even if that makes her something of a hypocrite, I still reckon she comes out looking better than him.
Hmmm, "Konnie Huq" and "Snatch" in the same article ...
We should not be supporting China in the games at all. we should have nothing to do with it. and allowing those sino people to run through London giving orders to our police was a dissgrace
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