'Princess Diana preferred men with back hair,' says former police chief | the Daily Mail
'Princess Diana preferred men with back hair,' says former police chief
Does anyone but me see how this article by the Lord Stevens makes a total farce out of the entire 3 year / $10 million Paget Report? Either that or Lord Stevens had one too many gin and tonics when he called the Daily Mail!
"A friend, Adrian, has filed a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission, which I'm posting here with his permission."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
In response to the Mail on Sunday article, I have now submitted the
following complaint to the UK's Press Complaints Commission:
##
I wish to complain about this article on the following basis:
1. There is no evidence of accuracy for this report. It has been
ascertained, many years ago, that Diana found men with hairy backs
unattractive.
2. The Mail on Sunday has published an article which distorts the
public perception of a popular national identity - Diana, Princess of
Wales.
3. The article shows conjecture, not fact. There is no defined source
for these allegations, and no attributable citations.
4. By also noting that the men with whom it is known Diana shared
affecionate relationships do not have hairy backs, the newspaper has
strongly implied that Diana has engaged in a more promiscuous sex
life than is currently public knowledge, thus damaging her reputation.
5. It also implies that Diana had a sexual fetish not part of any
knowledge and this claim is damaging to her reputation.
6. By also printing a photograph of an excessively hairy back
alongside a library image of Diana, Princess of Wales, they have
attempted to build a misleading psychological connection between the
two unrelated images.
7. Even if this story were accurate, the assertions printed are an
intrusion into Diana's privacy and, if she were alive, she would have
grounds to complain.
8. Many members of the public are still grieving for a huge public
identity, especially in light of harrowing evidence heard at the
inquest into her death. One must assume that the inquest is also
difficult for her sons, Princes William and Harry. Therefore, this
article intrudes on grief by defaming the deceased in the most
disrespectful manner.
9. This story is not in the public interest. It is a tasteless and
false intrusion into the life of a national and global figure who is
now deceased and unable to defend themselves.
10. Most newspapers have, since 1997, curtailed writing obscene
stories about Diana, Princess of Wales. I believe that the Mail on
Sunday must be made an example of in this instance to prevent a harsh
precendent in defamation of national, deceased figures.
11. Resolution: I suggest that the Mail on Sunday apologise for the
story, acknowledge the offence caused to the public as evidenced in
the paper's own website comments and donate suitable sums to Diana's
charities at the time of her death: Centrepoint, Royal Marsden and
Great Ormond Street Hospitals, Leprosy Mission, National AIDS Trust
and the English National Ballet. In addition, I suggest that the
Landmine Survivors Network should also be a beneficiary of reprimand
for this rather grotesque "story".
-------------------------------------------------------------------
