Comedian Jason Manford defends Gary Barlow in heartfelt blog
Wednesday 15 August 2012
TV comedian Jason Manford has taken to his blog to defend Gary Barlow, who recently lost his daughter Poppy, after Internet trolls attacked his motives for performing at the Olympics closing ceremony so soon after her death.
The 8 out of 10 cats team captain tweeted his adoration for the Take That star, after he performed a mind-blowing set during the closing ceremony just a week after he and his wife announced their daughter was delivered stillborn.
He said: “Fair play Gary Barlow. What a superstar. Don’t think I could perform after such a tragedy, amazing.”
The X Factor judge’s performance was planned as part of a stunning finale for the closing of the Olympic games and despite rumours that he was going to pull out, he decided against it and joined the rest of Take That on stage.
Among the thousands of likes and hundreds of comments his tweet received though, Jason was appalled to discover that a large amount of them were ‘horrendous’ and decided to defend the singer in an angry yet heartfelt blog on his website.
In his post titled ‘Trolls and Gary Barlow’ he calls upon four members of the public who ‘disappointed’ him with their opinions. Describing them as “genuinely thick as sh*t, heartless wastes of oxygen who I am ashamed to have liked mypage and work” Jason goes on to point out the flaws in their comments.
"First up is person A... who wrote: 'money first with mr barlow lol’’” said the comedian.
‘Of all the people to accuse of putting money first, don’t launch it at Gary Barlow. The guy has worked tirelessly over the last few years, organising countless charity and free gigs for the people of this country and abroad’ he added.
He then went on to call up another three critics, who slammed Gary for various reasons, including one who claimed that he had ‘put money and his job before his family.’
Adding that if it were her husband ‘he’d be out on his ear! I don’t think it was brave or legendary!’
Obviously appalled by the thoughtless comment, Jason wrote: "What an unbelievably stupid thing to say person B.”
"As for it being 'disrespectful to his wife' and 'putting his job before his family' again, shut the f*** up. You do not know what goes on behind closed doors. For all you know, Gary could have spent the week sobbing his heart out in his bed, under the duvet and saying to his wife, 'darling, I don't think I can ever perform again' and his wife could quite possibly have said 'Gary, please sing that special song for me and Poppy, it will make us all so proud'.
His blog has prompted a social media storm, with the term Trolls and Gary Barlow becoming a trending topic on Twitter while Philip Scholfield praised him for his words and support.
The TV presenter posted: ‘Jason Manford on Trolls and Gary Barlow…Pointing out, that with the genius of social media, come utter gobshites.’
Read the blog in full here.
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