Just thought I'd post this (unintentionally) funny interview with Rhona. I do like her, but she still hasn't stopped moaning...

http://www.teletext.co.uk/tvplus/spotlight.asp?High=2

Thanks for that pony !

When 'Celebrity' first started I didn't think much of Rhona but I soon changed my mind. Now I just love her and hope that she never stops moaning !!!

PS - I can't believe that she's 37.

It is quite amusing that in these days of celebrity falsity and niceness that she can't seem to help herself in having a good moan! It makes a pleasant change - I do hope she does OK! soon, it'd be an interesting edition Maybe they could change the title to I'm Not OK! or something, in her honour.

Yes - Rhona's honesty is her most endearing quality, all the more so given the fake media personalities adopted by so many so-called celebrities.

Correction - Rhona's honesty used to be her most endearing quality. What about when she outed poor Sue Perkins in the national press? Was honesty such an endearing quality then?
I have to say though, I do share Rhona's philosophy on alcohol:

"I like to get drunk when I want for whatever reason I want. I don't like that designated time to go drinking."

I forgot about that ! Yes Mossopp you are right - Rhona's conduct, in this instance, was totally unacceptable. Honesty is a good quality but you must know when to keep your mouth shut!

Classic case of "engage brain before speaking "
Got to admit, I loved Rhona for this,( although "outing " someone goes a bit far)
As someone who hasnt really learnt to shut up, Rhona is still a star to me. Refreshing and Real. Straight out of the pages of Cosmo.! YOU TELL IT LIKE IT IS RHONA.

Oh but I still adore Rhona and I love her for her honesty. But, in this instance, I think she was wrong to 'out' someone against their will.

PS - The exception to this being when hypocrysy is involved - for example closeted gay MPs voting against gay rights issues.

"Wrong" doesn't even come close! I could see a straight person outing someone in the press cos a straight person might not understand the magnitude of the consequences of an action like that. But for one gay person to do that to another isn't just unforgivable - it just doesn't make sense! Why would Rhona - who has obviously had to go through the whole ordeal of having to come to terms with her sexuality herself - out poor Sue who, IMO, at 33 still doesn't seem entirely comfortable with who she is?!
I'd really love to hear Rhona's reasons for that. I really would. Don't get me wrong - I think Rhona is a fantastic comedian and I've been a fan of hers since she first started presenting 'Gaytime TV' on BBC2 all those years ago, but she's gone waaaaay down in my estimation since all that stuff with Sue appeared in the papers.
Honesty is one thing but as far as I can see she only outed Sue in the papers cos she knew it'd make a juicy headline and she'd get some cash and recognition out of it and that's just pathetic!

I actually suspect it might not have been as Machiavellian as you make out - I read the interview you meantion, and the tone of it inferred that the interviewer had asked Rhona about her relationship with Sue, and Rhona had just answered honestly - I must admit, I wouldn't be too keen on pretending a serious relationship I'd had with someone had never existed, and since Rhona is very comfortable with who she is, it might not even have crossed her mind she was "outing" Sue.

After all, their relationship was well known in media circles - they even lived together! - I guess Rhona just spoke in haste without even thinking she should be keeping a "secret"

You read the interview, did you? The one in the Sunday Mail 3 days after Rhona got out of the jungle? If you are talking about the same article then we obviously both have very different interpretations of it. The way the article was worded seemed to me to suggest that Rhona had discussed the situation with Sue and that Sue had given the OK for Rhona to tell the press. The fact that Rhona mentioned that Sue was the "first person she called after getting out of the jungle" suggested to me that the couple had discussed Rhona's up-coming interview and that their relationship would be the main topic of the interveiw. It was only much later that it transpired that Sue had not given Rhona the OK which made Rhona's actions all the more despicable IMO because, not only did she out Sue against her will, she also lied and made it look like Sue had given her permission. Basically, Rhona didn't even have the guts to admit that she was outing Sue - she made it seem like it was all above-board.
I think you're being a bit naive in assuming that the fact that she was outing Sue never crossed Rhona's mind. She knew exactly what she was doing. Sue has stated a few times - most notably on 'Big Brother' - that Rhona had approached her about discussing their relationship in the press and, even though Sue protested this, Rhona went ahead and did it anyway.
I don't want to bash Rhona cos, like I said, I did used to be a massive fan of hers and I don't think she is rotten to the core or anything like that. She might be a decent enough chick given half the chance. Maybe Sue hurt her in some way and outing her in the papers was the only way Rhona could get some closure on the situation - not that that excuses her actions of course. I dunno. Either way, Sue seems to have forgiven her now anyway so it's all water under the bridge.
Even still, I think it was a despicable thing to do and I have lost a massive amount of repect for her..

Aha!!!! Mossop - I've caught you out at last - We knew DURING I'm a celeb that she had had a relationship with Sue Perkins - How could Rhona have outed her after if we already knew??????

You already knew, did you? How come? I didn't know and I'm a huge fan of both Rhona and Sue. I knew Rhona was seeing a women named Sue but I didn't know it was Sue Perkins. Noone else I have spoken to knew about their relationship prior to the infamous Sunday Mail article so how did you find out about it?

Oh no, dear Mesostim - it is I who have caught you out. May I refer you to another thread on this very board entitled "So......What's That All About?"? It was on this thread that the Sunday Mail article in question was first mentioned and you yourself said - and I quote - "Interesting article. I didn't know Sue Perkins was gay"
Explain that one!

Aha!!!! That was because I thought she was talking about the blonde one - Everyone knew Sue was gay. I don't think Sue needed to be "outed". I notice reading throught the thread in question that it took a good while for your righteous indignation of Rhona to start........

In fact - In the thread Rhona to host Quiz with IACGMOOH stars -Written some time after the alleged outing for which you are so angry.....you write: BTW, as an aside, I saw ol' Rhona in the Rocky Horror Show in Glasgow last night and she was absolutely brilliant! Good on ya, Rhona!

I put it to you Mossop that for the period after discovering that Rhona had outed Sue and Sue going on Big Bro that you were perfectly fine with her crime...even as far as saying she was great in performances you'd seen her at.........

Get out of that....

I don't need to "get out of that". As I stated earlier on this very thread:

"The way the article was worded seemed to me to suggest that Rhona had discussed the situation with Sue and that Sue had given the OK for Rhona to tell the press. The fact that Rhona mentioned that Sue was the "first person she called after getting out of the jungle" suggested to me that the couple had discussed Rhona's up-coming interview and that their relationship would be the main topic of the interveiw. It was only much later that it transpired that Sue had not given Rhona the OK which made Rhona's actions all the more despicable IMO because, not only did she out Sue against her will, she also lied and made it look like Sue had given her permission."

The fact that Rhona had actually outed Sue as opposed to simply discussing their relationship didn't transpire untill Sue was about to enter the BB house.
As you said, Sue didn't need to be outed - from the very first moment I saw the woman I knew she was gay and I think most people felt the same. That is not the point. The point is that Rhona outed Sue, which was Sue's right to do - NOT Rhona's.
And, yes, I did think that Rhona was brilliant in 'The Rocky Horror Show'. I thought that at the time, back in October, and I still think that now. It's just that now - after the truth about her treatment of Sue has been told - I think she's a pretty messed-up and twisted individual. She's a great entertainer but a lousy person. I don't think anyone can argue with that. Whether or not everyone in the whole bloody country suspected Sue was a lesbian is besides the point. It's up to the individual if, and when, they come out. It is a matter of person freedom and choice and Rhona took that freedom of choice away from Sue and that, IMO, is unforgivable.

And I think you are oer reacting - If that indeed is the truth of the matter........

It's been fairly well known for ages on lo-fi media friendly gossip sites like Popbitch that Sue & Rhona were together, along with several other sleb couples I won't mention here, because it isn't relevant.

And yep, I did indeed read the Sunday Mail - actually I bought it, with the rather peculiar Rhona in the bath photo on the cover! and though you're entitled to your opinion of the article, I didn't think that it did imply anything particularly fiendish on Rhona's part - as I said though, we all read things differently. And it's fair to say that people do get misquoted too...

Children, Children, this is all in the past. Lighten up!
Do you really think that Sue and Rhona would have appeared at the National Television Awards post IACGMOOH and CBB if THEY had a problem with their relationship? And arm-in-arm if I remember correctly.

Yes, perhaps I am overreacting. Afterall, it has nothing to do with me cos, at the end of the day, it's between Sue and Rhona to sort the whole thing out and they seem to have overcome their differences now.
But, with the same token, I think you may be underestimating the impact of what Rhona did. I myself was outed by a so-called friend of mine and it was a very tough thing to deal with. Not only was I upset at the fact that I found myself in a position where I felt obligated to explain my sexuality to less-accepting individuals (a position which nobody should ever be in - I shouldn't have to explain myself to anyone), I also had to deal with the fact that someone who I trusted and thought was my friend had betrayed me! Not only that - I ended up loosing a lot of friends and aquaintences because they just didn't want to be associated with a lesbian (cos God knows, that would just totally destroy their reputation! ) Although, in retrospect, I suppose I can well do without the friendship of people like that.......
Having gone through that myself I can fully understand why Sue felt so betrayed. I also find it impossible to comprehend how Sue can forgive Rhona for such a thing.
But, I guess I'm in the minority on this one. Maybe I should just go along with all of you and kneel at Rhona's feet......


I love this board and all the people on it and I'm not gonna fall out with anyone over this, but I think that a lot of you just don't understand the magnitude of what Rhona did.

(((((((Mossopp))))))))) that's a shitty thing to have happened to you, and I'm really sorry. It sounds like you've come through the experience a stronger person, and I admire you for it.

I readily admit it should have been Sue's choice - on the other hand, just because it wasn't dosen't (in my opinion) necessarily mean Rhona set out to maliciously out her. Like I say, it was media knowledge anyway - maybe if Rhona hadn't mentioned it so naturally, a more sensational piece less sympathetically written might have come out. In fact, I think it's a certainty, bearing in mind the popularity of the show, and the rise in Rhona's popularity. Also, bearing in mind that they LIVED together in a serious relationship, I think I'd be majorly p'd off if my ex told me under no circumstances to admit that it happened.

Totally agree with pony, In my book that's the lowest of the low. Hope you have overcome the initial sense of devastation on being "outed" against your will. And that you have told the person invoved to get lost.
Mossop, all the best for the future and hope you have found a sense of peace and are enjoying life to the fullest.

Hey Mossop - knowing where you live (I used to live there years ago), I can imagine how tough it was for you. Once people get used to the idea of what you are all about, they will get used to it. Among the circle of people I used to mix with were a couple of girls, who were indeed a couple. People will like you for who you are, eventually .... I think that in smaller, out of the way areas, people need more time to accept - I love going back home, it does seem as though its a time warp which has advantages in some cases, but obvious disadvantages in yours. Good luck.

I think that the lack of understanding you refer to is the key. Decent, tolerant people, straight & gay, assume that all others will react to a person whom has just been 'outed' or who has just 'come out' in the same way that they would - with respect, love and understanding. But most people don't respond like this. The bigots are still in a majority - as indeed they are in many other areas of national life.

This is why Rhona was wrong - it really was Sue's choice as to when, where, how and to whom she came out to.

Mossopp - your much appreciated contribution to this discussion has greatly helped me to focus my thoughts on this issue. Whilst I still remain a fan of Rhonas I do now see her 'honesty' very differently. Perhaps if Sue has forgiven her it is because Rhona convinced her of just how wrong and sorry she is for what she did.

PS - the personal experiences you describe are very similar to those faced, just before Christmas, by a young woman colleague of mine(18 years old). She was 'outed' by some so-called friend. Upon finding out her mother and sister violently assaulted her. She was immediately thrown out of her home, in the middle of the night, by her parents. She was only allowed to take with her those belongings that she could stuff into a bin liner in the 2 minutes given to her. She spent a night in her car and is now spending Christmas with another colleague. Her parents, sister, other relatives and some so-called friends have subjected her to the most appalling abuse and ridicule, including assaulting her on her way to work, making threatening phone calls etc I think that the only thing that has kept her sane is the love that she has found from her girlfriend.

Goes to show how wrong I was .... I am presuming you are in London Eejay - which throws my theory of smaller places being somewhat backward in their way of thinking out the window ...

At least Mossop and hopefully your colleague knows that not everyone holds the same views against them ....