Slim
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- Joined
- Dec 6, 2019
- Messages
- 4,155
I'd say there is a long history - and not just in racing - of flawed "celebrities" gaining and, for a while, retaining widespread popularity with members of the public who feel they can identify with them.
People who (pardon the unfortunate pun) have car crash lives themselves often lap up stories about "celebs" making successions of bad life decisions while in the public eye.
The human psyche is a weird thing and many actually take comfort from those manifestly more successful materially in life proving just as flawed as people as they are.
It seems to me social media is full of young blokes with a pint in one hand and a mobile phone in the other who, when they're not lumping on the latest Bloggeresque banker, or having an "acca," are all too ready to defend the likes of Murphy.
"Have you never made a mistake in your life?" is a popular mantra with them.
Well, just about all of us have made mistakes in our lives, but for most people those mistakes didn't involve driving cars into trees while over the limit, nor indeed the other numerous errors Murphy has made, for this was not an isolated incident.
I actually sense opinion is more divided on Murphy now than before.
There was a time when, to give an off-the-wall example, the IMO unspeakably-awful Katie (Jordan) Price had a level of popularity among those who seemingly identified with her.
But popularity is ephemeral as Price discovered and Murphy may eventually discover too.
Here in 2025 there is a tendency initially to focus on issues people have, and even laud them for having the "courage," to admit those issues, rather than focus on the consequences for others of a personal failure to manage and control those issues.
But even in 2025 life's supply of second chances remains ultimately finite, no matter who you are.
Without wanting to keep repeating myself on this subject, Murphy crossed the line with the public when his addiction affected a third party. He’s out of credit with the vast majority of people.