Helen Flanagan, British soap celebrity and former cast member of “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” is not feeling the sunshine today.
On December 17th — three days after the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut — she posted a scantily clad photo of herself holding a gun to her head, with the caption “Head f**k.”
The Sun, a British tabloid, picked it up and splashed it across its front page this morning. The Sun piece, titled “Brainless,” was complete with quotes from Newtown residents, who are still mourning last week’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in which twenty-six people were killed, most of them children.
The gun-wielding, lacy bra-wearing beauty shot back at the Sun. Bullies!
Anyone who knows me knows I have the biggest heart…. I feel really chocked up that's so cruel.
— Helen Flanagan (@helenflanagan1) December 19, 2012
Honestly I've got tears streaming down my face how can you do that to someone over something so tragic #feelsick can't believe I woke up
— Helen Flanagan (@helenflanagan1) December 19, 2012
I've just been crying to my bf before he left for work…. Now I am just absolutely livid. I am really worried about my mum 🙁
— Helen Flanagan (@helenflanagan1) December 19, 2012
Granted, the photo was an old one. But folks had some choice words for Ms. Flanagan and her not so impeccable sense of timing in posting it when she did.
@Rosiewhiteman @helenflanagan1 Do let it bother you – its horrific…poor judgement and bad taste.
— Tom Gunner (@tomgunner2011) December 19, 2012
https://twitter.com/MeMrsMorris/status/281454630544748544
@helenflanagan1 Hungover Yeah!! Flagging career?? Seeking publicity?? YES!!!!
— Eddie Connell (@silecroft) December 19, 2012
@helenflanagan1 you are sick. I have no sympathy, you posted that picture before the sun published it. Disrespectful & deserve all the hate.
— _Stacey ♔ ✌ (@StaceyxLoux) December 19, 2012
Others don’t see an issue with Flanagan’s photo or the timing of her tweet, and see the tabloid’s actions as far worse. (The Sun, of course, is still dealing with a scandal of its own).
@Tamrin_leeanda @helenflanagan1 @TheSunNewspaper That newspaper is just the utter scum of the earth. #donbuythesun
— Jamie Mac RAE (@TheJamieMac_RAE) December 19, 2012
@helenflanagan1 I hope you aren't too upset about today's paper. They'll be lining tomorrow's bins. Chin up. The Sun have always been fifth.
— Samantha Williams (@SammLambb) December 19, 2012
https://twitter.com/Noxy83/status/281443179792834561
This is just a guess, but if you don’t want to be “bullied” by tabloid newspapers, it’s probably not a good idea to tweet a photo of yourself holding a gun to your head mere days after a tragic event like the Sandy Hook school shooting.
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