Rupert Murdoch And Jerry Hall’s Engagement Makes People Feel Ill
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has gotten engaged to former model Jerry Hall. Neither Murdoch nor Hall are exactly in the first flush of youth. Murdoch is 84-years-old and Ms. Hall, who was Rolling Stone Mick Jagger’s partner for many years, is 59-years-old. Hall and Murdoch were introduced to each other last summer and are set to marry after a four-month whirlwind romance. Given Murdoch’s advanced years, you would think that people would be delighted to see the billionaire enjoy a little happiness in his final years, but it seems that not everyone is so magnanimous towards Mr. Murdoch.
According to the Telegraph, Murdoch announced that he and Hall are to marry by placing an advertisement in the Times, a newspaper conveniently owned by Murdoch. In the advertisement in the Births, Deaths, and Marriages section, Murdoch said the couple were “delighted” to announce their forthcoming nuptials.
“Mr Rupert Murdoch, father of Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, James, Grace and Chloe Murdoch, and Miss Jerry Hall, mother of Elizabeth, James, Georgia and Gabriel Jagger, are delighted to announce their engagement.”
According to Reuters, Murdoch and Hall were first photographed together when they attended the final of the Rugby World Cup at London’s Twickenham stadium back in October. A spokesperson for Murdoch has apparently told the Times that “they have loved these past months together, are thrilled to be getting married and excited about their future.”
According to the Daily Mail, Murdoch and Hall attended the Golden Globes together on Sunday evening, and on that occasion, Hall did not appear to be sporting an engagement ring.
This will be Murdoch’s fourth wedding, and Jerry Hall’s first. Whilst Jerry spent many years with Mick Jagger and the couple have four children, their “marriage” was never a legal one. Of course, many of Hall and Murdoch’s celebrity friends are delighted at the news that the couple are set to wed.
Actress and author Joan Collins was amongst those who wished Hall and Murdoch well on hearing the announcement.
The future "Mrs. M" glowing about being #engaged to her new beau! #fiance #Congratulations pic.twitter.com/KLRj0S7haV
— Joan Collins (@Joancollinsdbe) January 12, 2016
Of course, not everyone was so pleased to hear the news. On seeing the tweet above, one Twitter user asked why Joan Collins would be happy about “a friend marrying this evil, corrupt human being.”
Another Twitter user commented that he “had to swallow hard to keep his dinner down,” whilst another said he had “a bit of sick in his mouth.”
Had to swallow hard to keep my dinner down. Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall? https://t.co/ZKk135Q67W
— kevinscanlon (@kevinscanlon) December 22, 2015
Rupert Murdoch is a hugely controversial figure. Murdoch is the head of the huge media empire, News Corporation, which includes 21st Century Fox, which owns cable networks like Fox News and movie studios. In addition to the Times, Murdoch’s News Corp newspapers include the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and the Sun in Britain.
Murdoch’s newspapers were at the centre of the U.K.’s phone hacking scandal. Journalists working for Murdoch’s titles were accused of hacking the voicemail messages of celebrities and the U.K.’s royal family in order to run celebrity gossip stories and scandals. Murdoch was even forced to appear before a parliamentary committee to explain the papers actions. Criminal investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
Murdoch has also been accused of using the might of his media empire to support a right-wing political agenda that will be favourable to his business interests.
[Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Twentieth Century Fox/AP Images]
