By Emma Ireland

Earlier this week the MailOnline published an article featuring detailed commentary, videos and images of an actress experiencing what appears to be a moment of acute mental illness.

There is no public interest in recording and publishing, to millions of readers, this woman’s moment of distress.

It is pure clickbait: the MailOnline using someone’s personal trauma to sell newspapers and advertising space on its website.

Unfortunately, it isn’t the only occasion the Mail has behaved this way.

Here are five examples of the MailOnline profiteering from people experiencing moments of intense vulnerability.  All of them marked “EXCLUSIVE” and, in each case, the target is a woman.

1.

EXCLUSIVE: Fears for [Actress’ name], 61, as she’s seen making her way across building ledge in flip flops, making strange faces and staring into space as she talks to herself after leaving hour-long meeting [link]

Earlier this week, the MailOnline published pictures and videos of an actress whilst she was experiencing what appears to be a moment of mental illness. Instead of sending people to help her, the Mail sent journalists armed with cameras. 

 

2.

EXCLUSIVE: Baywatch star’s ex-wife, one-time model [name], 40, is seen covered in dirt, smoking from a crackpipe and dumpster-diving after fall from grace that left her homeless and addicted to drugs [link]

When the Daily Mail saw a woman who went through multiple hardships, which left her divorced, homeless and suffering from addiction, they took pictures and published them for profit. This woman sadly lost everything after divorcing her husband, whom she alleges was abusive. Tabloids like the Daily Mail call her situation ‘tragic’, but continue to flaunt it for views. 

Even one of the Mail’s own readers comments, in the comment section, “If you’re able to hunt this poor woman down and exploit her for profit, surely you could find her to provide her some help.  I know “dirty laundry” sells, but this feels abusive and gross.”

 

3.

EXCLUSIVE: Fears for [actress & model] as she zones out behind wheel in West Hollywood parking lot while smoking and taking drops – before shopping for sex toys in X-rated boutique [link]

And,

EXCLUSIVE: Disheveled supermodel [name] makes weird faces as she stops at Subway AND Jack in the Box, changes into men’s boxers, and frantically rummages through her car during bizarre outing in LA [link]

This well-known actress and model was the topic of two intrusive articles only months apart in 2022. In both articles, journalists followed her around whilst she was getting on with her day. She shows some unusual behaviour and instead of protecting her privacy or enquiring after her welfare, it is all recorded and reproduced to millions of readers.

 

4.

EXCLUSIVE: Heartbroken [broadcaster] was found drunk and ‘in a bad way’ and rushed to the hospital for a ‘banana bag’ of IV fluids to sober up after learning her husband’s mistress had given birth to a little girl [link]

This woman has clearly been through a major personal event.  But her drinking is a personal matter.  There is no reference in the article to her acting belligerently or offensively.  The article is no more than an attempt to profit from her experiencing a personal moment of vulnerability.

 

5.

EXCLUSIVE: [Athlete] was ‘seven to eight-months PREGNANT’ and had history of erratic behavior – pelting eggs across street, shouting in the night, and was once seen screaming at boyfriend while clutching a knife, neighbors reveal [link]

This article shows that the Mail Online won’t leave you alone even after you’ve died.  The mental health of this woman, an athlete, is picked over and analysed after she passed away.

 

These articles invade the privacy of their targets, rob them of their dignity, and increase the stigma of mental illness and addiction.  All for the sake of the profits of the Daily Mail.

Until the Mail and its sister titles are independently regulated, this kind of unethical and harmful coverage will continue.

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