Latest news with #Svengali
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Sturgeon: I was not victim of ‘coercive control' by former mentor Salmond
She also said that her confidence could be 'knocked' by disapproval from Mr Salmond – saying her former boss and one-time mentor 'probably played on that a little bit'. And while she said she had heard rumours of 'consensual affairs', she had no knowledge of any 'inappropriate sexual behaviour on his part'. The former SNP leader spoke about her relationship with Mr Salmond as she appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday. Nicola Sturgeon was questioned on her relationship with her predecessor, Alex Salmond (Andrew Milligan/PA) While she said they had an 'incredibly successful partnership' at one point, their relationship broke down after allegations against Mr Salmond emerged. The former first minister went on trial on a series of sexual assault charges in 2020, with this resulting in Mr Salmond being acquitted of all the charges against him. Speaking about him to broadcaster Kirsty Wark, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I did not have knowledge of inappropriate behaviour on his part, any inappropriate sexual behaviour.' However, she said: 'I heard rumours over the years about affairs, consensual affairs. I took the view, rightly or wrongly, that that was none of my business, what consenting adults get up to is their business.' I would on occasion, people would have seen me do it, when he was giving the hairdryer treatment to whatever member of staff, I would say, enough Alex Nicola Sturgeon, former first minister Pressing the former first minister on her relationship with her predecessor, Ms Wark said that Ms Sturgeon's newly published memoirs, Frankly, portrayed Mr Salmond as 'almost Svengali like'. The journalist added: 'In a way, there's almost like a thread of coercive control at some times in this book from Alex Salmond.' Ms Sturgeon rejected this, saying she 'wouldn't describe it as that'. She said Mr Salmond, who died in October 2024, had been 'an incredibly strong, incredibly charismatic individual', adding that for much of her life 'he was a force for good'. Nicola Sturgeon was close friends with Alex Salmond but they fell out in the later years of his life (Jane Barlow/PA) Speaking about him, Ms Sturgeon said: 'He encouraged me to reach beyond what I would have considered my abilities to be, he pushed me on. 'I once said, ages ago, that he believed in me before I believed in myself.' But she added that 'his approval mattered to me and his disapproval knocked my confidence'. Ms Sturgeon continued: 'Latterly, he probably played on that a little bit.' Nicola Sturgeon, centre, with broadcaster Kirsty Wark, left, ahead of her appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (Jane Barlow/PA) Ms Wark suggested that Mr Salmond had 'definitely undermined' Ms Sturgeon 'a lot of the time'. The former first minister, however, told her: 'He also bolstered me a lot of the time.' Recalling Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon said that to describe him as a bully 'is maybe putting it too strongly', but she added that 'he could behave in a bullying manner'. Asked if she challenged his behaviour, the former first minister stated: 'I don't think I did it enough, but yes, I did. 'I would on occasion, people would have seen me do it, when he was giving the hairdryer treatment to whatever member of staff, I would say, 'enough Alex'.' But she added: 'I wish I had done it more.' After she took over as leader of the SNP, Mr Salmond had advised her not to keep her then husband, Peter Murrell, in his post as chief executive of the party. At the time, Ms Sturgeon rejected this, with Mr Murrell only stepping down from the role in March 2023 – the month after Ms Sturgeon announced her decision to step down as first minister and SNP leader. She said: 'I can look back now and say, maybe, I should have taken a different decision. 'That is something I probably got wrong.' The couple have now separated and, in March this year, the former SNP chief executive appeared in court charged with embezzlement following a police investigation into party finances, However, Ms Sturgeon insisted that she 'did not think' her decision to keep her then-husband in his party role was the start of the the 'fissure' in her relationship with Mr Salmond. 'I don't think that created any tension between us,' she said.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book
Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book originally appeared on Parade. Elvis Presley's rise to superstardom was anything but a solo act. His talent and drive were matched by a powerful partnership with one of the most influential figures in his inner circle. But behind the spotlight, their relationship would become one of the most controversial alliances in music history. The King of Rock and Roll and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, were an undeniable force. Together, they conquered the entertainment world with determination, talent, and a mutual respect for each other's strengths. The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the World by Peter Guralnick delves into their complicated relationship. Each depended on the other for a myriad of professional and personal reasons, but their union faced many challenges. This new book is based on an archive of letters penned by Parker, which Guralnick first discovered in 1989. Commercial Appeal spoke to the book's author, delving deeply into what did and didn't work in Presley and Parker's partnership. Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 'He believed in Elvis,' the author said. 'He believed that he was the greatest." Guralnick continued, "His faith in Elvis had to do with a future which couldn't be foretold. He and Elvis had a vision of something that had not yet been achieved. Yet, he believed that together they would achieve it.' Together, Presley and Parker created a music dynasty, making Presley an undeniable force in rock and roll for over two decades. However, in the years after the singer's death, Parker's role in his career took on a more villainous slant. In the Baz Luhrmann film Elvis, Parker is a particularly polarizing character. He was depicted as a controlling and manipulative force who held significant power over both Presley's career and personal life. The book attempts to debunk that longstanding myth. The author reveals that through Parker's letters, a different picture was painted of his involvement in the singer's downfall. 'As Elvis began to have his personal difficulties, and his behavior became more and more publicly erratic, and certainly after he died, there was a need for some kind of blame,' Guralnick revealed. 'And the easiest thing was to lash out at the manager, who had always promoted the myth of himself as a kind of outlandish Svengali." He continued, "There's no question that he created that myth. And he enjoyed the benefits of that for many, many years. But eventually that same reputation would come to work against him.' After Presley's death in August 1977, Parker continued to manage his likeness. But after Vernon Presley died in 1979, his situation changed dramatically. In 1982, the Presley estate took legal action against Parker, accusing him of fraud and mismanagement. An out-of-court settlement came the following year, and Parker officially ended his legal connection to the estate. Colonel Tom Parker died in January, 1997. Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book first appeared on Parade on Aug 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's ex-girlfriend ‘Jane' confirms he supported her financially
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. Sign up to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs' federal trial. Today, defense attorney Teny Geragos cross-examined 'Jane,' a pseudonym for one of Diddy's ex-girlfriends. Geragos pressed her about the inner workings of her relationship with the hip-hop mogul and tried to complicate her wrenching allegations of forced sex, physical violence and abuse. Here's what you need to know: PRESSURE: 'Jane' said Diddy 'introduced me to this lifestyle, under a lot of emotional pressure.' She said that she originally 'didn't understand the terms of the relationship' but that she eventually learned the rapper expected frequent 'freak offs' with escorts. She described a 'pressure to do these things he desired,' as well as 'fulfill my duties as a girlfriend.' MONEY: 'Jane' confirmed Diddy wire-transferred around $150,000 to her during their relationship. He sometimes used the offer to pay her rent as a 'tool,' she testified, implying that the gestures were a 'reminder' of his power. DRUGS: Diddy's alleged reliance on drugs and alcohol concerned 'Jane,' she said. She recounted a trip to the Turks and Caicos when he appeared to have jaundice, graying gums and shaking hands. 'I felt like he was overdoing the partying,' 'Jane' said. 'Jane' repeatedly broke down crying during her direct examination yesterday. But she was markedly more reserved and less visibly emotional during today's cross-examination. In one notable moment, however, she became testy with Geragos during an exchange about luxury handbags. Geragos asked her whether she had ever received Bottega bags. 'Jane' replied: 'I'm sure you have one.' Geragos then asked her how much a Bottega bag costs. 'Jane' responded: 'How much does my body cost?' The witness asked for a short break after the heated back and forth. Diddy nodded and even smiled throughout 'Jane's' cross-examination. He nodded vigorously as she described putting on lingerie to please him. 'Jan'e may be a victim of Diddy's domineering cruelty. She may have been mistreated by him. She may have been under his Svengali hold. But she also may have credibility problems. It's interesting that our justice system trusts jurors — no matter their backgrounds or educations — to decide whether witnesses are credible. In fact, the courts place few limits on a juror's ability to make credibility determinations. The court can instruct the jury to view with caution the testimony of, say, an informer or a drug addict. The court will also tell jurors that if they believe a witness knowingly testified falsely about an important matter, they can distrust the witness' testimony about other matters. But these instructions mostly empower — not restrict — a juror from making credibility determinations. In my view, 'Jane's' cross-examination gave the jurors reason to distrust her testimony. First, she was at times snarky with the defense counsel during cross-examination. Bad idea. It never looks good. But worse, she didn't own bad facts. She has an explanation for everything. When she was confronted with the sexually explicit text messages she sent Diddy, she said she did it only to keep him happy. When witnesses don't own bad facts, it looks bad. When witnesses fight with the counsel during cross-examination, it looks bad. It means that even if 'Jane' is telling the truth about everything, the jury may find she told the truth about nothing. Tomorrow: 'Jane' is expected to return to the stand for more cross-examination. The proceedings will start later than usual, at 1 p.m. ET. BTW: Every night during Diddy's trial, NBC's 'Dateline' will drop special episodes of the 'True Crime Weekly' podcast to get you up to speed. 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News' Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here. 🎧 This article was originally published on
NBC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Diddy's ex-girlfriend ‘Jane' confirms he supported her financially
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. Sign up to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs' federal trial. Today, defense attorney Teny Geragos cross-examined ' Jane,' a pseudonym for one of Diddy's ex-girlfriends. Geragos pressed her on the inner workings of her relationship with the hip-hop mogul and attempted to complicate the witness' wrenching account of alleged forced sex, physical violence and abuse. Here's what you need to know: PRESSURE: Jane said Diddy 'introduced me to this lifestyle, under a lot of emotional pressure.' She said that she originally 'didn't understand the terms of the relationship,' but she eventually learned the rapper expected frequent 'freak offs' with escorts. She described a 'pressure to do these things he desired,' as well as 'fulfill my duties as a girlfriend.' MONEY: Jane confirmed Diddy wire-transferred around $150,000 to her during their relationship. He sometimes used the offer to pay her rent as a 'tool,' she testified, implying that the gestures were a 'reminder' of his power. DRUGS: Diddy's alleged reliance on drugs and alcohol concerned Jane, she said. She recounted a trip to the Turks and Caicos when he appeared to have jaundice, graying gums and shaking hands. She said she wanted him to go to a 'I felt like he was overdoing the partying,' Jane said. 🔎 The view from inside By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas and Katherine Koretski Jane repeatedly broke down crying during her direct examination yesterday. But she was markedly more reserved and less visibly emotional during today's cross-examination. In one notable moment, however, she became testy with Geragos during an exchange about luxury handbags. Geragos asked her whether she had ever received Bottega bags. Jane replied: 'I'm sure you have one.' Geragos then asked her how much a Bottega bag costs. Jane responded: 'How much does my body cost?' The witness asked for a short break after the heated back and forth. Diddy, for his part, nodded and even smiled throughout Jane's cross-examination. He nodded vigorously as she described putting on lingerie to please him. 👨⚖️ Analysis: The credibility question By Danny Cevallos Jane may be a victim of Diddy's domineering cruelty. She may have been mistreated by him. She may have been under his Svengali hold. But she also may have credibility problems. It's interesting that our justice system trusts jurors — no matter their background or education — to decide whether witnesses are credible. In fact, the courts place few limits on a juror's ability to make credibility determinations. The court can instruct the jury to view with caution the testimony of, say, an informer or a drug addict. The court will also tell jurors that if they believe a witness knowingly testified falsely concerning an important matter, they can distrust the witness's testimony concerning other matters. But these instructions mostly empower — not restrict — a juror from making credibility determinations. In my view, Jane's cross-examination gave the jurors reason to distrust her testimony. First, she was at times snarky with the defense counsel during cross-examination. Bad idea. It never looks good. But worse, she didn't own bad facts. She has an explanation for everything. When confronted with the sexually explicit text messages she sent Diddy, she said she did it only to keep him happy. When witnesses don't own bad facts, it looks bad. When witnesses fight with the counsel during cross-examination, it looks bad. It means that even if Jane is telling the truth about everything, the jury may find she told the truth about nothing. Tomorrow: 'Jane' is expected to return to the stand for more cross-examination. The proceedings will start later than usual, at 1 p.m. ET.
Gulf Today
03-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Calling Cameron ‘man baby' for resigning over Brexit
We hardly need reminding that Brexit is barely living up to the ideal of the buccaneering 'global Britain' we were promised. Right now, it's more like a clown show. Leaving the European Union was the malign gift that keeps on giving. It has caused the social and economic damage we see around us, cramping living standards, public services, and even the defence of the realm for want of the prosperity we once took for granted. It has had a baleful effect on investment and growth, and left Britain a meaner, poorer, grubbier place. Indeed, it may well be said that Brexit broke Britain, and created a new wave of grievances for Nigel Farage to exploit. It's his Ponzi scheme. So won't someone spare a thought for those who got us into this mess? Those like Michael Gove, and his now-former wife Sarah Vine, who has written a memoir of her life as a Westminster Wag. Always a fluent writer, trenchant and not especially likeable, Vine makes it clear in the extracts published thus far that not only did Brexit break Britain, it also broke her and Gove's somewhat one-sided and demi-mercenary 'friendship' with David and Samantha Cameron. It doesn't seem to have done much good to the Goves' own relationship, either (albeit as only one of the many strains inherent in being a political couple). At any rate, Vine still despises Cameron. This is personal. Her illusions about the true nature of their friendship were shattered when she felt the 'abyss of class' between them. Gove was havering about which side to back in the EU referendum, torn between his genuine Euroscepticism (unlike Boris Johnson's) and the loyalty he felt to his party leader. Cameron, pink-faced and charming but always with the whiff of Flashman about him, barked at Vine to 'get her husband under control': 'Sarah, I'm fighting for my political life here.' But it's political contempt, too, that Vine feels, so she also charges David Cameron with cowardice — being a 'man baby' when he lost the Brexit referendum and immediately resigned as prime minister. As she puts it: 'What an impossible, irresponsible child, throwing his toys out of the pram because he hadn't got his own way. It felt a bit like he would sooner bring the country down than let Leave have its victory. Et tu, Pontius Pilate.' Fair? Certainly, it was childish. But in many ways, it feels like it no longer matters. Aside from a brief and, in the end, futile return as foreign secretary under Rishi Sunak, Cameron's political career was over the moment David Dimbleby declared 'We're out' on the television. Same for all of them. Gove is now an elder statesman, a peer and editor of The Spectator, and a one-time Svengali to Kemi Badenoch – but his party is in the toilet. A return to power for any of the people concerned looks about as likely as Elvis Presley being found alive on the moon. The chumocracy was as broken by Brexit as was Britain. Johnson, never that close to Gove, fell out with him shortly after the referendum vote, when Gove stabbed him in the front during the post-Cameron leadership election. Only George Osborne seems to have emerged from it all without serious PTSD. For what it's worth, it seems to me that Cameron did certainly break his promise to the British people — that whatever the result of the referendum, he would carry on as prime minister. But on that grim June morning when everything changed, that felt like a ridiculous idea. It was his referendum. It was his idea. Osborne had cautioned against it, and Gove might have preferred that it hadn't happened, because, in the end, it finished off his chances of ever getting the top job, and of his missus becoming Britain's 'first lady' as opposed to just First Lady of Fleet Street. It would have been impossible for Cameron to carry on and negotiate Brexit. Farage would have claimed he wasn't a 'true believer' (correct, obviously), and Cameron would never have been safe from Johnson's unquenchable ambition. Sean O'Grady, The Independent
