It's Gagapanda! Lady Gaga tries out an animal new look on Japanese TV... but did she think she was in China?

Gagapanda: Lady Gaga tries out a new style on Japanese TV yesterday


When visiting a foreign country it is of course polite to pay tribute to their culture.

But, despite naming Japan as one of her favourite places, Lady Gaga may have mixed up their native animals.

The singer appeared on Japanese television dressed as a panda - native animal of China.

Whether she thought she was paying tribute to Japan, or whether the 25-year-old just had a whim to become 'Gagapanda' is unclear.

The Born This Way singer arrived on the show in a black and white outfit with her hair in two buns and wearing sunglasses.

She kept the glasses on a for a minute to build suspense as the hosts complimented her on her outlandish ensemble, before dramatically removing them to reveal her heavy black eye make-up.


Animal instinct: The singer said she 'likes pandas and has been eating a lot of bamboo this week' as explanation for her outfit


'I really like pandas,' she declared. 'Pandas have paws, and I always tell my fans to put their paws up. I've been eating a lot of bamboo this week.'

Later in the program Gaga listed 'one day having panda babies' as one of her dreams.
She has also started referring to herself as Gagapanda on Twitter.

With the help of a translator, the hitmaker answered a round of questions from the excitable presenters, about her love of cooking, keeping her clothes after she wears them, and her fears (missing her family).


'You know pandas are Chinese right?' Gaga chats with the talk show presenters


While in Japan Gaga has slammed the claims that she profited from wristbands she sold through her website to aid tsunami victims in the country.

After raising money for the survivors of the earthquake by selling $5 wristbands, the singer faces a lawsuit over claims that she added an unnecessary sales tax and a $3.99 shipping charge to the red and white 'We Pray for Japan' bracelets.

But an spokesman for the star, who is currently touring Japan, today labelled the lawsuit 'misguided.'


Fighting back: The 25-year-old has slammed the claims that she profited from the sales of her charity wristbands to aid Japanese tsunami victims


'This misguided lawsuit is without merit and unfortunately takes attention away from the kind deeds of the fans around the world who are supporting the people of Japan,' said the singer's spokesman Holly Shakoor.

'The entire five dollar donation made with the purchase of each bracelet is going to support the disaster relief,' she added. 'No profit is being made on shipping costs. Sales tax charges were made in accordance with local legal requirements.

'Lady Gaga has personally pledged her own funds to this cause and continues to support the victims of the disaster.'


Hurtful: Gaga's representatives have said the lawsuit launched against her over the claims is 'without merit'


Gaga has been sued under her real name of Stefani Germanotta under charges normally used to fight racketeering.

Live Nation Merchandising, Universal Music and a number of Gaga’s business ventures have also been named too.

The lawsuit, filed at the U.S Federal Court in Detroit, states that they all used a ‘deceptive advertising campaign’ and a ‘pattern of racketeering’ to persuade the public to buy the wristband from Gaga’s official website.

The court papers state they ‘misrepresented to individuals and to the public at large...that ‘all proceeds’ derived from the wristbands would be donated to the (Japan) Relief Effort’.





source: dailymail

Kate-mania! Thousands of cheering Canadians greet the smiling Duchess as Royal newlyweds begin their tour of North America

-Thousands of cheering fans turn out to welcome the Royal couple to Ottawa
-Kate looks poised and natural as she laughs and smiles with the crowds
-Prince William flits between English and French in touching speech at welcome event

By Rebecca English, Fiona Roberts and Richard Hartley-parkinson

Elegant: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk down the steps of the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft after they landed in blustery Ottawa this afternoon


Beaming broadly, a picture-perfect Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touched down in Ottawa this afternoon to be greeted by thousands of Royal fans as they began their first official Royal tour together.

Kate looked elegant and graceful despite the blustery conditions, and concealed any nerves on this, her first major test as a fully-fledged member of the Royal family, with a wide smile.

The newlywed couple were greeted by a host of dignitaries and a wall of photographers as they stepped on to the gusty runway, before being driven to the city centre where crowds had been gathering to meet the couple since early this morning.


They were formally greeted at the airport by the Canadian Foreign Minister. The Duchess accepted a posy from a young boy on the tarmac and chatted to him for some time before moving along the line of dignitaries as William waited for a few moments in their car.

It was adorned with a special flag created in their honour by Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper - the first to be designed by the Commonwealth country for a member of the royal family since 1962.

The flag was given Prince William’s seal of approval and that of the Queen, who was the last royal to adopt one for her own use.

The Duchess had transformed herself during the seven hour flight from London, and was wearing a dress by the hugely fashionable designer Erdem Moralioglu, favoured by Samantha Cameron and Michelle Obama. Erdem is another Canadian designer born in Montreal.

A natural: The Duchess of Cambridge stayed poised and elegant despite the windy conditions, with her hair in a demi-chignon, and again displayed her affection for children as she spent several minutes talking to Kellen Schlever, who presented her with a beautiful posy of pink roses

At ease: Kate smiles as she receives flowers from the Royal fans who lined up to meet the newlyweds at Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport today. Tomorrow they will take part in National Canada Day


The dress was a navy, lace Cecile shift scoop-backed dress of contrast stone crepe with a navy lace overlay. The dress has a sheer lace sleeve with a scallop detail.

She sported the same nude LK Bennett £175 heels she has sported on several occasions recently. Her hairdresser, James Pryce, had also swept her hair back in a 'half up, half down' do to account for the slight breeze.

After their official welcome, they headed straight for the National War Memorial in the centre of the city.

As the couple's official car drew up along the red carpet, they were greeted by the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen.

The 10,000 strong crowd, waving Canadian flags and flowers, cheered wildly as they stepped out. Tanned Kate looked particularly delighted at the warm reception and waved shyly.

Quick change: The Duchess of Cambridge boarded the plane at Heathrow in a navy-blue Roland Mouret dress, but by the time she landed she'd changed into an outfit by Erdem Moralıoglu, a Montreal-born designer, in a carefully-chosen nod to her Canadian hosts. She teamed it with nude heels and a matching clutch bag


The foursome approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and stood in quiet contemplation as the Last Post was played by a lone trumpeter.

William then placed a large wreath on the monument while his wife leant forwards to put down a small posey. The duchess warmly greeted the woman who had handed it to her, Mabel Girouard.

Mrs Girouard's son Bobby, 46, was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2006. She was chosen by the Canadian Legion as their Memorial Silver Cross Mother.

As they left the memorial the couple undertook what will be the first of many walkabouts, sending the crowd into a frenzy. There were as many screams for William as there were for Kate.

The Duchess looked delighted as she was handed armfuls of flowers and gifts.'Thank you so much. We are so delighted to be here,' she said.

Official welcome: The Royal couple shake hands with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird

Great honour: A special flag created for the young Royal couple flew from the bonnet of their car.
It's the first new flag to be designed by a Commonwealth country for a member of the Royal family since 1962. Right, the Prince's standard was waved from the Canadian Air Force plane as the couple landed

Pleased to meet you: A line of dignitaries waits to meet the Duchess of Cambridge as she steps on to the tarmac at a blustery Ottawa airport


Occasionally she looked over to her husband on the other side of the crowd to make sure she was moving quickly enough.

William looked equally thrilled as one woman told him;'Canada is so happy you are here.' 'Thank you, that is so kind,' he replied.

As she waited for the prince to finish Kate chatted with the Prime Minister and his wife and told them: 'That was so amazing, there were so many people there.... How many do you think?

'We have been on the go since 7.30 this morning so it's been a long day.'

Then, as the couple got into their official car, her first test over, Kate leant into her husband's shoulder and grinned broadly with undisguised relief.

But the new Duchess only had a brief respite before the couple were driven to Ottawa's Rideau Hall, the governor general's residence, for an official welcome event.

Prince William charmed the crowd by flitting between English and French, as Kate looked on admiringly.

He joked: 'It will improve as we go on,' and continued: 'Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada.

'Instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, who love this country, we have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time – and before we were married, we had a longing to come here together.

'The geography of Canada is unsurpassed and is famous for being matched only by the hospitality of its people. We are so very excited about having this opportunity to experience both – and learn much more about this amazing country.'

Among those who turned out the greet the Royal couple was Jennifer Baldwin, 19, who drove for 21 hours from her home in Bloomington, Illinois, and stood in the street from 5.30am to see the couple at close quarters.

She said: 'I talked to William and congratulated him on the wedding and he said "thank you very much", he's so polite! My mum told him we had come from the U.S. and he said: "We're going there next".

'It was completely worth the journey just for that five seconds. I mean, I shook his hand!'

Francine Dorion, 50, gave the Duchess a tapestry she had made, featuring a picture of the couple kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day.

She said: 'Kate said it was beautiful and thanked me for doing it for them. She is so pretty and reminds me of Diana. She just steals you.'

Tomorrow they will take part in Canada Day - a special day for William as it would have been his mother's 50th birthday. They will be opening the Calgary Stampede and canoeing in the Northwest Territories before flying to Los Angeles.

Solemn: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a sombre start to their official tour with a visit to the Canadian War Memorial. Flanked by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, they pause for a moment of silence

Respectful: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge each laid a wreath at the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa this afternoon

Thoughtful: Kate lays a bouquet of red roses at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Ottawa

Graceful: Kate bobs down to lay the bouquet on the steps of the tomb

Respectful: Kate bows her head alongside her husband for a moment's silence


During the visit, Prince William will demonstrate his skills as a helicopter rescue pilot by performing a water landing. Later, they will head to Quebec City where they will don their aprons for a cooking workshop.

Tomorrow they will mark Canada Day and after their week-long tour of Canada they will jet to LA to host a gala dinner.

There, they will promote up-and-coming British film talent by introducing them to Hollywood executives.

The south Californian trip will include a $4,000-a-head three-course meal and charity polo match, giving revellers an opportunity to get close to the Duke and Duchess.

Admiring glances: Kate looks relaxed and elegant as she walks by war veterans in Ottawa, and right, she signs the guest book as William waits his turn

Tribute: Prince William inspects a Canadian Forces guard of honour, left, and right, the note - in French and English - he left on the tomb of the unknown soldier


The Mail can also reveal that the Queen has given the new Duchess the pick of her fabulous collection of jewels for the 11-day trip.

The monarch, who is said to be extremely fond of her grandson’s new bride, wants Kate to shine on her first major test as a member of the Royal Family.

A few weeks ago she invited the 29-year-old Duchess into Buckingham Palace to choose from her priceless collection of tiaras, necklaces and bracelets, and she picked out one or two pieces to borrow.

While Kate is said to be ‘excited beyond belief’ at the prospect of the hugely anticipated tour, she is also keen not to overshadow her new husband, the Mail understands.

Picture perfect: The Duchess has already mastered the Royal wave, and both she and Prince William beamed as they greeted the crowds

Fans of all ages: The prince holds a little boy's hand as he is lifted up to say hello, left, and greets a war veteran, right


It is one of the reasons she has chosen not to make any public speeches during the trip, while the Duke will make several.

In this she appears to have learnt a lesson from the experience of Princess Diana, who repeatedly stole the limelight from her then husband, Prince Charles, and in doing so unwittingly drove a wedge between them.

The prince would become particularly frustrated when, during official walkabouts, the crowds would groan and call for Diana when he approached them.

Walkabouts will be a particular feature of the Canadian leg of William and Kate’ s trip as they attempt to meet as many of their future subjects as possible.

Their arrival in the Commonwealth country, where the Queen is still sovereign, is eagerly anticipated, with frenzied minute-by-minute television coverage.

Overwhelming affection: The Duchess looks ecstatic as she shakes hand with the crowd and clutches bunches of flowers presented by Royal fans lining the streets

Happy to be here: The Duchess of Cambridge laughs as her husband gives a speech, left, and pauses for a moment to smell one of her many bouquets, right

Popular princess: Kate bobs down to accept flowers from two little girls, left, and beams ecstatically as she shakes hands with fans

Mobbed: Prince William almost disappears beneath a sea of Royal fans wielding cameras. One woman even seemed to be wearing a replica of his wife's engagement ring


Each public appearance is expected to draw thousands of well-wishers on to the streets and large crowds gathered from early yesterday keen to meet the glamorous young newly-weds.

Some anti-royal protests are, however, expected later in the week in the French-speaking provinces, with small republican groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.

‘This visit is really a battle for the hearts and minds of Canadian as to what to do down the road about the head of state in Canada,’ said University of Ottawa History Professor Michael Behiels.

They had no fears about winning over Joyce Udell, 57, a diplomat with the Canadian Government, had delayed travelling home to St John's in Newfoundland in order to see the couple.

Official welcome: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Rideau Hall, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife look on as Kate accepts more flowers

Poise: The Duchess of Cambridge beams as she and her husband arrive at Rideau Hall, and right, she is at ease chatting to Prime Minister Stephen Harper


She said: 'I don't like to use the word admire but I like her style, I like both their styles, they're not as ostentatious as some in the royal family.

'Kate, she reinvents herself with her clothes and wears the same dress twice - which the royals don't do.

'They are going to be a fabulous king and queen in the future. They are obviously in love and I think that's where their strength lies.'

Cherie Gray, 50, a by-law enforcement officer from the town of Manitouwadge, Ontario had made a six-hour detour while on holiday in the national province with husband David, 51, to see the royal couple.

She said: 'We're so excited to be here and hopefully to meet Kate - she brings a new revival to the royal family and represents the younger generation.'

THE U.S. AND CANADA ROYAL TOUR ITINERARY

June 30-July 2: The National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec)

The Duke and Duchess will take part in Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa on July 1

July 2: Montreal

The pair will be in town for the final Saturday of the Montreal Jazz Festival

July 3: Quebec City

William and Catherine will spend the day in Quebec City, before moving on to Charlottetown

July 3-4: Prince Edward Island

The Duchess is apparently a fan of Anne of Green Gables, a book set in Prince Edward Island and written by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, which might explain this stop off

July 4-6: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
July 6-8: Calgary, Alberta

William and Catherine will be in town for one of Calgary's biggest annual events, The Calgary Stampede on July 8, but it is unlikely that they will attend the rodeo

July 8: Los Angeles, United States

During their three-day visit to California, the royal couple will stay at the British consul-general's residence in the historic Hancock Park district of Los Angeles

On Friday night the couple will be the guests of honor at a Consular-General Reception held by the United Kingdom Trade and Investment.

July 9: Los Angeles, United States

In the afternoon, Prince William is expected to play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in a charity match - the Foundation Polo Cup - to benefit the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry with the Duchess presenting the winners' trophy.

That evening, Catherine and William will attend a reception and dinner at the 1926 Belasco Theatre in downtown LA put on by the BAFTAs

July 10: Los Angeles, United States

On Sunday, the couple will visit the Inner-City Arts School, an organisation helping children from a deprived neighbourhood in downtown L.A.

They will then go to Culver City's Sony Studios, where they'll visit the Service Nation: Mission Serve job fair.

Catherine and William will fly back to the UK from LAX


source: dailymail

Big Fat Gypsy star arrested after brawl at friend's wedding in car park

By Daily Mail Reporter


Popular: Swanley Smith and his 17-year-old bride Josie were among the show's most popular characters


One of the stars of TV's Big Fat Gypsy Weddings was arrested following a brawl at the wedding of one of his own friends.

Swanley Smith, one of the stars of the reality show, was held by police after rival gypsy fighters were embroiled in a punch-up in the car park of a Holiday Inn in Golders Green, north London.

Officers were driving past the venue on Monday night when the fight broke out, it has been reported.

Quizzed: Dad-of-one Swanley, who has just turned 21, was arrested along with two other travellers


According to The Sun, a raucous crowd egged on fighters and a police officer was forced to defend himself with CS spray after he was knocked to the ground when he intervened as two men squared up to each other.

After police managed to stop the fighting, they made three arrests. Dad-of-one Swanley, who turned 21 that day, was quizzed by officers as well as two other travellers aged 17 and 21 years.

A source told The Sun: 'It was all over a massive family feud. There must have been 40 people involved, throwing punches.'

Hitched: Swanley and Josie on their wedding day, which was featured on Channel 4's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding


Swanley's mother Christine added: 'It was his 21st birthday, but he was attending a wedding. It wasn't very nice getting arrested.'

A family friend also told The Sun: 'He doesn't want to say anything that might make the situation worse.'

Swanley became famous when he and his 17-year-old bride Josie featured in the Channel 4 series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.

The pair, who became one of the show's most well-known characters, live on a travellers' site in Caterham, Surrey.

Surprise hit: The Channel 4 show Big Fat Gypsy Weddings fast became essential viewing as traveller families allowed the cameras into their secret world

Secret world: The travelling community's customs and culture were laid bare in the show


source:dailymail

Anything you can do, Sis: Pippa now rivals Kate in selling power as £129 red Hobbs dress sells out

By Tamara Abraham


Retail royalty: Pippa Middleton's Hobbs NW3 dress sold out on the retailer's website after she was seen wearing it two days in a row - for a shopping trip on Tuesday, left, and again for Wimbledon on Wednesday, right


Pippa Middleton loves her favourite red dress so much, she's worn it two days running. And it seems we love it too, as it has now sold out across the UK.

Hobbs NW3's Wyldes shift was a bargain at just £89, reduced in the summer sales from £129, but once the Duchess of Cambridge's sister was seen wearing it for both a shopping trip on Tuesday and Wimbledon yesterday, the retailer's website was slammed with orders.

For the lucky few that managed to get their hands on one of the frocks, which has military-style buttons at the shoulders and pocket, it promises to serve them well.

The 27-year-old proved just how versatile the dress is, teaming it with flats for a trip to Russell & Bromley on the King's Road, then ramping up the style factor the following day with tan espadrille wedges and sunglasses.

With such a bright hue, it is important to keep the accessories simple, and Miss Middleton did just that.

On both occasions she wore simple gold hoop earrings and carried one of her trusty Modalu bags - which, incidentally, also sold out when she was spotted carrying one after the Royal Wedding.

The consumer reaction to Pippa's clothing is beginning to mirror that of her sister's.

Almost everything Catherine has worn since her engagement has sparked a similar response, and Reiss has even had to reissue old stock due to customer demand.

But while the High Street's mass-market appeal helps us identify with the glamorous siblings, they are wise to use high-end designers from time-to-time as well.

Love match: Pippa arrived at Wimbledon yesterday with boyfriend Alex Loudon

Tender: The pair looked loved-up as they watched the match between Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga


Alice Temperley, who designed the emerald green gown that Miss Middleton wore to her sister's evening wedding reception, has said that despite customer demand, it was a one-off piece and she will not be making replicas.

She told the Daily Telegraph: 'We'd made it specifically for her and I wasn't going to start trying to capitalise on that.'

Smiles all round: Pippa appeared in good spirits as she arrived at Wimbledon with her mother Carole


source:dailymail

In the navy: Prince William and coordinated Kate board plane to Canada as ten-day royal tour begins

By Maysa Rawi


Jet set: Kate Middleton does understated chic as she prepares to board a plane to Canada at Heathrow airport today

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proved they were in perfect sync as they boarded a plane to Canada today.

Wearing matching navy blue, the couple were pictured on the runway heading to the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft at London's Heathrow Airport.

They are expected to land in Ottawa at 2pm local time.

Kate was the picture of understated elegance on the runway in a blue shift dress and matching blazer with gold buttons.

She accessoried with blue court shoes and a £895 Mulberry handbag.
William wore a suit of the same colour and a red tie.

With her hair freshly blow-dried, Kate's glossy mane will no doubt continue to look flawless throughout the trip as she is rumoured to be travelling with her hairdresser James Pryce.

Her wardrobe has been kept under wraps but potential outfits have been an endless source of speculation over the last few weeks.

Kate is said to have hired a personal shopper at London department store Selfridges.

But whether she will stick to her favourite High Street stores or mix and match with designer labels remains to be seen.

Either way, the couple are on a tight schedule.

William and Kate's arrival in the Commonwealth country is eagerly anticipated and their appearance later in the capital is expected to draw thousands on to the streets.

They will be celebrating Canada Day in Ottawa, opening the Calgary Stampede and canoeing in the Northwest Territories before taking off to Los Angeles.

Canada's prime minister has even unveiled a personal flag for use during William's visit.

It is the first flag to be created by Canada for a member of the royal family since 1962, when the queen adopted a personal flag for her own use in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the flag was approved by the queen and William.

The Canadian secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and the chief organizer of the trip Kevin MacLeod said: 'I think given the youth and the dynamism of this couple they will simply continue to reaffirm the important role the crown plays in this country.

The young prince also plans to demonstrate his skills as a helicopter rescue pilot by taking part in a water landing demonstration, and the couple is scheduled to put on aprons and take part in a cooking workshop in Quebec City.

Perfect match: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will land in Ottawa later today to start their ten-day tour in Canada and U.S

Fresh-faced: Kate looked groomed to perfection, with freshly blow-dried hair while William looked elegant in a blue suit and red tie


Some anti-royal protests are expected in the French-speaking province of Quebec, with small groups planning protests in Quebec City and Montreal.

The prince and Kate jet to Los Angeles on July 8 and will host a gala dinner there the next night to introduce up-and-coming British film talent to Hollywood executives.

The southern California trip includes a $4,000 three-course meal and a charity polo match up close with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are formally known.

On duty: William talks to James Wright, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Private transport: The couple are travelling on the Royal Canadian Air Force plane


So far, about 1,000 VIP tickets have been sold to the polo match along with about 400 general admission passes, raising nearly $4.4 million for the July 9 event. William plans to play in the match, and his wife will award the trophy to the winning team.

William will be celebrating Canada's birthday on Friday, the same day his mother Diana would have turned 50.

He is due to say a few words at a number of stops. Kate is not scheduled to speak.

The couple will travel from the sub-Arctic to oil-rich Calgary, Alberta, from busy Montreal to bucolic Prince Edward Island of "Anne of Green Gables" fame.

They'll sit around a campfire with young people, dress casual for the Calgary rodeo, join a cookout in Quebec City and hand out flags to newly-minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony.


source:dailymail

Mock me all you like but leave my disabled son alone: Katie Price's heartfelt denunciation of Frankie Boyle's vile slur and the TV bosses who defended

By Katie Price


Devoted: Katie Price with her son Harvey, who recently turned nine, says she would never swap him for an able-bodied child


My son, Harvey, turned nine last month, and we held a little party to celebrate.

The only guests were immediate family — too much activity causes Harvey stress and his behaviour can become disruptive — but he did have a big cake decorated with a picture of a frog.

Harvey loves cakes. He always enjoys blowing out the candles, and he adores frogs. They are his latest obsession. He draws them so carefully — the bulging eyes, the long back legs — and colours them in bright green.


At the moment, every scrap of paper in the house is covered in leaping frogs.

The cake and the frog obsession explain a lot about Harvey. Most mothers of nine-year-olds might boast that their child is learning French or the violin. I’m just pleased and proud that Harvey can draw, observe and see colours.

Soon after he was born, I was told he had a serious problem with his sight. Later, I learned that he was blind. Actually, he has some residual vision, and he is brilliant at using it.

He recognises colours and shapes. He has even learned to turn them into pictures.

He draws the same things obsessively, over and over again. First it was aeroplanes, then rainbows, now it’s frogs. That’s down to his autism. Like most children with the condition, he periodically gets fixated on one subject.

He is also compulsive about routines. Nothing must disturb Harvey’s ordered world, or there is hell to pay.

The cake is another matter. Harvey eats and eats, and if I did not stop him he would do so continually. He is prone to weight-gain, but he is not greedy.

Relentless: A scene from Katie: Standing Up For Harvey, shows the glamour model cradling her son Harvey


He has a clinical condition — I’ll come to that later — which means he can’t control his appetite. The hormones that control his growth are also out of kilter. So he is bigger than most kids. But to the ignorant, Harvey is just a big, fat, blind kid — and he has been called that many times.

I’ve only skimmed the surface of the problems facing my much-loved eldest child, but by now you know enough about Harvey’s disabilities to understand the hurdles he leaps each day.

So you will understand the extent of my shock and anger when I learned that Frankie Boyle, the comedian — though he barely deserves the title — had singled my son out to be the butt of a vile ‘joke’.

To convey the full impact of what Boyle said on his Channel 4 ‘comedy’ show last December, I must, I’m afraid, repeat his offensive remarks in full.

To begin with, he said my ex-husband, Peter Andre, and I had been fighting over custody of Harvey. ‘Eventually one of them will lose and have to keep him,’ Boyle said.

That is the type of cruel offence we expect disabled people to accept. If you are disabled, you are a burden, and people want rid of you.

Then Boyle made a remark so offensive it has no place in civilised society.

Referring to my second marriage, to Alex Reid — we have since separated — he said: ‘I have a theory about the reason Jordan married a cage-fighter — she needed a man strong enough to stop Harvey from f***ing her.’

I can’t overstate the outrage and revulsion I felt when I heard this attack on my vulnerable, disabled son. I am used to defending myself against insults and, at times, justified criticism.

I don’t deny there are aspects of my own life and past that have been controversial. I’ve made mistakes in equal measure to my success, but I can answer back — and I do. Harvey can’t.

Boyle’s remark is vile on so many levels. Sadly, I’ve grown used to insensitive jokes about Harvey’s size. When Heat magazine published a sticker with the words ‘Harvey wants to eat me!’ across it, I was appalled.

But at least the magazine apologised. Boyle and Channel 4 have done neither. Boyle’s disgusting suggestion slandered my innocent son and insulted every disabled person in Britain.

Imagine if the reason Boyle gave for saying Harvey was capable of raping me was not because of his disability but because he is black. People would understand how discriminatory that is. It is just as discriminatory when the joke is based on someone’s disability.

That is why I have decided to talk openly, and in detail, about Harvey for the first time.

Tonight my television documentary about him, Katie: Standing Up For Harvey, introduces viewers to my campaign on behalf of every disabled child and adult in Britain.

I hope that, through the programme, Harvey’s disabilities will highlight the difficulties — and also the positives — faced by children with disabilities, and their families.

I have been forced to consider my role in putting Harvey in the firing line for Boyle’s humour. He, and Channel 4, have pointed out that I have put Harvey in the public domain by being photographed and filmed with him.

As a result, I have been accused of hypocrisy. I understand that to an extent, and take it on the chin.

But I have spent a lot of time talking to people and organisations who see Harvey as a positive role model, and I decided it was in my son’s interest — and in the interest of raising disability awareness — that he play a public role.

This is no justification for the discrimination Harvey has suffered. I want people to stop and think before they make crass jokes against people who can’t defend themselves.

Although the media regulator Ofcom upheld 500 complaints about Boyle’s remarks, and condemned Channel 4 for broadcasting them, it didn’t demand an on-air apology. Why not?

The daddy: Former football Dwight Yorke, left, is Harvey's father. Harvey, right as a toddler, was born in 2002 in Brighton


The decision was indefensible. As the broadcaster of the Paralympics, Channel 4 is, I feel, guilty of double-standards. They should never have broadcast Boyle’s foul joke.

Even the Cabinet Minister responsible for broadcasting, Jeremy Hunt — and a committee of MPs — condemned Channel 4, and its boss David Abrahams, for refusing to apologise.

Since April, when Ofcom made its ruling, I have repeatedly asked Boyle, Abrahams and Channel 4 to apologise, to Harvey and to me. They have ignored my requests. Would they have been so blasé if Boyle’s slur had been racist? No chance.

So how would I like Boyle — a father-of-two who, I have since learned, once worked in a care home — to make amends for his insult?

Aside from an apology, I would also like him to learn some respect for those who are not able-bodied. Perhaps he would like to visit Harvey and spend a day in his shoes?

He would learn a valuable lesson. From Harvey’s example, Boyle might just begin to understand the nature of innocence.

Harvey has a greeting he learned from me as a little boy. ‘Hello sweetheart,’ he says, as he rubs his finger along your chin.

He is funny, too, and a wonderful mimic. He catches exactly the tone of his nanny’s voice — I have one day-time helper who does not live in — when she says: ‘See you later. Byeee!’

It is not easy dealing with Harvey’s challenging behaviour. To me, however, he will always be my perfect boy. I would not swap him for an able-bodied child, or send him to live in residential care.

My home will be his until the day I die and beyond — but looking after him is relentless. He can’t be left alone for a moment; we have to watch his every move.

Katie rubs some cream into her son's leg as he sits in his bed before sleeping. She calls looking after Harvey 'relentless'


So how did it all begin? Harvey was born in May 2002 in hospital in Brighton. His dad is the former footballer Dwight Yorke. I was besotted with my first baby (I’ve since had a son, Junior, six, and daughter Princess, four, with Peter Andre).

He was a calm, happy, adorable little boy. But when, at his routine six-week check, doctors told me his eyes were not following a moving object, that they were not focusing properly, I steeled myself for the worst.

But I didn’t cry. I think of myself as resilient, strong and resourceful. I just prepared myself for the journey ahead.

It hasn’t been an easy one. We learned the full extent of Harvey’s disabilities little by little. To the ill-informed, Harvey may just appear to be fat and blind. To those of us who know the details, he faces many physical challenges.

He has septo-optic dysplasia, which causes his vision problems, and abnormalities in the pituitary gland, which controls growth and physical development.

He also has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting the area of the brain that controls appetite. He is always thirsty, and always wants to eat.

Being autistic, he can be disruptive if his routine is suddenly changed without warning.

Harvey has taught me the virtue of patience. And, through him, too, I have learned the value of unconditional love.

My dear mum, Amy, gave up a much-loved job to help me care for him. If I am not there for the school run — and it’s a two-handed job because Harvey’s school is in Kent, while Junior and Princess go to schools in East Sussex — Mum will step in to help our nanny ferry the kids to school.

Happier times: Katie Price with her husband Peter Andre, with whom she had two children, Junior and Princess


Harvey’s morning routine cannot be altered. Sometimes a tiny change in the order of things — his toast cut into the wrong shape at breakfast time or a window slamming — will send him into a frenzy of kicking and punching.

Our TVs are all covered with shatter-proof Perspex panels. I’ve lost count of the number of laptops and screens he has smashed. And if he doesn’t want to get into the car, he will sprawl on the floor, launch his head at a wall, or hit out at anyone in his path.

But on the days when he feels happy, he charms us all. He will sit in the car with me, urging me to go fast over the speed bumps. To Harvey, a car journey can be as much fun as a day at a theme park.

He speaks beautifully — we joke that he is the ‘posh’ member of the family — and his memory is wonderful. Sometimes he’ll repeat phrases we’d rather he forgot. ‘What’s happened to the bloody boiler?’ I heard him parroting the other day, after I’d been complaining months ago about the pool not heating up.

No doubt you’ll be thinking at this point: ‘Isn’t she lucky? She can afford a pool, a lovely home, a nanny.’ Of course, I am so much more fortunate than many parents who are caring, bravely and often without outside help, for disabled children. I know this and I appreciate that, in this respect at least, I am blessed.

Care: Katie soothes Harvey while she has her hair done in a still from tonight's programme


But there would be no difference in the care a boy like Harvey needs whether he was born into privilege or poverty, and I understand the pressure that having such a child can put on any family.

Every day, six times a day, he needs medication to control and treat his various conditions. His drugs must be taken at 7am, 8am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 8pm.

Every night before bed, there are two oral medicines which Harvey likes to take himself, and an injection which I give him (he chooses which leg).

Without his drugs, he dies — it’s as simple as that.

I don’t think about the day I’m no longer here to care for him, though I’ve made financial arrangements for him to be looked after always. As long as I have breath and life, he will live at home with me.

We have good days and bad days, funny days and challenging days, but I do not focus on what Harvey cannot do. He is my son and I love him to bits, which is why I will fight like a tigress for him — and for millions of children like him — against bullies like Frankie Boyle and the broadcasters who air him.

Boyle may think his humour is brave and ground-breaking. I think it’s pitiful, sickening and cruel. If he met my son, I think he’d feel remorse and shame for the remarks he made.

Every day I learn about love, fortitude and patience from Harvey. He is my perfect boy. He is my inspiration.


source:dailymail