Oh, sally.
From one reporter to another, here’s a little tip I learned in journalism school that might help you: Try to remember a celebrity’s name when you interview them, especially in the very public realm of the red carpet.
It was all a bit silly, wasn’t it? A Channel Seven reporter, Sally Bowrey, mistakenly called model Lara Worthington by her maiden name, Bingle, in front of her husband, actor Sam Worthington, at the GQ Men of the Year Awards this week.
“Worthington,” Sam corrected Sally. “It’s only been ten years.” Then he looked at Lara and they both laughed as the red-faced reporter said: ‘That was my slip, it’s hard to get over it…’
Like I said, from newspaper to newspaper, it was hard not to feel embarrassed for poor Sally. How embarrassing.
I mean, Sam and Lara Worthington aren’t reality TV contestants or Instagram influencers. Sam is a top Hollywood actor who starred in Avatar, the highest-grossing film of all time. Lara is one of Australia’s most famous models. They weren’t just any old guests; They were the headlines of the red carpet. Sam was later crowned GQ’s Man of the Year.
Sam and Lara Worthington were the main stars of the GQ Men of the Year Awards red carpet
Oh, sally. From one reporter to another, here’s a little tip I learned in journalism school that might help you: Try to remember a celebrity’s name when you interview them.
It was hard not to cringe for poor Sally (pictured) when she referred to Lara by her maiden name.
The most awkward thing about Binglegate (or should that be Bunglegate?) was how long Lara Bingle has been Lara Worthington. They didn’t get married last week; They have been husband and wife for a decade. No wonder Sam said something.
Was Sally’s mistake that serious? No, not really. But was Sam right to correct her? Absolutely. Facts are facts and names matter, especially when you’re on camera. If Sam and Lara are kind enough to give their time to a journalist, at least write their names correctly.
This may sound harsh and I don’t mean to be. I’m certainly not perfect. To err is also human and I have certainly made some mistakes.
In fact, I almost made that mistake with the name when I first started as a roving reporter for a London tabloid many moons ago. I called a very famous television actress by the name of the character she played on a long-running soap opera instead of her real name.
She corrected me politely, as she should, but I was mortified. How could I have been so stupid? What the hell was I thinking? I behaved like an overly excited fan, not like a professional journalist in an interview.
This actress was not rude. Although I felt embarrassed at the time, I now know that she was doing me a favor. His firm but fair correction was the strong push I needed: do your job and do it well.
I was a cadet and while it was a stupid mistake on my part, it was a professional oversight and I should have known better. Suffice it to say that I haven’t thought of a name since then.
At the end of the day, Bingle’s mistake was just a slip. Nobody died. But I’ve seen the footage several times and I really don’t agree with some of the trolling Sam has been subjected to, with comments calling him “rude” and “pompous”, even “controlling”.
At the end of the day, Bingle’s mistake was just a slip. Nobody died. But I’ve seen the images several times and I really don’t agree with the trolling Sam has been subjected to, writes Amanda Goff (pictured).
One keyboard warrior even went so far as to suggest that he was treating his wife like property.
I don’t agree. Let’s not overdramatize this, guys.
Let’s not use Binglegate as an excuse to reignite some feminist debate about women being “forced” to take their husbands’ surnames or the fact that Sam “berated” the journalist (which he didn’t do at all) for getting something wrong like his wife’s last name. .
I don’t see Sam as an angry man who “lost control” with a journalist, nor do I see him as a controlling husband who “takes” his wife (I mean, Lara seemed happy to me, right?)
It’s just a man correcting someone who made a mistake. Bingle is no longer his wife’s last name and hasn’t been since 2014. All this gaffe tells us about the Worthingtons’ marriage is that Sam is the kind of man who stands up for his wife, even at the risk of make things a little uncomfortable. sometimes.
So, trolls and easily triggered internet feminists, put your pitchforks aside.
I’m pretty sure Lara exercised her own will in taking her husband’s last name when she married him. The fact that she looks madly in love every time they are photographed together on the red carpet says it all, especially after ten years and three children.
And, for what it’s worth, I’m sure Lara is just as sick of being called ‘Bingle’ as her husband is.
There’s only one lesson here, and that is that we members of the media should always try to right the wrongs we present to the world online, in print, or, in Sally’s case, on television..
And, to Sally’s credit, she was the owner. I doubt I’ll make the same mistake again.