Londoner's Diary: Instagram gets chippy with the new Vogue boss

In Today's Diary: Edward Enninful defends his Vogue Cover | Donald Trumps hates dogs | Meg Matthews talks about menopause | Gillian Anderson quits X Files 
Dave Benett/Getty Images for FEN
11 January 2018

When you’re sitting in the big office you sometimes have to roll with the punches. Last year Edward Enninful returned to his British homeland to become the editor of Vogue, and immediately impressed with lavish first and second issues, but there’s flak flying over the new cover — and Edward doesn’t seem happy.

Last week the new issue of the magazine, featuring Australian actresses Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman, hit the stands. It provoked instant critiques on social media from those disappointed by the lack of diversity, the image itself, and the fact that the edition was an unprecedented collaboration with W magazine. Enninful then appears to have started blocking critical followers on Instagram where the debate was playing out.

“I wish Edward wouldn’t block me for saying this cover was boring,” one model commented. “I’ve always admired him and have done several projects with him — I wouldn’t worry about it,” another follower replied. “He’s blocking anyone who didn’t like the cover.”

That’s quite a few people. “I am confused as to why W magazine and British Vogue not only share the same cover photo for their newest issue but also have posted the same video content on their YouTube channels,” photographer Liberty Dye tweeted. “Is this proof in the pudding for cutting corners on production budgets?”

Focussing on the Robbie/ Kidman image disregards the fact that inside the covers was Enninful magic, including a photoshoot of the modern suffragettes.

Maybe us Brits are snippier than the US audience he had for W magazine but he does prove the old Wilde epithet: “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

Roll on the fourth issue.

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A distinct lack of self-awareness from the BBC’s social media team. Earlier this week, China editor Carrie Gracie resigned, dissatisfied with the gender pay gap at the corporation. This morning, a tweet to a week-old Woman’s Hour segment. “Back at work and feeling undervalued?” the tweet reads. “Not being paid what you’re worth? Why not start the year by asking for a pay rise? Here are some tips on how to negotiate one.” Didn’t work for Gracie.

Trump’s never been one for puppy love

Dog hater: Donald Trump (Photographer: Olivier Douliery/Pool via Bloomberg
Bloomberg via Getty Images

“WHILE we’re talking about personalities, here’s an aspect of Donald Trump’s that I’ve never got past: his hatred of dogs,” writes David Frum in The Spectator, noting that when the President said Steve Bannon had been “dumped like a dog” it was not the first time he’d used the insult.

Nor the first time he’d played with the fate of a hound. Frum recounts how, after the 2016 election, a Trump supporter offered the First Family a labradoodle. Trump asked her to show the picture to his son Barron, then 10. “Barron will want him,” said Trump. Barron did. Then Donald dumped his promise to take the dog like, er, a dog — and Barron never got his puppy.

Everyone legs it to new Mayfair gallery

Too cool for school: Betty Bachz and India Rose James (Dave Bennet -Getty)

NEW Mayfair gallery Lazinc launched last night with its inaugural show, from artist JR. Entitled Giants — Body of Work, it’s certainly an eye-catcher: JR has erected a 22ft trompe-l’oeil installation of a pair of legs outside the venue.

It worked last night, with the place fit to burst before 6.30pm and guests including rapper Professor Green, jeweller Stephen Webster and Soho heiress India Rose James clamouring for a peek. “I would give my opinion on the art on display,” she said with a smile, “but I can’t even see it because it’s so packed with people in here.”

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Blonde ambition: Meg Matthews, in red, celebrates the menopause with Lizzy Cundy and Jo Wood (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Dave Benett/Getty Images

WHEN an invitation arrived to Meg Mathews’ Menopause last night, The Londoner’s curiosity was piqued. Not to worry, though, it wasn’t the latest frontier in reality television but the launch of a new campaign from Noel Gallagher’s ex-wife. Last night Mathews kicked off a new platform aimed to empower women to talk openly about the menopause. At the party in Marylebone last night was Gallagher’s daughter Anaïs, Nell McAndrew and Noelle Reno.

Gillian is now an X agent

Best role to date: Gillian Anderson (Photo by JB Lacroix/ WireImage)
WireImage

IT LOOKS like the last case for Mulder and Scully: Gillian Anderson, right, says she is finally done playing the redhead FBI agent in long-running sci-fi show The X-Files.

“This is it for me, I’m really serious,” Anderson said at a panel discussion in the US yesterday, publicising its new series. “I have so much respect for these guys but I’m finished, and that’s the end of that. I like to be challenged as an actor and I like to do many, many characters. It’s time for me to hang up Scully’s hat. The next couple of years are quite full.”

Anderson is also saying goodbye to her part in US TV show American Gods. “There are lots of things I want to do in my life and my career,” she said. “I don’t want to be tied down to months and months of any particular one thing.”

The truth, and a new adventure, is out there.

Tweet of the Day

Comedy writer James Felton imagines yesterday's EU exchange.

Twisted knickers of the day: Rigby & Peller has been stripped of its royal seal of approval after ex-owner June Kenton revealed the Queen conducted bra fittings in front of her corgis.

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