A woman who staged a lone protest outside the Chanel show in Manchester last week has been inundated with praise from locals.
The woman was positioned on High Street, mere metres from where a-list celebrities and high-fashion models were parading for the fashion giant.
The fact that the exclusive event took place in Manchester has been considered a huge coup for the city, and one which will have had a significant economic impact.
But the woman outside the Chanel show chose the opportunity to highlight the stark contrast between the luxurious fashion show and the harsh reality of many living in poverty in our city.
She held a sign that read: “Over 250,000 children living in poverty in Manchester. Higher than UK average.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Manchester has one of the highest level of homelessness. 1 in 74 people. 7407 and rising!
“Where have you hidden the homeless Andy??”
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking about Chanel, she told photographer Project Certi: “No one was consulted about this. It’s not for the people of Manchester. You can come here if you want a celebrity spot but that’s not for you.
“This sort of thing moves around the world, they’ll have it somewhere weird and wonderful every year, and this is kind of like, capitalising on the working class history of Manchester.
“The poster’s got, ironically, the suffragettes on it, you know, people fighting for rights. They’re using images from the Hacienda, they’re using music of Joy Division and New Order, all of that what made Manchester on the music map all came out working class struggle. It all came during Thatcher and the attack on the working class, which is exactly what we’re seeing now with 12 years of austerity.”
There was one woman on her own amongst the public. She was one person with a sign and i felt it was only right to amplify her voice. She makes some good points. #manchester#chanel#chanelshow#fyp#trending#people
She also highlighted the man who died on the street in the Gay Village on a night where temperatures dropped, and the ‘cr*ppy B&Bs’ that homeless people find themselves housed in.
Speaking of the impact of Chanel on Manchester though, Deputy Leader Luthfur Rahman OBE said: “The impact of the decision by CHANEL to hold its prestigious Métiers d’Art show here in Manchester is something that is already resonating with people around the globe and is going to continue to be felt by the city for quite some time.
“It speaks volumes about the regard in which Manchester is already held across the world, but more importantly it also sends a clear signal to international businesses and the international visitor economy that Manchester is the place to be.
“It’s impossible at this stage to even begin to quantify the economic impact hosting the event has had on the city, or to put a figure on it. The true impact will involve not just the direct spend and income generated within the city over these last few weeks leading up to and during the event, but also the longer-term benefits that will come from the massive boost to Manchester’s profile that CHANEL has given the city, that in turn translates into more visitors coming to see what Manchester has to offer, and more businesses choosing to invest here.
“It has been without doubt quite a moment for Manchester, not least coming as it does off the back of many other significant moments for the city this year, that together place Manchester in absolute pole position on the world’s stage for the years ahead.”
ADVERTISEMENT
In the comments on Project Certi’s video, one person wrote: “Thank you for giving this woman a platform.”
Another wrote: “Whoever this woman is, she’s a legend. As are you for capturing it.”
Someone else posted: “I have so much respect for this woman, I’d love to meet her and let her know she’s not alone in her feelings towards this.”
One comment said: “She is such a queen, bang on with everything she’s saying.”
The Lowry Hotel is once again offering free men’s wellbeing services to Mancs for Movember 2024
Danny Jones
The Lowry Hotel in Salford is doing its bit for this year’s Movember initiative by offering free men’s health and wellbeing services to local blokes.
It’s not just about the ‘tache, you know.
Yes, returning for Movember 2024, The Lowry is once again hosting a number of male-targeted events and open sessions for men in the city centre and across Greater Manchester to do some much-needed checking in, get their moustaches trimmed and more.
Teaming up with their in-house spa and fitness studio RE:TREAT for another slate of Movember events, they’re hoping to welcome local lads not only for key health scans but maybe open them up to trying something new.
After a successful month this time last year, The Lowry and RE:TREAT have doubled down with their Movember schedule, including everything from free facial hair grooming to their top-of-the-line cryotherapy sessions and even ‘broga’.
Yes, that is bro-yoga because god knows we love a little title to hook us sometimes.
While all of these are really worthwhile events and options – especially when it comes to keeping the mo’ trimmed and proper for the month – but, more importantly, they’re also inviting blokes in for some vital health sessions, both physically and mentally.
As well as offering free testicular scans (which you should aim to do once every month so) but they’re also hosting a wellness circle with Mandem Meetup, a grassroots men’s mental health charity here in the UK that align perfectly with the ideals of Movember.
While issues like testicular and prostate cancer awareness are crucial to the work that the annual month-long ‘shave and raise’ tries to promote, a key cornerstone of Movember is men’s mental health and suicide prevention – which is what makes contributions like The Lowry’s so valuable.
A number of the sessions have already happened this month but their biggest week yet is still to come as we approach the final few days of Movember, with this Friday set to close out their 2024 events.
The last round of free beard and moustache trims, testicular scans and cryotherapy slots are taking place this Friday, 29 November, along with the Mandem Meetupellness x RE:TREAT wellness circle from 10am onwards. Wholesome stuff.
Once again, all of these sessions are completely free of charge and last-minute drops-in are just as well come too; this initiative is all about giving men as much access to these services as possible.
You can find out more about timings and how to book your free cryotherapy slots, specifically, HERE. And Movember or not if you’ve ever been interested in seeing what the in-house spa destination at The Lowry Hotel is like, look no further…
Sky Sports criticised for ‘disrespectful’ treatment of Rúben Amorim after Man United v Ipswich Town
Danny Jones
Sky Sports have been criticised for what some fans have labelled ‘disrespectful’ behaviour towards the new Manchester United boss, Rúben Amorim, during his first post-match interview on the job.
Fans got their first look at Ruben’s Reds on Sunday evening as they travelled to Portman Road for an away match against newly promoted Ipswich Town, only managing to muster a 1-1 draw despite an early goal less than two minutes after kick-off.
The travelling fans will no doubt have felt like they were in dreamland in those opening moments but as the game went on it was clear that this is just the start of what is likely to be a very long process.
Speaking with the Sky Sports presenting panel immediately after the game, one of Amorim’s answers is cut somewhat short Ed Sheeran, of all people, interrupts the interview. A humourous off-the-cuff moment for plenty watching, certainly, but many have called it simply “disrespectful”.
I’m honestly a bit aghast at how rude that was from Ed Sheeran. Amorim should have told them all to get fucked pic.twitter.com/Hjm0VWovdF
It's not an overreaction to say this was incredibly disrespectful by Ed Sheeran. Wait for the interview to finish. Don't care what your standing is in society or who you think you are, have respect & courtesy.
If he wasn't before, Ruben Amorim is very aware of the circus he has… https://t.co/VCwiozieOZ
As you can see, while many took issue more specifically with the popstar and Ipswich fan for inserting himself into the situation mid-question, some were also left criticising Sky themselves for allowing the musician to somewhat derail the discussion with the fledgling Man United manager.
Not only is Ed Sheeran a lifelong Tractor Boy, but he also happens to own a minority stake in the club and his album artwork features on the current kits, so they will no doubt have been more than keen to hear what he had to say.
Regardless, the interruption proved somewhat fruitless in the end as the singer himself said, “He [Amorim] doesn’t want to talk to me” and the 33-year-old ultimately walked off without contributing anything to the conversation other than adding: “I love being back in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, the 39-year-old United head coach can be seen with his head down throughout the random moment and could only shake his head in confirmation and reply, “No, I don’t want to [talk to him]”.
One fan wrote online: “[As] soon as Ed Sheeran rudely interrupted Amorim’s interview, he should have just put the mic down and walked off. Would’ve made a big statement to the media.”
Definitely the most entitled thing I’ve seen, imagine Jamie Redknapp walking on stage mid concert 😂
Despite laughing off the interjection and continuing with the questions Sheeran departs, Amorim looked already visibly exasperated with the media commitments if he wasn’t already, telling Sky Sports host Kelly Cates, “This week I spoke more than in four years of Sporting.”
Amorim will have to get used to the circus that is English football as this is just the tip of the iceberg – especially when it comes to taking a job as big as the one at Manchester United.
What do you think: were Ed Sheeran and/or Sky Sports rude and disrespectful to Amorim, or is this just a bit of a storm in a teacup?
United take on Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday in just Amorim’s second match, but for now you can watch the highlights of his debut in the dugout down below.
Daisy Jackson -
11th December 2023 
