“I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face: I didn’t,” he said, in an unfortunate choice of metaphor. Less than a week after losing her £3m High Court defamation case against fellow Wag Coleen Rooney, Ms Vardy is not quitting. Yesterday she took to the television screens and the pages of the newspapers not only to protest her innocence in tearful and dramatic exchanges, but also to insist that the judge is an ass and the law is an ass – which has given us many a mule over . Less than a week after losing her £3m High Court defamation case against fellow Wag Coleen Rooney, Mrs Vardy is not giving up, writes Jan Moir Yesterday she took to the television screens and the pages of the newspapers not only to protest her innocence in tearful and dramatic exchanges, but also to insist that the judge is an ass and the law is an ass – which has given us many a mule over . In Rebekah Vardy: Coleen And Me (TalkTV) she was lightly grilled by a likeable but firm Kate McCann and responded in the mournful tones of the penitent. “I feel let down by a lot of people, a lot of things. But more importantly, I feel let down by the legal system,” she said, wasting no time portraying herself as the aggrieved party and the real victim. It was almost as hard to swallow as her fresh claims that because of this self-inflicted ordeal, she now suffers from PTSD – how convenient. The wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy also revealed that she has been admitted to hospital for anxiety on two occasions due to the pressures of this trial. Does it deserve our sympathy? Maybe I could have mouthed a few dried nuggets of compassion if it weren’t for the suspicion that the vengeful Rebecca has brought this all on herself. And that even in the depths of her suffering she is quick to blame others, rather than admit her own responsibility. “I think we had a judge who didn’t understand the case and didn’t look at everything,” he said. Elsewhere Coleen was “cruel and rude” while Rooney’s legal team were bullies who “attacked” potential witnesses. In Rebekah Vardy: Coleen And Me (TalkTV) she was grilled by a likeable but firm Kate McCann and responded in the mournful tones of the penitent Even press coverage of the trial was misogynistic. “Women are not allowed to stand up for themselves or dress nicely,” she lamented. Throughout the 1-hour program, Ms. Vardy wore a bewildered expression, beige lipstick and a snowy Chanel-like jacket over a pale blouse. The effect was meant to be angelic: the atmosphere was as clear as mud. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” she whispered, showing the instinct for tragedy that was her life’s theme. bad things happen, it’s never her fault, look how she hurts. “I was meant to be a target,” he said, later adding: “I suffer really badly from anxiety.” But who among us doesn’t? To be fair, many people wouldn’t be spared feeling a little anxious after embarking on a vain and expensive bid to clear their name, only to see it end in such laughable disgrace. Delivering her verdict last Friday, Judge Ms Justice Steyn (“She didn’t know what she was doing”) described Vardy as inconsistent, implausible and untrustworthy before ruling against her. The wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy also revealed that she has been admitted to hospital for anxiety on two occasions due to the pressures of this trial. Does it deserve our sympathy? He ruled it was “likely” that Vardy’s former agent Caroline Watt “undertook the immediate act” of passing on information to The Sun newspaper. Watt did not appear in court to testify, citing her own mental health issues. McCann asked a killer question, wondering if Vardy thought Watt felt bad or responsible for the events. “It’s not a conversation we had. It’s not a conversation I’d like to have with her, just because I’m so aware of her mental well-being and you know how, how it’s affected her as well,” he sniffed. “So you don’t feel let down by her?” McCann asked. Well, come on, you can’t ask me that,” Vardy said with a smile. To be honest, I found it repulsive. a fascinating blob of omission. And characteristic of the moral evasion and absence of truth or proper explanation that Vardy displayed in court. One would have more admiration for both of these women if they took their own responsibilities instead of blaming vague psychological problems on their mutual predicament. At the very least it does a terrible injustice to those whose lives are truly incapacitated and blighted by mental health problems. At worst it is a display of condescension and hubris in this ongoing, pathetic circus of hurt feelings and hatred. When the Wagatha Christie trial began, it was viewed by most of the public as entertainment When the Wagatha Christie trial began, it was viewed by most of the public as entertainment. Certainly, it was not without its elements of hilarity. In popular culture, footballers’ wives are parodied as women with more money than sense. the pampered partners of high-performance athletes who only stop to tan their implants in Dubai for a light-hearted mansion-shopping or child-producing spot before investing in some amazing dental veneers. It’s not always right, but Rebecca and Colin seemed to play into this caricature, two rich wives duking it out in the Supreme Court – well, so what? Nothing more important than who was leaking stories to tabloid newspapers. Mrs Rooney set a trap to unmask the culprit who was leaking details of her private life – and the rest is not history, but a morality tale of our time soon to be made into a documentary and film. Vardi bought the case to clear her name. From the TalkTV set, which appeared to be in the bar area of a hotel suite – or a Wag fireroom somewhere – Ms Vardy continued to give the impression of a woman who still believes she can make it. that belief in her own innocence will somehow be enough to convince others that she is the innocent party. Even after her ‘trial’, it doesn’t seem to have sunk in that bringing a case to a British court is deadly serious business. Rebekah still seems to think she’s in some kind of celebrity talent competition or an endurance show like the I’m A Celebrity she once did. A spectacle where money, personality and wit will sway things her way. What did you expect? Every action has a consequence and by taking it to court he has been exposed to the expressed opinion of others, no matter how hateful. It’s a horrible but inescapable aspect of the modern world It’s remarkable that he still thinks he’s won, even though he’s lost resoundingly. How much money, McCann wondered. “Legal costs will be handled privately. We must not rejoice,’ said Mrs. Vardy solemnly, from the hole she was digging deep. And of course, as a result of the case, the plaintiff complains that people are badmouthing her on social media. Also that he has received death threats and that thugs are muttering insults in the street. What did you expect? Every action has a consequence and by taking it to court he has been exposed to the expressed opinion of others, no matter how hateful. It’s a horrible but inescapable aspect of the modern world. Had she won, we can only assume that Ms Rooney would have faced abuse. When Ms Justice Steyn delivered her verdict, one would have hoped that was the end of the Wagatha Christie case. Now it seems clear that for Rebekah Vardy, it’s only the beginning When Ms Justice Steyn delivered her verdict, one would have hoped that was the end of the Wagatha Christie case. Now it seems clear that for Rebekah Vardy, it’s only the beginning. The open wound of her suffering and the ongoing wounds of her victimhood continue to blur the line between her delusion and what the rest of us believe. After all, does it have any of these? Maybe he’s decided he’s gone this far, he can’t turn back now – and maybe he’s right. TV offers are pouring in, and if he’s going to be painted as a panto character, then why not embrace it? “I was made to be the bad guy and unfortunately I got the bad guy character,” he said last night. Since becoming a Wag, the resilient Vardy has cashed in on her online presence. Why stop now? By selling the stories, bringing this case, losing and blaming, she has trashed her reputation and sold her soul. Stand by your TVs to see how he invests the proceeds.
