Page 13: Celebrity egotists and blatant bores put on notice

Page 13 has had a gutful of celebrities trying to “control the narrative”. They need to be called out for what they are — precious prima donnas who think they call the shots.

Andrew Bogut tried to claim the sale of his Beaumaris pad was “news to me” before putting it on the market.

“That’s news to me.”

And so begins the tortuous to-and-fro of celebrity.

Sure, sure, in this modern day there is a tug of war when it comes to, dare we write the nauseating buzzwords, “controlling the narrative.”

With their podcasts to pontificate on and carefully filtered Instagram posts to curate, it’s no wonder the talent don’t like it when a journo calls to get the real story.

While some are crafted in creating a departure of the truth, there are others far less accomplished. Case-in-point Andrew Bogut.

Our readers might remember a Page 13 story a few weeks ago suggesting the outspoken basketballer was selling up his Beaumaris pile bemoaning council red tape and moving interstate.

Comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee are known in the biz as perhaps the most artful dodgers of all time. Picture: Jerad Williams

“That’s news to me,” cried Bogut when we put the question to him. He then got his back up because we had dared call him in the first place.

“How did you get this number?” he bellowed. Sigh.

Shock horror and weeks later the basketballer is huffing and puffing about, you guessed it, selling up his Beaumaris pile on, you guessed it, his podcast.

The other dodge is, “this is not a story’. The minute these words are uttered a scribe sits up and takes notice.

AFL managers and Melbourne Cup winner Brae Sokolski take note, we are talking to you!

Page 13 has had a gutful of puffed-up egotists who think they should get their sugar coated cake, eat it, filter it, tell us its gluten free, and make some coin out if it too.

Ash Barty is almost as skilled at not giving anything away in interviews as she is on the tennis court. Picture: Annette Dew

Some are artful in the duck and weave and all power to them.

Tennis player Ash Barty is almost as skilled at not giving anything away in her interviews as she is on court.

Comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee are known in the biz as perhaps the most artful dodgers of all time, leaving a journo all warm and fuzzy after a bouncy interview, only to look through their notes and realise they have no news to write.

Some carefully placed words to avoid the question, or the old Bill Clintonism, “I do not recall,” is tolerated, if not applauded.

But the Boguts of the world need to be called out for exactly what they are, precious prima donnas who think they call all the shots.

Not on this watch.

Rant over!