Supermodel fights newspaper race hate vendetta
Tireless charity work led to drug-induced breakdown, Naomi Campbell tells court
by Lester Haines
Supermodel Naomi Campbell wept in open court this week as her invasion of
privacy case against The Daily Mirror took a turn for the personal.
Highly talented Campbell, 31, who had been pictured by the paper leaving a
Narcotics Anonymous meeting, sobbed uncontrollably as she described how
exhaustion caused by her tireless charity work led to a drug-induced
breakdown.
The supermodel's closest friends had been concerned for some time that she
was pushing herself too hard in her crusade against international hunger and
poverty. "She never thinks about herself," said one. "It's always 'I'll be
fine, but what about the Romanian orphans?' She's a sort of Mother Teresa,
really."
Ms
Campbell is highly regarded in the fashion industry for her cheerful
professionalism and friendly demeanour. She did, however, admit to the court
that the pressures of organising humanitarian airlifts to famine-tortured
Africa led occasionally to "difficult" behaviour.
When asked by the defence to clarify "difficult", Campbell cited "shouting
at people a lot, attacking people frequently, hurling abuse at all and sundry,
and locking myself in my dressing room for three hours."
The Mirror's lawyer then continued his assault on the hapless
Campbell, asserting that she was, in fact, a complete waste of space and "as
much use a chocolate teapot".
"I take that to be a racist slur," responded Campbell angrily.
"That depends on whether it's milk or plain chocolate," noted the judge,
further requesting that the defence clarify this point.
"I'm afraid your Honour has me at a disadvantage," admitted the
Mirror's lawyer. "I meant the term generically to denote any soft
substance which might melt in the presence of hot water. In preparing our case
we did not take into account the ratio of cocoa powder to milk."
At this point the judge was forced to adjourn for two days after Campbell
complained that his robes did not match her carefully-selected outfit, attacked
a court usher when he refused to carry her luggage to the limo and then
barricaded herself in the women's toilet demanding a "substantial appearance
fee" for the hearing.