Freddie Flintoff Bulimia

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000n1xx/freddie-flintoff-living-with-bulimia

It's just been on and was a brilliant documentary. Big respect to him opening up for the cameras and talking about it, blowing away the myth that guys of his persona don't suffer from it. It showed another side to him then the legendary cricketer that blew away so many teams. For many of us he is what Botham was for the older generation and Stokes now for the youngsters. Top guy.

 

I'm not saying he didn't have it. You're seeing a lot more celebrities opening up about their vulnerabilities. Fact is they're further away from the public as they ever were. Therefore their grasp on harsh realities of everyday people is an ideology. I get the message if they're seen to be fallible it's easier to relate to them but if you strip it back to the bare bones these celebs couldn't give two fecks what's going off outside and will move onto their next philanthropy cause.

 

Talk about being so full of hatred that you miss the point completely.

 

I'm not full of hatred .Who gives a toss if I have bulimia? I don't like privileged people with more access to help and support than most going for the sympathy card. Did he do the documentary for free?

 

You know you’ve just reiterated my point for me.

 

Privileged position or not, he’s helping to normalise something that’s rarely discussed in the mainstream media. You rarely hear about male eating disorders, despite the intense pressure on men to look like professional athletes and models.

I commend him for discussing his issues. If he helps just one other person then it’s worth it.

 

Have you ever considered that he did the programme to publicise the illness and to help remove some of the stigma.that goes with an illness like this not normally associated with men?

 

I don't see a stigma. Society has never been as open as it is now regarding health issues.

 

I once bought a car from an auction, a yellow Fiat 127, when I opened the boot that was full of sick,never did get rid of the lingering smell,also the passenger door fell off when unlocked and there was a load of coal in the footwell

 

Sympathy card?


You do realise attitudes like that help no one trying to be open about mental health issues.

 

There are awareness campaigns and posters everywhere. Either in Hospitals, G.P practices or even railway stations. There are loads of avenues to come forward about mental health including local Council groups and the Samaritans.

 

I don't get your point you are trying to make though.

Don't you like Freddie Flintoff?
Don't you like Freddie Flintoff or anyone famous discussing bulimia?
Do you think he is doing it for fame wealth and publicity?

 

Option 3.

 

Probably the most famous British ex-cricketer who isn't a wife-beater or accidentally posted his bits on social media and you think he is doing it for fame and publicity?

 

One of the issues of everyday people in this country and the western world is the false ideologies that they place on people in the public eye, putting them on pedestals and trying to emulate them in a way that is unachievable for most. Therefore it's refreshing when people like Flintoff talk about certain issues as it raises the issue at hand and perhaps promotes the message that it's okay to talk about it on a basic level.

I take your point about people with privilege automatically having more direct avenues for support however by their wealth alone. Waiting lists for access to support for mental health and other debilitating unseen health issues is a real worry and one that the wealthy can easily avoid. Sometimes people just need encouragement to talk though, to speak up about their personal problems, which can be incredibly difficult for some. Hopefully Freddie speaking out on this will resonate with others who have experienced similar and in doing so help them in some way. I don't think he is just in it for himself I.e. the television fee, but of course some celebs will exploit or exaggerate their own problems to suit their agenda, so it's case of sorting the wheat from the chaff.

 

Thank you. I'm just cynical. I have absolutely nothing against Andrew Flintoff. I just wanted to put forward another angle.

 

You raised a good point about false ideologies and how the lines get blurred. A lot of it relies on personal opinions too. I hate to use Trump, but if he (or similar) came out with his own documentary, say 'Mental Health: my Personal Struggle', it wouldn't wash; I'd just think of all the people who have had struggles inflicted on them because of him (Mexicans, for example) But I think Freddie's heart's in the right place.

 

Gi o'er...a yellow car!!!

 

Nile Wilson (Gb gymnast) put onto youtube a video during lockdown detailing his depression and alcoholism. I found it very interesting, particularly as I have children around his age. Not as famous as Freddie Flintoff of course but I learned things by clicking on his tweet and video link. If it had been a video just about depression I wouldn't have watched.

 

Made me want to throw up tbh