Amal Clooney was/has been in the Maldives for several days this week. She traveled to the country to check in on one of her clients, the former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. Nasheed is currently being held in a high-security prison, where he is serving a 13-year sentence for violating the Maldives’ Anti-Terrorism Act. Looking through Nasheed’s Wiki page, it seems like he’s guilty… guilty of trying to clean up an insular, crooked political system and ruffling a lot of corrupt feathers along the way. Amal apparently gave a brief statement to the waiting press, then she spent hours in the prison speaking to her client. You can see more photos of Amal in the Maldives here.
When legit media outlets cover Amal and her cases these days, most outlets do slip in references to the fact that she’s married to George Clooney. I’ve never thought that much of it, just because… I mean, she married George Clooney in an Italian spectacle and the photo and media blitz was nothing short of exhausting. Meaning, it’s not a secret that Amal and George are married, and it’s not like she’s completely absent from his lighter, celebrity world either – she went to the Met Ball, the Golden Globes, his premiere, his tequila launch and more. You know what I mean? The jig is up. We can use “George Clooney’s wife” as one of her identifiers. But the Associated Press recently got a lot of flak for this tweet:
Amal Clooney, actor's wife, representing Al-Jazeera journalist accused in Egypt of ties to extremists http://t.co/i6nQg0xPg3
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 29, 2015
Which caused a debate in media circles. Is it unfair to JUST refer to her as “actor’s wife”? Sure. It should be “actor’s wife and barrister” or “barrister wife of George Clooney.” The Daily Telegraph had an interesting op-ed which basically said… Amal was asking for it when she changed her name. Like, if she kept her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, perhaps people wouldn’t limit her to “actor’s wife”? I don’t know.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Eh, the media is what it is. They write stories at a fourth grade level for people who think Fast and Furious movies are the height of cinema. I used to get mad, now I just don’t click. If you click or comment to register your outrage it just encourages them.
^^ absolutely this. Media thrives on attention, it brings advertising revenue. Don’t click and it’ll die a death.
She’s looking very thin to me, especially in the second-to-last pic without sunglasses. I hope she’s well, I’d like to see her put on 10 pounds or so. I haven’t seen many pics of her pre-Clooney, was she always so slender or is this a recent thing? I don’t want to judge if this is her natural body type, but I have a feeling it’s not.
Eh its sexist, on the other hand it also reflects our general superficial culture. I mean one of the categories (rightly so) of this article is fashion why? Because while it’s really, really interesting to note that Amal is representing an obscure fallen politician if she hadn’t married George Clooney no one would care about her and for the most part we only what to hear the gossip and see what she’s wearing. If an actress on George’s level of fame married a really good looking human rights lawyer I think something similar would happen.
I totally agree with everything you said. If she didn’t marry Clooney, we would not talk about her.
Agreed, DianaM. Is that her old face in the third picture? LOL!
If the gender roles were reversed, I think the description would say something like “George Clooney, gorgeous human rights lawyer and husband of hottie Amal Alamuddin. You’re one lucky lady, Amal!”
Sad, but that’s what I see happen in the press with others.
That’s why I specifically said handsome the male version of Amal would have to be a JFK JR type to get treated that way.
She is only famous because she married him, plain and simple. She didnt gain her fame on her own, its because of him she getting all the attention.
I guess look at it from the flip side – are there articles about “George Clooney, lawyers husband,…”? It would make sense to be described like that for some people who aren’t well known or in situations where it’s not clear who is doing what or why, but these are articles about her doing her job and she’s still referenced as a “wife”. It’s silly and sexist. Men don’t get the same association they can just be doing their jobs in their own capacity.
Yeah, but he’s older and has been an established, universally well known actor for decades longer than she’s been a lawyer.
In her defense, She was born when he was already 18 years old, non?! He became a known actor in his 30’s too. So, if she puts in the work, she will be very well-established by the time she is 54…
“Because why would such a genius of a woman want to ditch the name under which she accomplished so many wonderful things?” I don’t get it this sentence what wonderful things she accomplished? She used his name because she wanted people recognise her she was nobody before she married him so she celebrate because of his name, Angelina Jolie changed her name but the media called her Jolie why is that? Because she famous as Brad & she doesn’t need his name to be celebrate she took his name because she wanted to but not to be relevant like Amal did
Maybe she changed her last name to his because she wanted them to share a name, as millions of other women have done.
*gasp* What? Never!
/sarcasm
100% behind this. Should Hillary Clinton only be referred to as ‘former President’s wife’? Why should it be ok for any woman who’s taken or will take her husband’s name automatically be identified only by her relation to him, regardless of what else she does?
Also, Amal wouldnt have been handed these high-profile, ‘celebrity’ cases had she not had sufficient academic and professional accomplishments under her belt. Marginally increased media coverage (not always positive, bc of the cases she takes) because of her new profile wouldnt be a sufficient off-set for her clients if it meant lower quality of representation. And Amal was handling these kinds of cases way before she was associated with Clooney anyway.
@Anna that’s where the stunt barristering comes in. Other better qualified and more experienced lawyers (supported by true working juniors) are doing the actual graft on cases. On this one, mainly Genser and his well formed and longer involved team. Amal Clooney is, in effect, offered up as additional (potentially unnecessary in terms of actual legal work product) counsel largely for the headlines her surname gets.
Lots of smoke and mirrors on this which she and Clooney encourage.
Dont be so naive, she took his name for fame and that everyone would know who she is.
Maybe they are trying to inform the two people who were living under a rock during the wedding/media blitz who don’t know who she is? It’s still silly.
Is she really tall, or is that man next to her really short?
Yeah she looks about 7 ft tall. I think the background people are all just really short.
Doubtful that she spent hours in a high security prison wearing those shoes. High heels are forbidden in most maximum security prisons for safety reasons (you can’t run in them) and for security reasons (you can stab somebody with them). So the shoes were probably for picture taken and then were changed for flats during the entry screening.
Why were there so many people waiting for her at the arrival? And why were they applauding? Do they do this for every lawyer ?
And why is it unfair to call her ‘actor’s wife’ ? Is it illegal? She is an actor’s wife and every paper/ news outlet is free to call her whatever it wants. If she doesn’t like it she can sue, with her being a brilliant lawyer and all.
Why must she constantly be defended like a damsel in distress, by Clooney’s PR machine, by the media, etc. ? Can’t she come out and speak for herself if she is offended?
Actually though it seems to be missing from this story Amal is quite capable of succinctly and effectively speaking up or her self here is her response in an Interview with BBC
“There’s not much I can do to control it except keep going,” she said. “When people criticize journalism that focuses on the wrong issues, that’s heartening and that shows that people expect more from their press.”
@blogdiz disingenuous chicken and egg stuff from her, at best. People seem to expect more honesty from the press about her earned work status too but are still fed the ‘world’s greatest lawyer’ line, an aspect over which she was in full control before anyone knew her old or new name.
Reeeer!!!
Well exactly, everyone knows who she’s married to, so why refer to her as an actors wife when talking about her work? It’s not giving anyone new information, it’s just a way of belittling her career and her identity.
Also, seriously, she changed her name so now she just has to expect that her main identifier in her professional life becomes her marital status? How is that ok?
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Sigh. I know this is petty but, as a muscular girl, I envy the way she wears clothes so effortlessly. I know intellectually that it means she’s more than slim in person but, damn, I would look like a sausage next to her. I bet she doesn’t even perspire.
Please, stop glorifying this vain, over-rated woman.
She is too skinny, her clothes hang on her, I think she looks awful, she always looks tired with big bags under her eyes, she might look a bit better if she actually ate something. She reminds me of gonzo from the muppets.
Without his name we likely wouldn’t be following her cases, she wouldn’t have articles in legit news outlets either.
George wanted her to take his name to keep him in the news , she gladly took it to BE the news.
RC exactly.
She gets this attention because she continues to draw attention to herself. Wearing spike heels is just unnecessary and silly. Wearing a white Dior-like suit while your client continues to sit in jail is just insensitve and bad taste.
I agree. A white purse in a jail? LOL! Is this her first time in a jail?
There are other reports Fahmy is finding life in Egyptian prison very difficult. If anyone knows details please post, thanks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/09/08/imprisoned-canadian-journalist-mohamed-fahmy-suffering-in-prison-wife_n_8105086.html
There are no details, really, but it seems no real progress has been made. Somehow I get the feeling this can only be solved within political circles. Because this already was a retrial. Let’s see if Amal Clooney will continue to put attention to this case, or if she’s just off to her next PR show.
Lawyers owe duties to their clients and are subject to rules of professional conduct. If she really did treat her cases as PR shows she wouldn’t be instructed.
siri
Thanks, and if that’s the case then Fahmy does have a long wait esp if Harper loses and then a new govt forms. That also is time consuming. Fahmy is going to be in there at least another twelve months is my guess and that’s even if the Cdn govt are successful getting him deported.
John Baird, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, really messed up this situation and he then took off to work for Barrick Gold. I don’t think Amal is really the problem with the Fahmy case.
Harper supports Netanyahu which I suspect played a huge role in Fahmy’s current situation.
“But Clooney says Fahmy has been a “very outspoken critic” of the Muslim Brotherhood, and that puts him at risk behind bars.
“At the moment in Egypt there are many people in prison who are from that group and, therefore, his physical safety may be in danger,” she said.” – http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mohamed-fahmy-amal-clooney-1.3209075
Not the wisest of public comments to make as his counsel given, understandable, concerns as to how Fahmy might fair in prison. I get the point she was trying to make, in effect to further a plea for more sympathy towards her client. I even understand the urge to use every possible means or method to appeal to global public concerns and conscience, but as I read that last week I winced while thinking it was better left unspoken as balanced against maybe exacerbating the reason for some fears for his safety in prison.
No doubt this may have already been known to MB who might not respond kindly towards Fahmy because of it but there’s a culture of ‘pride’ evident within those groups and being so public on that is an incautious red rag to bull. In an ideal world it ought not to be but those circumstances and the prevailing climate are very far from ideal.
Whatever, sadly as the focus of that case is now all too often, wrongly (we can debate the cause for that until the cows come home), viewed through a prism of Clooney involvement and moves and shifts with Amal, I do worry as she’s moved on to another high profile case, for the time being, Fahmy and his fellows Egyptian nationals are less media or public obvious again but maybe worsened in their cause as a result.
Honestly, I don’t know the best solution but I can’t help worry brief but overly conspicuous glare cast, then lost as Amal, by the way of these things, moves on may not be the “best for outcome”. It almost appears more hopeless now than less so.
She should have kept her maiden name. At this stage in her life, her identity is freestanding.
I agree adding “actor’s wife” by the Associated Press is obnoxious and condescending. It’s not a gossip site, first off. Second, it’s only meant to trivialize her profession like, “Oh, how cute, this housewife is playing lawyer,” as if she’s a suburban housewife trying to keep busy while her kids are in school. She was a successful attorney before she got married so adding that she’s an “actor’s wife” diminishes that independent success, and rather than add something valuable to the article, it retracts from it. The whole world knows they’re married, but it seems out of place to bring it up in the same sentence as “Al-Jazeera journalist” and “extremists” without a relation. “Luciana Barroso, Matt Damon’s wife, organizes fundraiser for international relief efforts,” seems like a more fitting way to bring it up since she’s less known and more gossip worthy than an actual current event.
Or maybe it’s the same and I shouldn’t be giving more respect to one wife over another?? Gahh
However, there’s a slight possibility I’m looking too much into it. My 8 month old has been up a couple of hours and I’m also [im] patiently awaiting the California bar results and would hate for my work to be trivialized because I’m married to an actor. Eh, who knows?
I think also why the media calling her actor wife because the general people don’t know her that well yet so they had to making clear who she married to
yep, she definitely had her nose done recently.
I don’t think “Actor’s wife” was necessary. However, she does enjoy her association with his celebrity status and vice-versa. Too bad they made their marriage (and wedding) a spectacle.
My gosh, what a bore. All I get from this is that someone called the paps.
She’s looking gaunt and aged. That’s all I have to say.
aaaaand she’s officially the Kate Middleton of the human rights law world!
She changed her name for the same reason her firm publicly announced the engagement..duh..I do think she is the first completely ass-less female I’ve seen which could be a claim to fame.
The fact that she changed her name and likes to dress well should not be a reason to quickly dismiss her significant accomplishments. Her interviews are impressive and these precede her relationship with Clooney. Who cares if she enjoys looking glamorous.
All the women in my Chicago law office were enjoying these pictures, because she visited a prisoner in stilettos and carrying a designer handbag. She has set a precedent in my office. The next time we ladies visit our clients in Cook County Jail, we are dressing up. Does anyone know what stylist she uses for jail visits?
I think it’s quite obvious she enjoys celebrity more than legal work.
I love the picture where she’s swinging her hair and they are all laughing in front of the prison. Yes, she looks every inch the serious human-rights barrister.
@ cleveage: How is it obvious? She’s being doing this job for a long time. The only difference now is that she gets photographed doing it. She can’t win either way.
Looking glamorous is a lot more fun than legal work. She can be a beautifully dressed woman and a barrister.