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Columnist slammed for saying footballer and model should not marry because he is mentally ill, and she will lose her commercial value

jesinta campbell buddy franklin tele annette sharpDaily Telegraph columnist Annette Sharp has been labelled as shallow and irresponsible over an article arguing that model Jesinta Campbell and mentally ill AFL player Buddy Franklin should put their wedding on hold.

Sharp’s column, published on Saturday, listed 13 reason why the couple should postpone their marriage. The reasons included the Sydney Swans player’s mental health problems and a claim that Campbell’s allure to men will be halved when she is no longer single.

In the column, Sharp called for “loved ones to stage what might be an important wedding day intervention”.

As well as claiming that a wedding might be too stressful for someone suffering from mental illness, Sharp claimed that another reason for the pair not to marry was because “mental illness can be hereditary” and Campbell would be “absorbing” this.

Sharp also wrote:

“Because Jesinta’s appeal and allure will halve when she marries, as half the consumer market – men – will rapidly lose interest in their dream girl who is no longer single.”

It emerged in recent weeks that Franklin suffers a mild form of epilepsy and is also dealing with mental health issues. Campbell, a former Miss Universe, has developed a TV career over the last two years including as a contestant on Nine’s Celebrity Apprentice.

Campbell responded to Sharp’s piece on social media, saying: ‘Today’s article was shallow and given the seriousness of Mental health challenges, in my opinion, irresponsible!”

jesinta campbell tweet

Sharp’s comments have seen growing criticism across the web and on The Daily Telegraph’s own Facebook page.

Source: Daily Telegraph Facebook page

Source: Daily Telegraph Facebook page

Sharp responded via Twitter, saying critics were “leaping on the outrage bus” and that she was talking “plain good sense”.

sharp facebook outrage bus

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