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“Bet Lynch”

(247 Posts)
Usedtobeblonde Thu 03-Apr-25 09:58:11

I haven’t watched Coronation Street for many years but when I did Julie Goodyear was a constant presence with her animal prints and all her make up.
Yesterday there were photographs of her in the media on her 83rd birthday.
She has Alzheimer’s and her H put the photos on to mark the day.
It was, to me, the cruellest gesture possible.
She looked absolutely dreadful.
No front teeth and so very old looking.
If my H had done anything similar I would have been devastated, fortunately she will probably never know.
It was not the act of a loving husband however he meant it to appear.

Allira Fri 04-Apr-25 14:35:01

2507C0

It's a very unkind thing to do. She hasn't been seen in public for a while, possibly because she was aware enough of what was happening to her and didn't want to. Why, now she has lost capacity, should anyone else put her in the public gaze again? Awful.

She hasn't been seen in public for a while
Apparently she is seen often being taken out and about in her neighbourhood.

2507C0 Fri 04-Apr-25 14:33:09

It's a very unkind thing to do. She hasn't been seen in public for a while, possibly because she was aware enough of what was happening to her and didn't want to. Why, now she has lost capacity, should anyone else put her in the public gaze again? Awful.

Mollygo Fri 04-Apr-25 14:21:17

^ Should we hide people with dementia away?^
As if we're ashamed of them?

Julie’s choice was always to look smart and well presented.

My question is, Would she have put that photo up herself, or agreed to it being put up?

If you don’t know the answer, then was it respectful to post it?

How many people without dementia say oh don’t show that picture or *oh I look dreadful in that picture. Please delete it?

RillaofIngleside Fri 04-Apr-25 13:48:43

Not everyone with Alzheimers will be able to access dental care. As my mother progressed with dementia, she became less and less willing to allow any intrusive medical care at all. I don't think it's fair to criticse her husband for that. Everyone is different.
I have the same issue with my disabled son, who will not let a medical professional of any kind within 10 feet of him.

mabon1 Fri 04-Apr-25 13:45:21

Unnecessary.

whywhywhy Fri 04-Apr-25 13:04:56

She will always be beautiful to me. Leave her to live her life. Love you Julie. 🤗❤️🌺

ViceVersa Fri 04-Apr-25 13:00:53

Anniebach

Yet again, why Facebook ?

I don't know, he must have had his reasons. Perhaps he was naive and thought he was only sharing it with family and friends and didn't realise the media regularly take photos from FB?

Anniebach Fri 04-Apr-25 12:54:40

Yet again, why Facebook ?

TheWeirdoAgain1 Fri 04-Apr-25 12:51:01

AGAA4 I fully agree with you 100%!

TheWeirdoAgain1 Fri 04-Apr-25 12:49:58

I think Scott did a good job in showing Julie as she is now. But apparently he's now deleted that particular photo.

There's far too much obsession with looking ''glamourous and perfect'', if that's how Julie looks now then so be it.

She's still a gorgeous lady now as she was years ago, well, I think she is.

She has a brilliant son, grandkids, 4th hubby, fans and many more that love her to bits and that's what counts, not that she's old, toothless and her mind is going.

She was fantastic as Marlene Dietrich in Stars In Their Eyes in 2003, it's a pity she lost but she should have won!

Apparently a lot of other actors in Corrie didn't like her, lots of witching and backstabbing but ''nice'' to her face.

She was only 18 when she had her son Gary.

She's a legend!

Usedtobeblonde Fri 04-Apr-25 12:45:49

Well as the OAP I stand by my original thought that it was unnecessary and very unwise.
He may see her as she is, his wife no matter what, but to the public who remember her it is a shock and somewhat cruel.

sodapop Fri 04-Apr-25 12:30:34

I agree Anniebach it's one thing sharing a photo with family and friends but quite another to put it out there in the public domain. I would be horrified if this happened to me.

Anniebach Fri 04-Apr-25 12:19:08

Why Facebook?

BlueBelle Fri 04-Apr-25 12:16:07

Yes Viceversa I am so glad more people are understanding this photo and perhaps his reasons He doesn’t see her as different, the changes have been gradual for him for us it was an OMG moment but he is with her all the time and obviously wanted to capture the happy moment of her birthday, and my goodness she looks happy clean and tidy
I have photos of both my Mum and Nan with me when they didn’t look their selves but they are my Mum and Nan and I can never see them as anything but beautiful and no I didn’t ask their permission they would have had no idea what I was talking about

Allira Fri 04-Apr-25 11:40:12

Thank you ViceVersa

Your friend is very wise.

ViceVersa Fri 04-Apr-25 11:37:54

Allira

I think he sees her every day, accepts how she is, his dear wife and just didn't think it would be publicised by the voracious press and might shock people who remembered her as Bet Lynch.

She looks happy which means she is loved and cared for and that's all that matters.

I remember when DH's aunt had dementia and refused to have her teeth in or have her hair cut. She looked completely different from the very smart woman we always remembered.

Should we hide people with dementia away?
As if we're ashamed of them?

Yes, I agree. I do understand the whole consent issue, but having been through dementia with my mother and MiL, I get this side of the debate too.
I remember a cousin coming to the care home to visit my mum, who she hadn't seen for several years. There was a photo of my mum outside her room, and when my cousin saw it, she said 'that's not my auntie' and point blank refused to see her in person.
But that was how she looked. That was her reality.
A friend who works in a dementia care home said this, and I think it is very true.
"I don't see any cruelty in the photo, I see a woman with a big smile on her face looking happy. It's disgusting that people think that her husband should hide her away as if she's something to be ashamed of. To her husband she's still Julie, still the woman he married and he's still proud of her. Dementia isn't pretty, it's cruel and it's harder on the loved ones who are watching dementia slowly taking our loved one further away from us but we still see the person inside, we see glimpses of the person they once were, they still deserve to be loved and valued and seen. I think people need to learn about dementia and see that those who live with it are still human, still important and more importantly they are still loved."

Allira Fri 04-Apr-25 11:25:50

I think he sees her every day, accepts how she is, his dear wife and just didn't think it would be publicised by the voracious press and might shock people who remembered her as Bet Lynch.

She looks happy which means she is loved and cared for and that's all that matters.

I remember when DH's aunt had dementia and refused to have her teeth in or have her hair cut. She looked completely different from the very smart woman we always remembered.

Should we hide people with dementia away?
As if we're ashamed of them?

Coconutty Fri 04-Apr-25 11:20:53

I thought it was pretty unkind but he must have a reason. I think my main problem is that she can’t consent to it.

ViceVersa Fri 04-Apr-25 11:16:56

Anniebach

Facebook gives privacy?

It can do, depending on how you have your settings. You can lock your page down so that no-one can see it unless they are on your friends list.

Allira Fri 04-Apr-25 11:14:40

Anniebach

Facebook gives privacy?

Well, he shared a happy story on Facebook but then the media picked it up and make more of it.

The photo he posted last year of Julie show how much she has changed since then, dementia is very cruel.

AGAA4 Fri 04-Apr-25 10:20:49

Just because she doesn't have the Bet Lynch looks now doesn't mean she's still not beautiful to those who love her. A photo on her 83rd birthday. What's wrong with that?
Why do women always have to look good no matter what they are going through?

Anniebach Fri 04-Apr-25 09:54:13

Facebook gives privacy?

BlueBelle Fri 04-Apr-25 09:41:57

Susan yes exactly my mums hearing aid used to go flying although it was her only means of communication and esmay another presumption my mum wouldn’t let anyone near her mouth she bit the dentist and he refused to see her any more she may well have dentures that she refuses to wear

I think Julie Goodyear was a fiesty strong woman who would probably have said “ eff it, let them see me suffering, let them see what this disease has done to me, shock ‘em”
So for those saying but she didn’t give permission how do you know perhaps she had said before her illness took hold ‘show it how it is warts and all’ we don’t know do we we are all playing a guessing game
On fb people who live in the area are saying he often takes Julie out snd about so they will be used to seeing her but it was a shock to us who haven’t seen her for years

The newspaper was to blame fully and totally for invading their privacy for a shock horror story

Susan56 Fri 04-Apr-25 09:17:02

My first thought was how happy she looks.

Also re her teeth.If she has dentures I would imagine it is like my mothers hearing aids and glasses.She takes them out/off and we never know where they are.

Witzend Fri 04-Apr-25 09:07:07

Esmay

I thought that it was very cruel and thoughtless to publish a photograph of Julie looking so unattractive.
If she were in sound mind - she wouldn't have liked it .
Why hasn't he attended to her dental problem.
Dentists make home visits .
As my mother aged and lost her good looks I was always sensitive to her needs .

Re teeth, it’s not necessarily that easy - dementia can make people very difficult and uncooperative. My mother stopped brushing her teeth and wouldn’t let anyone else do it, no matter how gently and tactfully they tried.