David Beckham

I never thought he had a halo either.
I remember reading about this tax avoidance scheme about a year ago. The footballers involved blamed their financial advisers for persuading them to invest some of their wealth in companies which for some reason were able to offer a tax free deal. I think one was a film company. As a sort of pension for their retirement.
But it was bad advice - they lost their money when HMRC looked into it.
Not saying it was right though.

Why not a furore about the theft of private emails? Is that not a crime?
Couldn't care less about what he has or hasn't said in private emails but I am against theft and making money from theft.

Sorry, grannypiper, this tablet has a mind of it's own!

Actually, for me he never had one (a halo), agree grasshopper.

In a word, yes (his halo has slipped).

stillalive no we are not in that marriage but when you sell your life to OK, Hello,Esquire etc and encourage people to "follow"your every waking moment on twitter, fakebook whatsapp then you are asking for people to comment on your life and have to take the good with the bad.

Tall Poppy Syndrome is when someone becomes famous and then is knocked down by everyone else.

Plus I put all my income back into our economy. I don't have a house I'm building in poland or any other country

They can't due to dodging it themselves.. Well actually lets say, paying as much as you have to. If Im a "tall Poppy" then Im a gracious proud one, its what makes me English.

You found Ana's curiosity amusing Merlotgran?

Why not Ana? is it not open to all members of the forum?

I am curious , when did HMRC announce this dodgy tax business and when did thry make a public statement that they decided to block a knighthood?

This is known as Tall Poppy Syndrome.

It is a speciality of the British.

Why are you even commenting on this thread then, Annie?

I haven't read the press reports ,no idea what was in his emails, not interested , knew nothing of his tax dodging, when was he charged or are enquiries ongoing?

Choosing to choose? Silly woman.

It's actually irrelevant how much tax they paid in 2015 ( although I do wonder how you know that?). What is known is that his K was blocked by HMRC because he was part of a tax evaision scheme - or was it called aggressive tax avoidance- either way he was not wanting to pay his full dues. And the fact that big corporations don't pay their fair share is shameful and does nothing to lessen DB's culpability. His 'bad tempered' emails ( or foul mouthed rants) were about his not getting his K despite all his charity work. That's what ( along with the f-ing and cs) made them so incredibly distasteful.. And it's not a competition as to which is worse that or the hacking. They can both be unacceptable in different ways.

I have never had the luxury of choosing whether or not to choose how much tax to pay on my earnings. What I wouldn't give to have to pay £7.9 million in tax

Which incidentally is only relevant if it was the full amount that he/they should have paid and not the amount he/they managed to get away with paying. Very different.

I have never "claimed morality" at all. . Quite the contrary. Nor have I advertised any charity work I have done or expected anything in return for it.

And for the record, I haven't told anyone "to get over themselves either" .

Totally with you all the way Deedaa

I see the Beckhams paid £7.9 million pounds tax in 2015 which seems a reasonable amount and rather more than some large corporations.

A friend of mine used to work for him (He was one of those rare beings who hardly knew who David Beckham was and certainly wasn't dazzled by his fame) He found him very pleasant and normal.

Personally I think that firing off a few bad tempered PRIVATE emails is nothing like a bad as hacking someone's emails and trying to make money out of them.

I find it really unsavoury that the ones who proclaim "morality" are the ones that are really rather awful and dish the dirt. Shit happens in life and no one has the right to judge. Are you in that marriage? Umm no. Is it really any of your business?

You seem to be assuming we're all fully paid-up Christians for some reason...

Oh yes, Anita Loos - but we don't mention her these days, do we? Honestly, he's not the bloody saint some posters seem to think he is.

Isn't that the point here though? Everyone lives in a glass house? and my point is look to yourself because I'm sure you haven't always been so "moral" Mary really didn't have sex with Joseph then, did the stork bring him

I did feel a bit sorry for Katharine Jenkins. He allegedly said some pretty cruel things about her. OK, she once had a cocaine habit but was open about it and her rehab.

I seem to remember DB tried very hard to cover up his extra marital affair.

People, glass houses, stones etc., etc.