Celeb watch: Selfie for the album... but don’t tell Michelle

The selfie seen all around the world continues to make headlines.

Barack Obama was seated at the memorial service of Nelson Mandela on Tuesday alongside David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, and Helle Thorning Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark. Michelle Obama was seated on the other side next to her husband.

At one point during the celebration, Thorning Schmidt pulled out her phone and took a “selfie” of herself and the two men.

Michelle is seen with a stern look on her face while the photo is being taken, looking in another direction.

The photos that followed showed the President laughing with Cameron and Schmidt, while his wife has the side eye going on.

The next photo shows the Obamas switching seats and the president kissing his wife’s hand. Without a backstory, it looks as if Michele is separating the two like a mother would her children.

Of course the media ran wild with the headlines.

Mandela’s memorial has been described as a celebration and closer to the atmosphere of a carnival rather than a funeral. 

So I don’t get why people feel the selfies were inappropriate.

I also don’t understand why Michelle is being made out to be an ABW (angry black woman).

The photographer, Robert Schmidt said: “I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have.

At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you.

“I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium.

“For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural. I see nothing to complain about, and probably would have done the same in their place.”

In another weird occurrence at the service, the sign language interpreter who was on stage is said to have been a fraud and wasn’t using any sign language.

 The unidentified man has been called out for making “childish gestures and clapping” by David Bruxton, CEO of the British Deaf Association.

 Bruxton said: “It was hours of complete nonsense. He is clearly a fraud who wanted to stand on stage with big and important people. It’s quite audacious if you think about it.”

 Two scandals in one day it seems.