PHOTOBOMBER
In George Orwell's 1984, there's a significant moment when Winston Smith realises that history is being falsified by the Party after he discovers a photograph that proves the innocence of former Inner Party members Jones, Aaronson and Rutherford, who had previously been accused of treason during the early purges.
Just today, it appears Chelsea FC have photoshopped President Donald Trump out of their team-winning photograph from their FIFA Club World Cup final victory — much like that meme about Stalin, where his second-in-command is similarly vanished from history. That meme (see below) is repeatedly appropriate and relevant in these censorious 'cancel culture' times in the West. I'm also reminded of the calls a few years ago to remove Trump's famous on screen cameo in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel, New York from Chris Columbus’s Home Alone 2, with the film’s star, Macaulay Culkin, most vocal in advancing the decision, revealing his own inner Stalin.
Personally, I think Chelsea needs to lighten up a little — they’re being far too serious about the pictures of Trump celebrating with the team, which is an iconic moment (exactly one year to the day — and nearly to the hour — after the attempted assassination on him in Butler, Pennsylvania). Regardless of whether you love or hate the 47th President (plenty on the right, centre and left do) the optics are off the charts in terms of viral meme-ability, and it injects a bit of mad joy into a sport that, at times, is so far up its own arse it’s unreal — cough Gary Lineker cough.
If there’s one thing you can pretty much always guarantee about the divisive Trump, it’s that he is the living embodiment of a meme in human form — often kryptonite to those without a sense of humour. Rarely does a week go by without him creating a moment that goes viral. Just a week ago, he posted his face on the body of Superman to mark the release of the new James Gunn movie, prompting hysterical industry types to suggest the studio should sue him.
Why is the reaction to stupid things always to go even stupider? As Robert Downey Jr. says in Tropic Thunder: “Never go full retard.”
Given that Trump is reportedly considering changing the name “soccer” to “football” in the States, he might inadvertently even become a significant player in the growing success of the sport in America moving forward.
Meanwhile, ex-Chelsea defender John Terry has now found himself usurped as the photobomber-in-chief, after he famously joined the team photo celebrations of the 2012 Champions League final — fully kitted up — despite being banned from playing due to a red card.
Perhaps Trump missed a trick in trolling Chelsea. He should have donned a full Chelsea kit à la Terry.
