Steve Coogan joined the BBC Breakfast hosts today to discuss his new film Greed, which he says points a finger at the super-rich and the super poor in the fashion industry. But when host Rachel Burden asked about a cameo from the late Caroline Flack, he was forced to shut the question down saying he didn’t want to use her death to make a political point.
Jon began: “Rich McReady, greedy McReady they call him. What was he like to play?”
Steve explained: “The character I play is an amalgamation of a lot of super-rich billionaires rolled into one.
“And any resemblance to a certain high-street retailer who runs Topshop and is knighted and was involved in nefarious, potentially duplicitous activities with regards to BHS pensions is coincidental.
“It’s a fictional character based on lots of super-rich people. And the film is about high-street retail and the cheap clothes we buy and the cost of that.”
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He continued: “It does sound quite sanctimonious but we are trying to point a finger at the huge gap between the super-rich and the super-poor.
“It’s a comedy. It makes a serious point in a funny film.”
Jon interrupted: “And it does go in waves, it goes from farce and pantomime character to actually quite painful stuff to watch.”
The star continued: “If you are trying to make a film that makes a point, what we want to do is have people talk about the cost of high street fashion, and the exploitation of workers.”
The conversation then moved onto Caroline Flack, who has a cameo in the new film and plays an interviewer who talks to Steve Coogan’s character.
Caroline Flack was found dead at the age of 40 on Saturday after taking her own life.
Rachel said: “There is a poignant moment in the film when we see Caroline Flack, who plays herself in the film, introducing you as part of an award ceremony.
“Obviously we have spoken about the terribly tragic circumstances of her death, so when you heard about it, it must have been a very strange moment.”
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Steve explained: “It’s awful my heart goes out to her loved ones. It’s tragic and raises lots of issues about social media and press, the discourse that takes place on social media.
“But I don’t want to use what is a tragic death to make political capital out of it.”
“The problem with social media is that they don’t see the whites of the eyes of the people they are talking to.
“People need to step back and question how they talk to each other.”
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He went on: “I avoid social media completely. I am very opinionated so I am worried that I would get sucked into a vortex and it’s a waste of my energy.
“I do believe that when you get into an argument, it’s very unlikely that you’ll change someone’s opinion.
“But, if you can tell a story, I find that you can get people to question their beliefs.
“We all have to face the notion that we might be wrong and consider the possibility that the opinions we have are not watertight.
Jon interrupted: “That’s a very old-fashioned view.”
BBC Breakfast continues on BBC One tomorrow at 6am.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
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