Heather: The rich are snobs
2007-11-22 12:04
Dublin - Heather Mills McCartney, who is seeking tens of millions to split from her Beatles legend husband, denounced the world's rich as insufferable misers and snobs.
Mills McCartney delivered a 1 1/2-hour speech on Wednesday to the debating society of Trinity College Dublin, her latest venue to vent myriad opinions since firing her law firm and press officer, who had advised her to keep quiet while divorce settlement terms were being negotiated.
Starting on October 31 in interviews on British and American television, she has claimed that Britain's tabloid press are treating her worse than a sexual deviant or a killer over her bitter break-up with Paul McCartney.
Former model Mills McCartney, 39, married the 65-year-old music legend in 2002 and gave birth to the couple's only child, Beatrice, a year later.
But the couple separated last year, and McCartney filed for divorce alleging "unreasonable behaviour" by his wife.
"I don't think anything can prepare you for being treated worse than a murderer or a paedophile, when all you have done in 17 years is charity work," she said, referring to her campaigns against land mines and in favour of animal rights and vegetarianism.
'Obliged to befriend the wealthy'
Mills McCartney said she was reluctantly obliged to befriend the world's wealthy - despite their nasty qualities - because that was the only way to maximise her power as an agent for change.
"Sadly, you have to mix at a certain level of people to raise the level of funds you need to bring about the greater good," she said.
"Because people are very snobby. These people who have lots of money, they're either snobby or they're stingy. If you have lots of money, you have to be stingy - because why would you want that amount of money?"
She also compared herself to human rights crusaders down through the ages, suggesting they all had been victimised for their beliefs.
"If you look at every single person in the history of the world who has tried to make a difference, you'll find a very long section of their lives where they were treated horrifically by the government or by the media," she said.
McCartney's personal wealth is estimated at £800m.
British press reports have speculated that McCartney has offered his wife around £25m while she is seeking at least double that amount.
- AP