Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
The “Mirror” Strikes Again With Another Ridiculous Story That’s Picked Up By The “NY Daily News”
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008(February 7, 2008) Maybe you want to watch this video from Fox News. (Click on what is at the moment the top link: “(video) Singer Tom Jones….”) The always reliable “news” outlet spent more than one minute on this non-story. But at least the photo is nice and they say some great, true, things about Tom. We are hoping this is the last word on the matter. Thanks, Keith.
(February 6, 2008) Finally, Rolling Stone seems to have gotten it right:
“In what has to be fiction, singer Tom Jones has reportedly had his chest hair insured for $7 million by Lloyd’s of London, who have also insured Keith Richards‘ fingers and Jennifer Lopez’s ass.”
In a ridiculous story — why doesn’t someone stop them? — The Mirror, one of the UK’s two least reliable papers, says Tom’s chest hair has been insured by Lloyd’s of London. His management says no. We believe the quote attributed to his management, but don’t believe they were even asked. And, if he were going to insure something, wouldn’t it make sense to insure his voice? But, just because that would make sense it’s not sensational enough to write about. Oh, well, consider this our laugh for the day. Unlike another recent hugely erroneous story, we’re posting this only because it’s so silly. And the least they could have done is used a photo showing the allegedly insured body part, right?
But, do not worry on that last count. Just watch TJI.com for an item you’ll find fills the bill.
Hearthrob Sir Tom Jones insures his chest hair for £3.5million
The Mirror — 05/02/2008
With tough tour schedules and big money at stake, It’s Not Unusual for stars to insure their bodies.
So it should come as no surprise to learn that Sir Tom Jones, 67, whose mop of luxurious curly brown hair has made him a hit with the ladies, has had his chest hair insured – for the princely sum of £3.5million!
Top insurance house Lloyd’s of London was approached about the deal and, after initial concerns that it might prove too much of a risk, went ahead.
“Like a vintage wine, Tom just gets better with age,” says our body hair mole.
“Even at the grand old age of 67, the ladies love his hip-thrusting moves and catching a sneaky peak of his famously rugged chest hair.”
Sir Tom, who is currently in LA working on his new album, is not the first celebrity to have a body part insured against damage.
Mariah Carey and supermodel Heidi Klum have both had their legs insured, while Jennifer Lopez is said to have had her famous derriere protected.
Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards had his fingers covered and Ugly Betty star America Ferrera got her mouth insured for a stunning £5m.
Although Sir Tom’s management insist the singer has been “working far too hard in the recording studio” to get his chest curly wurlies covered, we’re confident that it’ll be a green, green, grass (mat) of home…
The New York Daily News also carried the story and an interview with the Lloyd’s underwriter. Oddly, no one ever said Tom Jones is the individual in question. They never use the word “confirmed.” It’s all speculation. On the other hand, the Daily News (the newspaper with the world’s highest circulatioin) does call him an “ageless heartthrob.” So, at least they got one thing right.
Report: Tom Jones has chest hair insured
DAILY NEWS STAFF/Tuesday/February 5th 2008, 1:04 PM
It’s Not Unusual … it’s really unusual.
Ageless heartthrob Sir Tom Jones has reportedly insured his chest hair for almost $7 million.
Though the 67-year-old crooner’s management told a British tabloid that Jones has been “working far too hard in the recording studio” for such frivolity, media reports have confirmed the policy was taken out with the world-renowned Lloyd’s of London.
The prestigious insurance house has a history of catering to strange celebrity requests.
Lloyd’s of London has insured the legs of Fred Astaire, Angie Dickinson, and supermodel Heidi Klum, the hands of pianist Liberace and the fingers of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. The most famous rear end in the world – the one belonging to Jennifer Lopez – is also said to be insured by the London-based insurance house.
On its Web site, Lloyd’s of London boasted that the storied firm issued coverage of a celebrity’s chest hair in 2006.
“Admittedly, this is one of the most obscure requests I’ve had – but I still came up with a wording that addressed the need,” underwriter John Thomas said at the time.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Yes, bless them…..complete twaddle but at least it’s written with some affection. Makes a change.
As I’ve posted elsewhere I have spent an inordinate amount of time today fretting about the perils that might befall Tom’s glorious chest hair. It is a matter of some concern to me. I think there must have been rumours afoot to kidnap him and turn him into a Chippendale. Has someone uncovered a twilight world of illicit waxing? Heaven forfend……
February 5th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Strange…why would he insure his chest hair rather than other parts of his anatomy? At least The Mirror posted a great photo with the article.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Ridiculous as this story is, it did make me think. I for one would volunteer to head a fund raising campaign to insure the worlds most famous hairy chest if I thought it was indeed in jeopardy. Ladies, wouldn’t you agree that it would be worth every penny?
February 6th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Audrey M – I agree 100%
February 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Not sure if he would really insure his chest hair, but I could understand ensuring those wonderful pipes! I don’t think anybody would dare harm a hair on his beautiful head or “chest,” but at least this story is not disturbing and doesn’t have the same tone as the others of late. Nice picture!
February 6th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Just love this picture of Tom. Wow’
February 7th, 2008 at 6:03 am
For a story that is false, it foud its way on the Sports talk shows yesterday. In one of the shows on ESPN I believe PTI, they opened up the show with them discussing Tom’s insured chest hair…still trying to figure out how that ties into the Sports world.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Maybe, Keith, because we all know what a good sport Tom is?
February 7th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Tom’s website has posted a response……
“The story published in the Daily Mirror (UK) on Feb 5 is completely fabricated. No such insurance policy exists or has ever been considered. We assume this is just the Mirror having a bit of fun and hope no one takes this kind of ‘reporting’ seriously.”
Good for them…
February 7th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Although, this has nothing to do with this story, we are talking about Tom’s hairy chest, and I for one would love to Git Me Some!
February 7th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
While Tom’s official website probably needed to calm some of the fans who were put in a dither by that stupid story — even though they did deny it in the original article — we think it’s kind of sad that the denial (which of course we saw on his website when it was posted overnight in the USA; this morning in the UK) was necessary. No one possessing a reasonably sound mind would believe it. And, Darla, we hope you do.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:20 am
This story really made me laugh and I bet Tom is laughing too. However, back in the early days when Jo Mills put together the first fan club (of which I was a member) we were sent pieces of Tom’s hair. Yes, it’s true!
February 8th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Gills.wales – now that’s hairy ehmm scary, hahaha
February 11th, 2008 at 12:12 am
All i want is a hair for tom head.I would be so happy for tom hair on is head.Fan of Tom.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Although not true, i was amazed how this story pops up around the world (google alerts), seems publishers think it is still interesting to print something about tom..