@problematicwelshman / problematicwelshman.tumblr.com
Anna and Georgia trying to get people to ship them the way people ship Michael&David is so funny/sad. I also have a terrible feeling they both will make an appearance in GO 3 since it seems the only way they both can get jobs is through their partners.
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Are you alive?
I am, Anon. Thanks for asking. Just been quiet since there’s not much new to say lately.
The Eponymous Welshman has been quiet too, some say it’s because he’s busy, some are saying he’s been chased off Twitter by mean assholes, others say his PR team has told him to pipe down again. All I know is that we’ve been without Sheentweets for a while, and since that’s his main form of interaction, I got nuthin.
At least until today.
Some awards were announced recently, congrats to David Tennant and Michael Sheen for their “Best Comedy Partnership” award, to Staged for “Best Returning Comedy” (even though--Staged? Really?), and to GO for “Best Returning Drama.”
Acceptance videos were recorded and shared, and everyone is happy and proud. (Well, we’re assuming that, since Michael only makes a cardboard appearance in David and Georgia’s video. No mention at all from his partner.)
But look at all the other content we got! Leather gloves! Ugly boots! Sideboob! I’m late to the discussion. If you want all the juicy details and discourse, go see @invisibleicewands, @ingravinoveritas, or @artificial-indulgence. There’s some great discussion on all those blogs about timing, messaging, and thought experiments.
What I am going to address is this:
This set of comments was in response to one of these poses, and…eew. TMI.
But what really gets me is the casual body shaming going on. I mean, look--APAT looks GOOD. Even sexy if generic blondes are your thing. No question she's got a good body. She's not a natural in front of the camera, but I’m guessing her target demographic doesn’t care about that. So yeah--you go girl. But just because you had 2 kids doesn't mean you automatically turn into a potato. People gushing over her looking this way after 2 kids are perpetuating a harmful myth. ALSO, people who expect women to look like that after having kids are also jerks. Let people who have kids look like they look without commenting on how it is JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD KIDS.
I know the commenter was trying to give a compliment, but to frame it as a surprise that a mid-20s woman with the means and the time to “shape up” after giving birth did just that is not really the compliment it was meant to be.
Thoughts on MS's posts on twitter today? I think his heart was in the right place but he was coming from a place of emotion and was therefore crap at wording it
I maintain that Michael is well within his rights to block whomever he chooses and that's all I'm going to say about that.
New red carpet pics and ugh what is wrong with APAT? Can’t she look happy even for paparazzi? And why does Michael always look so uncomfortable next to her in public?
Also girl needs to know how to smile if she plans to be on screen. Best she can do is a grimace 🤦🏻♀️
...I think you're mistaking 'grimace' for 'resting smug-ass bitch face,' but why quibble?
I see MS (and members of the fandom) refer to some personal difficulties he went through in about 2019. Do we know what this is? Do you have any guesses? Is it the breakup with SS?
Well yeah, he was caught out cheating with and knocking up APAT, he gave up all his money for the HWC, he was suddenly a sex symbol with a crazy fandom. I'd say 2019 was just the beginning of crazytimes for him, and a lot of it was detailed on this blog back then...
I have just recently got introduced to MS through GO2 and I was so sure he was gay that I’m surprised to see he is in fact very popular with the ladies. I’m honestly quite shocked i still don’t quite believe it lol
I mean...
Once again another snarky tweet about his looks. Guess she fucks with the lights off and thinks about how much work she doesn't have to do because she's a shack job.
Do any of you watch Ted Lasso? I’m slow on the uptake but have been wending my way through it.
A little background for those who may not know: Rebecca Welton (played by the outstanding Hannah Waddingham) has an asshole ex, Rupert, who married a much younger woman also named Rebecca, called Bex. Rupert and Bex have a baby girl. In the episode I watched most recently, Rebecca asks about the baby:
Rupert: "Oh, yeah, Diane. She's already walking. Can you believe that? Yeah. Drooling and pooing around the house." Bex: "Takes after her father."
Later in the episode, Rupert and Bex are departing the football stadium after the match, and as usual he’s being a jerk:
Bex: "It's so good to see you, Rebecca." Rebecca: "You too, Bex." Rupert: "Oh, Rebecca, my dear. So sorry for your loss. (It is hard to convey how disingenuously he says this, the slimy bastard.) Rebecca: "Thank you." Bex: "Come on, old man. It's way past your bedtime."
Is this a thing now? Young women who’ve grabbed the brass ring being twats about their sugar daddies? Is it art imitating life or did life in this case pick up something from art?
Perhaps it’s an inside joke. But inside jokes are called that for a reason. They’re not for everyone, and those who don’t get the punchline are left feeling out of the loop: Inside jokes are bad for a few reasons: they’re un-funny, boring, and aggravating to the listener. Worst of all, inside jokes alienate people by making them feel left out, alone, and un-special.
So why this recent spate of openly putting your life partner down? Art? Joke? Either way it’s not funny. Especially when only one partner does it and does it so repeatedly and so publicly.
Jesus Christ. I just stumbled upon this blog and I can’t believe my eyes. The amount of misogyny and parasocial relationship is insane. Like don’t you guys ever thing about what y’all are typing here 😭 you don’t know them you can’t know if they’re miserable or not you can’t know if Michael is only with Anna because of their children. You can’t know shit and all you do is yell into a blank space and create these conspiracies to help you cope with your sad and miserable lives. Both David and Michael are in a relationship with women way to younger for them and you guys don’t even talk about how that’s so problematic. You think Anna is using Michael like she’s the superior in the power dynamic?? She could be his daughter ffs. Just think about what are you doing with your lives and find better things to do because this is not normal behavior.
Anon - Originally this blog was called AngelicWelshman. After GO came out and Michael's relationship with APAT was revealed, followed by his increasingly bizarre behavior on Twitter, the blog changed to its current incarnation, ProblematicWelshman. At no time was Michael considered an innocent in any of this. Feel free to browse posts from 2020 on--you might learn something.
hi! sorry im new to the whole blog could you give me a rundown of the anagrams used? i see APAT a lot and i cant figure out who you're referring to! sorryyyy
I guess your long nightmare is over since Neil said the objects of your derision are not in Good Omens 2. So happy you can relax now.
Damn, y'all have been busy. Go away for a while and look what happens.
It took me a bit to figure out what happened, but by now it’s old news for most of you. Not going to add much, except the idea of having significant others in productions is really nothing new, especially in British TV. I can think of 6 roles off the top of my head that were played by family members or SOs in Sherlock, Dr. Who was rife, Sandman was practically a family reunion, and I could go on. There have been articles written about it, diagrams made, and endless discussion.
Is it a problem? Maybe. According to one article, “A notable name has often resulted in immediate entry into Britain’s media landscape, leading to a lack of opportunities for the working class.”
Do I think it’s a problem if Ty Tennant or Peter Davison have roles in GO2? Not really. Do I buy that Neil Gaiman didn’t know who Ty Tennant was? Not really. Was he saying that to deflect accusations of nepotism? I think so. And that’s the part about this whole kerfuffle that gets me. Just own up to it and move on.
Now- do I think it’s a problem if Georgia or Anna have roles in GO2 or GO3? Maybe?
I think what people are worried about is this:
“Does it matter when you’re the producer’s niece?”
“So, she gets to play a scene with Neville Sinclair, and we play scenery. I love Hollywood.”
Georgia has shown she can act, but the jury is still out on Anna. She just hasn’t shown she has the chops yet to hold her own with the who’s who of UK actors. Her 3 IMDB credits include 2 she got because of her relationship with Michael and the other, I’m guessing, was similarly achieved. At least Ty has a bigger variety of roles under his belt, even if he’s not the best actor yet.
Whether you agree with Neil’s response, or if you’re on the side of the anons here, I think we can all say that we’re concerned about this issue because we all want GO2 (and hopefully GO3) to be the best it can be.
And no, I wasn’t having nightmares. Been sleeping pretty well actually, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.
450£ for a 30 min zoom call with Michael: there’d better be a striptease in it otherwise it’s a total waste of money 🤮
GUAHH STAY MAD ANNAS FAMOUS WITH A LOVING HUSBAND AND YOURE STUCK AT A 9-5 WITH NO ONE THAT LOVES U WAITING AT HOME 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m of two minds here, Anon, so you get both responses:
#1: Oh! Did Anna and Michael break up? Did she finally get married? Did she finally get an acting job to go with her multi-continental acting education? Because last I heard she was a stay-at-home mom of two little ones, with no career other than parts Michael gets for her, and the "partner" of an historical bounder nearly twice her age who doesn't seem to believe in marriage.
#2 Again with the “stay mad” and “loving husband” theme. You remind me of a scene from the movie Roxanne. (“One evening, in a crowded bar, a big thug named Jim decides to take a pot shot at Bales’ nose, calling him “Big nose.” It’s a pretty pathetic one-liner and while the thug thinks himself clever, Bales is quick to condemn the bigger man for his lack of imagination.”) Obviously, our hero CD Bales eviscerates the dumbass, much to the enjoyment of the other bar patrons.
The continued chorus of “stay mad” and “happily married” from anons is boring. The best you've got is a bunch of pathetic one-liners. And they’re inaccurate. Michael and Anna are not married, no matter what fanfiction you’ve contrived. Nobody’s mad, and to be honest, nobody’s even really paying attention anymore. If you scroll back you’ll see that the only posts are responses to anonymous posts. So who’s staying mad, Anon? Seems like you are.
Aussie anon here. Being in the industry I was able to see Amadeus a 3rd time and on closing night.
Guess who was sat right behind me… AL. She was sat by herself, she had a seat that was meant for a plus one but maybe they fell through. My friend who I was with is very chatty and had to make a comment to her about “being able to stretch out because there was so much space around her” she just responded by saying “I know right?” With her hands presenting to the space around her.
I clocked her before the show started. She was conversing with people. To be honest she seems to have perfected being the charming trophy partner. AL was the centre of the group who was talking with her. My friend made comment that she was stunning, but he would say that about any woman. Even me. She is the skinny blonde that we describe her to be. In fact she is more slight than what tv and photos highlight. Who knows, maybe her kids have sucked her dry.
Anyway my brush with MS and AL has been short and simple. I keep up with the life that they portray and coming across them feels notable. I do get a sense AL is quite comfortable being the celebrity’s partner and shows no cracks. Maybe there is a touch of smugness from her, she is after all the mother of his children so there is security in all that she does and all that she shows.
I’m sure both of them are relieved the production is finished.
Thanks for this, Inside Anon. Very interesting observations/tea--everything you've said gives pretty much confirms what history has shown about how Michael interacts with colleagues, but also supports and confirms a lot of things many people have LONG suspected about him and APAT and her perpetual smugness. Guess now that everybody's back in Wales we'll see what happens next...
Hiya, I am the anon from a post you reblogged regarding Michael Sheen and his female co-star from Amadeus (her name is Lily btw and she looks like a version of Sarah Silverman). For a total of 4 weeks he was rehearsing in my work building and I saw a few instances between the two. In the last week he was rehearsing on site I saw them lunching together. Both respectively on either side of a table reading their scripts quietly with no interaction. They weren't talking, or looking at each other. Just eating and reading. Towards the end of their lunch together, she got up and gave Michael a big hug whilst he was sitting down. Honestly it looked like she was consoling him.From the moments I have seen of them together I get a sense she really admires him and looks forward to being around him. Although it sounds like a stretch I do also get a sense that she is quite flirtatious. There was an occasion where Michael was sitting at a table and she was sitting on a table leaning toward him (cue imagery of secretary trying to pursue her boss). I do get the impression on his end that he is being careful around her. Perhaps he finds her attractive? Or perhaps he's trying to keep his distance because of his family situation?I also read your observations regarding AL not posting about Christmas and her family coming in from Sweden. Honestly I think they're coming in so that they can look after the kids and give her a break. She probably is exhausted herself because Michael has not been at home. But it definitely appears like he lives an exhausting separate life from them. I mean on NYE and NYD he is doing 3 performances in total. His regime must be sleep, eat, work, repeat and with his kids in tow that leaves little room to breath and have Mum and Dad time. So it makes sense to have trusted family over to look after the kids.On Tuesday I did get to see opening night of Amadeus. Was trying to spot a platinum blonde AL in the audience. I was pretty close to the stage maybe she was towards the back of the theatre. I kinda thought that she would post some kind of praise about Michael having a successful opening night, alas no. Michael and Lily kiss twice, and I could tell who the fans were in the audience because they were gasping when it happened. Or maybe they were gasping because it was uncomfortable to watch. I found it uncomfortable out of pure jealousy than the actual scene itself. He genuinely is a profound performer especially when the performance goes for 2 hours and 50 mins his stamina to be on point is remarkable. Anyway here is my tea. Simply observations. I do wonder if there is some connection between him and Lily. I wonder if she has become his confidante away from his home life while he is in Sydney. I can't imagine he has people to talk to that aren't his family in town so she just might be the respite he needs. Sorry for this being so long. Hope it is of some interest.
Hi, Australian Anon! Yes, I did see and quite enjoyed the message you sent to @problematicwelshman, and I found it all very interesting, just as I do this. So I appreciate you writing in to share some more info with me! I love that you have this firsthand experience of Michael and have gotten to see him in the weeks leading up to the opening of Amadeus.
I think we’ve always known that Michael takes the weight of any production he is in on his shoulders, and I am sure that is especially the case here, where he is in the leading role. So to then have two small children and AL in tow on top of all that must undoubtedly be exhausting, and as you said, it would make sense for her family to fly in from Sweden to give her a break (at the very least, to attend the official opening night of the play after the previews, which seemed to be last night, rather than on the 27th).
It’s also fascinating to hear about his interactions with Co-star Lily (who I am going to call such to distinguish her from his daughter Lily). I think we know that Michael has had a tendency to engage in dalliances with his co-stars (Lizzy Caplan and Caitlin Fitzgerald from MoS and Rachel McAdams in particular come to mind. David is a whole other separate case...). And Michael being magnetic and having a level of charm that just naturally draws others to him is not at all surprising, nor is the thought that CS Lily might have become enamored with him.
What’s interesting to me is his deliberateness in being careful around her. I can certainly understand the reason why, with him very publicly being there with his family (by “very publicly” I mean it being mentioned or noted in multiple interviews with the Australian media, all of which felt like deliberate PR). But it seems like just having another woman look his way makes Michael uncomfortable, or possibly afraid that whatever arrangement he and AL have in place will go to hell if he’s even slightly suspected of cheating. If that is the case, I find that a very strange and sad way to live, being in a relationship that seems to be so greatly lacking in any kind of trust.
I had hoped that if AL made a post regarding opening night, it would shed some more light on the strangeness of recent events. But what she posted did not do so, and managed to make things even weirder than before. AL seems to have used opening night to promote herself, as the caption barely mentions Michael (not even by name) or the play, and the pictures are of her posing with the poster of him the way a fan would. There is also not a single picture of them together. (Yet interestingly, they did take a picture when they went to see David’s play Good in October...)
As you said, it seems like Michael and AL are living separate lives together (which I also alluded to in this post) while in Australia. I completely understand the exhaustion of taking care of two little ones while Michael is working and that that is most likely why her family flew in, but the blanks you’ve filled in regarding CS Lily add to an already complicated/strange picture.
Thinking about AL’s caption on Insta, I feel like it was really her trying to seem “deep” and like she knows anything about the play/opera, but in reality, I don’t see her as much of a classical music aficionado, and I have a feeling she found the play boring. You mentioned CS Lily being his confidante while away from home and I could see that, too. AL is his actual girlfriend--not to mention an actress herself (supposedly)--but he apparently needs respite from her and seemingly can’t talk to her about anything, least of all this role and his preparations for this play which has consumed his life for the past month. I one hundred percent believe Michael has been talking to David on WhatsApp or Zoom, but he seems like the kind of person who needs someone to talk to in person as well, to feel their energy and body language in the room with him. It’s very likely, then, that CS Lily has become that.
I also appreciate the tea on the kisses between Michael and CS Lily, because no doubt that has created some tension/attraction (which I think is natural and a normal part of a performance, because you need that to effectively convey the emotion of the scene). But kissing someone for a few takes on a TV or film set is different from kissing someone every night on stage for a month straight, so who knows if that’s been part of the conversations he and CS Lily have had (or part of why AL has seemingly distanced herself from Michael since they arrived in Oz).
So yes, those are my thoughts on the whole situation. I think it will be interesting to see what unfolds as the run of the play continues (and after it ends later in January and they go back to the UK, for that matter). I guess we’ll see what happens...
Once again @ingravinoveritas brings up good points.
But where she is nice, I am snarky.
First off, bringing up something different- I can only hope when the girls are old enough, they ask their parents what the hell they were thinking dragging them all over the damn planet during a pandemic. (yes, it’s still going on) All four of them got the flu? WTAF are they doing? Coughing directly into each other’s mouths? It is possible to live with someone and not get sick when they do.
Secondly, so APAT’s parents are in town as well. Explains why she got to go to the show last night, I am eagerly awaiting everyone’s input on her latest IG pics. Other blogs have already brought up some interesting (and let’s be real- hysterical) points.
But to the question at hand- what’s going on with Salieri and Constanza? (and to Inside Anon- apologies for not responding to your submission in a timely manner, but it’s good that Ingravinoveritas addressed it) Unlike our good friend’s theory of “AL has seemingly distanced herself from Michael since they arrived in Oz” I think it’s quite the reverse. Michael has been busy, and IMO regrets dragging baggage with him. Oh sure, he loves his girls, but we’ve already seen he’s ok with leaving a child behind when it comes to his own wants. Perhaps he’s trying to make up for the past, which would be lovely, but a whirlwind tour Down Under that includes a grueling stage show, days full of sickness, in-laws, babies, and a “partner” who is probably exhausted in her own right probably has him wishing for a friendly ear, and CS Lily could very well have one.
Michael in the old days would have probably jumped on that ride, don’t deny it, the man has a REPUTATION. It’s interesting to see him (possibly) turning down an E-ticket. Is he maturing? Is this relationship with APAT the real deal? (snort…I couldn’t type that with a straight face.) Is he just exhausted? Has he learned his lesson about canoodling with young actresses? Who knows.
It’s all conjecture anyway.
In the last 3 or so weeks Michael Sheen has been coming into my work to rehearse for the upcoming production of Amadeus. No, rehearsals are not being held at Sydney Opera House.
I have been a follower of MS for a while now so the opportunity to see him everyday has been well... cool... exciting... eye opening. I get to see who he interacts with, especially in his breaks. Let me tell you every person he talks with, he charms the pants off. Even people who have no idea who he is I can see them falling for him. The baristas, staff, students, and especially his cast mates. It's difficult to not observe his interactions, and the effect he has on people. My female colleagues even come up to me and say, "Gosh he seems so lovely" OR "he has a charming presence". Some have even expressed that they're surprised how attractive he seems. Then it dawns on me he is exceptionally flirtatious without meaning to be. If you're talking to him, he is engaged as if it's the most important thing in the world. He smiles with his eyes, he talks with his hands (gesticulates), and is ingratiated to have met you. One of the people I see him mostly with is one of his female co-stars. He lunches with her the most, and in my opinion is more his type than APAT. When they talk they lean into each other. They sit next to each other at a table but their chairs are turned toward each other so that nothing is between them. What I'm getting at is that there is an intensity to their exchange. Maybe it's because they're emotive thespians, classically trained. Maybe he is imparting his knowledge of character objectives. But why the frequency? I have also thought that his breaks would be a great opportunity for Anna and kids to visit him at work and have lunch with him. Where it's situated is in the heart of Sydney and there are plenty of attractions to keep Lyra entertained. Aquarium, Wildlife Park, Madame Tussauds are not far. However no visits...which leads me to think, what does Anna and the kids do all day??? We know she can drive, and I'm sure parking is of no issue when she has a bit of wealth to pay for parking. (Yep paid parking everywhere! MS catches Taxis to work) Anyway I try to keep my distance. I have chatted with him, and smiled at him and he has smiled back. I've felt bashful around him. He does have some unspeakable power when he comes into a room. There is no really telling what kind of relationship he has with APAT. I like to speculate It is one for convenience, but I also that maybe he is free to do what he wants so long as he comes back home to her and kids.
Thank you for all this amazing tea, Anon. Report back and let me know if you ever see Michael and APAT interact in person, because it would be really interesting to compare that to the interaction with the female co-star...
Staged 3. The promo pics? APAT and GT pretending they are best buddies on sun loungers with their £500 hairdos so that the 'oh no how are we, the partners of rich succsssful men, ever going to cope with having children, and everything we want paid for? Quick reach for the wine, haha, oh we are so stressed and malcontented with our over privileged, and even moreso in APATs situation, totally unearned lifestyles.' Meanwhile half the country consists of single mums going to foodbanks to feed their kids because of inflation and rising poverty. The WAGs are not painting themselves in any favourable light. Its time to give it a rest. Will not be watching because of that promo pic alone.
Why are they doing a third Staged. Just why.
Good question, Anon.
Beating a dead horse comes to mind.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see Michael and David in more things together. But at this point I think Staged has outlived its premise and it’s basically a cash grab.
Or, for the more cynical among us, it’s a way to add another listing to APAT’s IMDb page.
To be honest, I thought all of this about Staged 2, too.
Either way, I don’t think I’ll be watching it.
