Farmer Alan Graham was so 'shocked' to see Rihanna in his barley field wearing a red bikini or less that he pulled up his tractor, objected to her inappropriate state of undress and called a swift halt to proceedings.
While a meeting
with Rihanna would be the stuff of dreams for most red-blooded males, Graham instructed her to brush up on her Bible reading before sending her on her way. He said:
If someone wants to borrow my field and things become
inappropriate, then I say, 'Enough is enough'. I felt Rihanna was in more of a state of undress than a bikini top.
And indeed one photograph of the shoot appeared to show her topless.
Graham, a devout Christian, thought it time
to impart some advice: I had a conversation with Rihanna and I hope she understands where I'm coming from. Everybody needs to be acquainted with God and to consider his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and his death and Resurrection.
The
Democratic Unionist Party alderman for North Down Borough Council had given permission for the filming on his 60 acres of land in Clandeboye, outside Bangor.
Offsite Comment: Looney has a knock at Rihanna
30th
September 2011. See article from
dailymail.co.uk by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
As a liberal [oh yeah!] and a Muslim who lives in London, I confess it is unlikely I would have much in common with
farmer Graham, with his faith or his politics. It is possible I wouldn't even like the man much.
But that's not the point. I hugely admire what he did. In his small, humble way, this farmer demonstrated a kind of strength and
conviction that used to be commonplace in society, and which, to our shame, has almost disappeared. He had the chance to make a tidy sum of money from one of the most successful pop singers on the planet, but was not prepared to sell out his principles
for a fat cheque from anyone, however famous or important they might be.
Instead, Mr Graham made a brave stand against two of the worst excesses of modern life: the sexualisation of society and our celebrity culture. Rihanna is a
good singer and performer, but that is not enough for the mindless followers of popular culture.
So she acts out the semi-pornographic and self-demeaning behaviour that is expected of so many female celebrities today; behaviour
the music industry cynically tries to pass off as stylish.
The truth is the pop world has become a contaminated landscape where young women, even those born with exceptional talents, act suggestively to sell records and encourage
their worship by fans.
...
Why is it that the national conversation about the degradation of our natural world and physical environment is considered so respectable and urgent, while anyone who questions
the degradation of our moral and social environment is treated like a leper or a lunatic?
...Read the full
article
