I’m a Celebrity 2024 star Coleen Rooney has explained why she didn’t like being called a “WAG” at the height of the phrase’s popularity.
Rooney, who has been married to former Manchester United and England striker Wayne since 2008, opened up about the media’s chosen nickname for her on the latest episode of the ITV reality series (30 November).
Days after opening up about her husband’s career, Rooney, who is this year’s highest-paid contestant, said she “still gets asked about it in every interview I do” during a conversation with Radio 1 star Dean McCullough, adding: “It always gets brought up.”
WAG is a slang acronym for “wives and girlfriends” of high-profile sportsmen that was first used by the British tabloids in the early 2000s. The acronym was often criticised by the partners of famous sportsmen, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission deemed the term sexist and demeaning to women in 2010.
McCullough asked Rooney in the latest episode: “Has the term WAG died? Is it still a thing?”
Rooney, who said it was a “stereotype”, replied: “No, I still get asked about it in every interview I do. It always gets brought up.”
When McCullough said he feels the term us derogatory, Rooney agreed, stating: “Yeah, I felt it at the time. I used to say we’re all individuals – we’re not a group where we’re all exactly the same person. We’ve all got our own little lives and ways and personalities.”
When Rooney was embroiled in a libel case with Rebekah Vardy, who is the wife of footballer Jamie, the press branded the trial “Wagatha Christie” due to the way Rooney investigated who was leaking stories about her to the press.
Her former friend denied the accusations and said multiple people had access to her account, however a court found in Rooney’s favour.
On launch night of the latest series, Rooney said that he libel case brought against her by Vardy, her former friend, had caused her considerable “stress” and made her feel “ashamed”.
When podcast GK Barry asked her if she had been scared of posting the results of her experiment, she replied: “No, because I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did, because I was just that sick and tired of it, it was draining.”
I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! air on ITV1 and ITVX every night at 9pm.
