Tricia Walsh-Smith
Tricia Walsh-Smith (aka Tricia Walsh) is a British playwright and actress. In April, 2008 she became internationally famous after posting a youtube video of herself discussing her divorce from her husband Philip Smith, president of The Shubert Organization.[1][2] In the video she explained that she was going to be unfairly "thrown out" of her house in addition to describing alleged personal details of Smith's life.[3][4] This is considered the first known case where a spouse has used youtube to attempt to discredit the other in a divorce case.[5]
Walsh-Smith's case has generated scrutiny and debate by legal and psychology experts on the implications of broadcasting personal issues using media like youtube.[4] Renowned psychologist Keith Ablow said, “We’re at a critical moment where people are turning to public broadcasts to express private thoughts. But I don’t think it’s connecting people necessarily. I think it’s disconnecting them from their own life stories.”[4] As for the legal implications in Walsh-Smith's divorce case, MSNBC's senior legal analyst Susan Filan told the show, "A judge isn’t really going to care. In the end, a divorce, as upsetting and emotional as it is, is just a financial transaction. You’re doing backwards math. You’re trying to make one household go into two. Somebody’s going to have to give something to somebody else.”[4]
Previously, Walsh-Smith appeared in more than 500 commercials on British television, on the Benny Hill Show and has written a play called Bonkers.[3]
Early life
Walsh-Smith attended the Italia Conti Academy and began appearing in commercials, most notably for Hellmann's Mayonnaise. Later she acted in the British horror film Terror.[1]
While working as a Playboy Bunny at a Playboy Club on London's Park Lane, she met her first husband John Obertelli, with which she had a son. The stormy marriage ended in divorce. She had a brief second marriage to a publicly unknown California man. [1]
She met her current estranged husband, Philip Smith, at a Park Avenue wedding reception in 1995. The two married in New York City in 1999.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Eaton, Phoebe (June 1, 2008). "The YouTube Divorcée". New York Magazine.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Honan, Edith (June 27, 2008). "Spurned wife defends tell-all YouTube videos". News Limited (Australia).
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Leonard, Tom (June 27, 2008). "Tricia Walsh-Smith in court after YouTube rants". The Daily Telegraph.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d Celizic, Mike (April 17, 2008). "YouTube divorce rant has experts talking". MSNBC / The Today Show.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ staff (April 16, 2008). "YouTube divorce video released by Tricia Walsh Smith". Chicago Tribune.
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