Mary-Ellen Field has never been famous, said Stuart Jeffries in the London Guardian. Yet thanks to the British tabloids, the 62-year-old accountant lost her job, reputation, and health. In 2003 Field was hired by Elle Macpherson to help develop her business interests. For two years, she says, they had “tremendous fun.” Then stories about the supermodel began appearing in the press, and suspicion fell on Field. Macpherson accused her of being an alcoholic and leaking stories to the media. She demanded that Field attend a rehab clinic in Arizona. “[Elle] said, ‘I love you so much. We’re doing this for you.’”
Field denied everything, but felt she had to obey her employer. “I needed the job,” she admits. Rehab was awful. “There were no plugs in the basins, so you couldn’t drown yourself.” The staff was baffled by her presence. “They said I wasn’t an alcoholic, but that I had clearly been bullied.” After five weeks, she returned to London, only to be fired by Macpherson.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.