Celebrity deaths are much discussed in this social media age. It is not a national mourning, just a general sadness and an unwelcome reminder of mortality.
The death of Peaches Geldof is particularly horrible as she was only 25 and leaves behind a husband and two very young sons: Astala, 23 months, and Phaedra who is almost one. I met Peaches a few times. She was always fun, happy and a little bit naughty. She was also always the centre of attention. Paparazzi followed her everywhere and she seemed to enjoy being in the spotlight.
Of course her life was not plain sailing. She lost her mother, Paula Yates, to an accidental heroin overdose in 2000 when she was only 11. Her mother also left her father for Michael Hutchence who later committed suicide, and Micheal’s half sister, Tina Hutchence, expressed her sadness at her death today. Paula and Michael had a daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence.
This was her last Twitter update: a picture of herself with her mother.
Our thoughts go out to Bob Geldof today, who has experienced more tragedy than anyone ever should, and to Peaches husband, Tom, and their young children. Rest in Peace Peaches.
Bob Geldof released a statement saying:
‘Peaches has died. We are beyond pain.
‘Writing “was” destroys me afresh.
‘She was the wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us.
‘What a beautiful child. How is this possible that we will not see her again?
‘How is that bearable? We loved her and will cherish her forever. How sad that sentence is.
‘Tom and her sons Astala and Phaedra will always belong in our family, fractured so often, but never broken. Bob, Jeanne, Fifi, Pixie and Tiger Geldof.’