Rupert Murdoch calls off engagement with Ann Lesley Smith

[canetoad]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Emile (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: The Age

Chris Zappone
Updated April 5, 2023 — 2.06pmfirst published at 6.27am

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Ann Lesley Smith have called off their engagement, two media outlets have reported.

Murdoch announced plans to marry 66-year-old Smith, a dental hygienist and San Francisco police chaplain turned conservative radio host, last month. The 92-year-old Australian-born mogul told the New York Post, one of his own newspapers, that he had proposed to Smith with an Asscher cut diamond solitaire ring that he personally selected.

However, Vanity Fair, citing “sources close to Murdoch”, reported the businessman had put the wedding plans on ice.

“One source close to Murdoch said he had become increasingly uncomfortable with Smith’s outspoken evangelical views,” the outlet reported.

Read more: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/rupert-murdoch-reportedly-calls-off-engagement-with-ann-lesley-smith-20230405-p5cy6f.html

[lapfog_1]

1. I would say too bad he is broken hearted...

but that presumes he has a heart

[Tetrachloride]

2. "outspoken evangelical views"

coincidentally in the Week of First Arrest.

[Warpy]

9. He probably resented her efforts to bring him to Jebus

Too many of those people are all Jebus, all the time, so it's kind of an educated guess.

[rpannier]

16. From her bio I'm guessing her Jesus is a prosperity gospel one

[Midnight Writer]

3. She's too conservative for him.

[Zorro]

5. I think he's thinkin' she's too old for him.

[grantcart]

13. I think her born againism wore thin

He would have preferred the hedonistic unsaved idiot to the pious saved idiot.

[Hekate]

4. I had to look up Asscher cut diamonds, me not being in that world lol. I hope she gets to keep it!

[Warpy]

6. A small stone might be tasteful, a big one would look like

it belonged in a glass with booze over it.

Not my favorite cut, those angular ctus would get caught on everything. Round or oval cuts are easier to wear.

Please note that my rings are turquoise, malachite, azurite, and lapis. I'm not into bling, at all.

[Journeyman]

7. I too had to look it up. Very beautiful, what I saw. Reminds me of my wife's engagement ring . . .

We didn't have one. I was an unemployed student when we got hitched. Picked out a wedding ring with no stones, gold with a rose sculpted into it. Cost a few hundred dollars, which was a lot for us in those days. We're now a month shy of our 45th anniversary. It's not the "bling" that carries a couple through, it's the love.


Just did a search for more about Murdoch and Smith. They've been engaged two weeks. Would have been his fifth marriage. Some people live different lives than I.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I'd think that being someone's fifth spouse would be a bright red flag

Even if he weren't an elderly right-wing creep twice her age.

[ShazzieB]

10. She's 66.

If he were twice her age, he'd be 132, if I'm doing the math correctly. But 66 to 92 is still a pretty huge gap.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Well, I was close, LOL. And he looks 132...

[grantcart]

14. He's close to 132 in base 9

When I check into a motel I ask for a first floor room saying I need it because I am 103. After the surprised look I tell them 103 using base 8 which we would have used if we had the same hands as Mickey Mouse.

[oldsoftie]

20. Diamonds: still the biggest ripoff around. Going on 100 yrs now.

And people STILL fall for it. Diamonds are neither rare nor valuable. And they're a HORRIBLE investment unless its a "famous" diamond.
If you just HAVE to buy one, get a man made diamond. EXACTLY the same & much cheaper. But still too much.
DeBeers came up with the con early in the last century.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

12. If I didn't hate Murdoch so much I'd say this was kindof a boss move ...

Dumping a fiance who's 26 years your junior, on accounta she's too much of a religious nut-job ...

If he was, say, George Soros ... I'd probably give him some props

[GoneOffShore]

15. She figured out that he's actually Nosferatu

[Aussie105]

17. So what happened to the last one?

You know, the Texan one, and the ones before her?

Best do some research right now!

Murdoch has been married four times:
First to Patricia Booker, second to Anna Murdoch-Mann, third to Wendi Deng, and fourth to Jerry Hall.

I guess - they all felt neglected by Rupert, seeing he was deeply engrossed in demolishing . . .something . . . lots of somethings, really.

[oldsoftie]

21. Well, they're certainly easier to find than Shelly Miscaviage!

THERE'S an investigation

[NJCher]

18. That's what that family needs

A religious kook. One of those shove Cheebus down your throat types who insist on saving you.

[Wahyee]

19. Aw, I thought those crazy kids really had a chance

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. The satirical Private Eye mag noticed an unfortunate ad placement

It has a feature "Malgorithms" - unfortunate (or coincidental?) placing of ironic or inappropriate ads next to online news stories. The Murdoch one was:

Sky News: "Rupert Murdoch, 92, to marry for fifth time after confirming engagement to Ann Lesley Smith"
Accompanying ad: "How much does it cost to hire a 24-hour live-in carer in 2023? The price may surprise you" (Home care, search ads)

[Traildogbob]

23. She refused

To take birth control and is anti abortion. His spawn wanted no part in sharing the inheritance.

[3Hotdogs]

24. Poor Ann. The gravy train left the station

and she ain't on it.

[Blues Heron]

25. maybe she wouldnt sign the pre nup, that might cool his ardor

[SledDriver]

26. Good. Better for him to die alone

[Emile]

27. Locking

After an alert and discussion with the hosts. We feel Rupert calling off his 5th marriage after 2 weeks of engagement is not important news.

This would be a better fit in General Discussion. Hopefully you'll consider reposting it there.