@hettydouglas/InstagramA ‘posh artist’ has sparked outrage after posting an Instagram pic of a group of scaffolders with the caption, ‘These guys look like they got 1 GCSE’.
25-year-old Hetty Douglas snapped the picture without the men’s knowledge or permission, as they ordered food at a London based McDonald’s. She then shared the image with her 15,000 followers.
People have since accused the Peckham based painter of behaving snobbishly, describing her as a ‘rich kid’ with a ‘faux edgy persona’.
and you look like a spoiled rich girl gentrifying south London pic.twitter.com/0bysFYfc9c
— rhi (@rhiharper) September 4, 2017
#hettydouglas these are the guys who pay your job seekers. They've worked harder in one hour than you will ever do in your life pic.twitter.com/kbvrOzGdBh
— Lizzie Long (@LizLizzieloulou) September 5, 2017
hetty douglas thinks wearing baggy jumpers means she's not middle class but calls anybody sporting reebok a chav
— claire (@clairefp_) September 4, 2017
wow love the new hetty douglas piece pic.twitter.com/gIOHx6EsXp
— zoé (@_zzZ_zZzZz) September 5, 2017
Now one of the workers she publicly insulted has spoken out, and has asked Hetty to apologise.
Speaking with The Sun, 40-year-old Warren Butt has said the artist had ‘no right’ to pass judgement on him and his colleagues:
It’s not very nice. It’s made us look like a load of idiots when we are just trying to crack on and do some work.
I would like an apology. I do not think it’s right she can take a picture of us without us knowing and say that. I’m just working – just earning a living for me and my son.
What gives her the right to look at me or us in that way.
She’s no better than me because she can draw.
this hetty douglas shit actually makes me beyond sad cos most rich kids are beyond insidious about us but love our culture to the max
— jessa (@housemaiden_) September 4, 2017
GKR Scaffolding has also released a statement on Twitter in defence of their ‘highly skilled’ employees:
Her [Hetty] comments reflect a dying perception about qualifications and skills, demonstrated by the supportive comments on social media.
Within the construction industry, we have for decades hired based on skills, abilities and attitude.
Scaffolding operatives are highly trained in technical capabilities and have to be able to work safely at height in the highest risk environments. It’s not a job everyone can do.
Responding to coverage of Hetty Douglas' Instagram post, our statement confirming they are GKR scaffolders & our view on their skilled work. pic.twitter.com/UGjj9oj8Ie
— GKR Scaffolding Ltd (@GKRLtd) September 6, 2017
In a poetic turn, it has since appeared that Hetty’s dad, Maurice, is a builder. Maurice reportedly believes his daughter’s Instagram post has been taken out of context.
He told the Daily Mail:
She would be very angry with me if I was to speak to you.
I’d love to defend my daughter but the less anyone says the sooner it will hopefully all blow over.
Hetty has since deleted her Instagram account after her original post caused an angry backlash.
‘Posh artist’-gate looks set to continue.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.