Michelle Mone has been branded ‘out of touch’ for posting ‘distasteful’ pictures of her sunning herself at a five-star Maldives resort – as the UK areas remain in Tier 3.
The millionaire Ultimo founder and Baroness married billionaire Doug Barrowman, 53, on November 28 in a ‘magical’ ceremony on the Isle of Man, before jetting off on her honeymoon to One&Only Reethi Rah resort in Malé.
The 49-year-old shared stunning pictures across social media against the backdrop of one of the Maldives’ idyllic beaches of white sand and blue sea.
But while many fans rushed to congratulate the newlyweds, others branded the pictures ‘self-centred’, urging Baroness Mone to ‘open your eyes to how the rest of us are forced to live’.
Oh dear… Michelle Mone has been branded ‘out of touch’ for posting ‘distasteful’ pictures of her sunning herself at a five-star Maldives resort – as the UK areas remain in Tier 3
She was accused of ‘rubbing her trip in the faces of all single mothers just before Christmas’, while one posted a link to the Hall and Oates song ‘Out of Touch’.
After The House of Lords peer was approached for comment, the negative remarks appeared to be deleted from her LinkedIn, and only the positive responses remain.
A spokesperson for baroness pointed out that she had cancelled three wedding dates already and shared the images as her followers were ‘excited to see them’.
She wrote: ‘We are having the most fantastic time on our honeymoon! Special thanks to One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives for the outstanding hospitality Maldives.’ The millionaire was then inundated with messages of well-wishes from many of her fans.
On cloud nine: The couple tied the knot last month in rule-free Isle of Man after lockdown forced them to delay their ceremony three times
Enviable stay: In images shared to Instagram on Sunday, the businesswoman, 49, and the billionaire, 55, kept enjoyed drinks on the beach at five-star hotel One&Only Reethi Rah
Hitting out: She was slammed for sharing the pictures
However some noted how far removed her reality was from their own – as around 99% of the UK remain in tier two or three and London is set to move into the top tier on Wednesday.
Critics of the entrepreneur penned: ‘Time to stop rubbing it in. Open your eyes to how the rest of us are forced to live [and] grab a heart, [and] stop being so self-centred!… Yes, totally agree so self-centred, very untasteful at this time….
‘Just give it a break Michelle you do things and have to tell the world. If you must go on holiday just go and tell no one we do not want any part of your self-indulgence.’
Other critics went on: ‘Was this your first dance song, Michelle…?’ – before pasting a link to Out Of Touch by Hall and Oates… Must be great to have money and no consequences for Covid… Oh I can’t wait for normality to be able to travel freely again. Have a lovely time.’
‘We are having the most fantastic time!’ Entrepreneur Michelle was slammed for the seemingly ill-timed snaps
Others rushed to celebrate the married couple, who had previously postponed their wedding three times due to coronavirus restrictions.
Michelle Manda said: ‘Enjoy your honeymoon Lady Michelle’, as Bill Carron said: ‘Congratulations’, while Les Ardon-Bayle said: ‘I am so happy for you! Enjoy it all.. Love, Les Ardon Bayle.’
A spokesperson for Michelle said: ‘Out of hundreds of positive comments, there were only a few negative ones. Baroness Mone currently lives in The Isle of Man. She left The Isle of Man for her honeymoon where there are zero restrictions.
‘Baroness Mone had three cancelled wedding dates so her followers were excited to see her wedding shots and a few shots from her honeymoon.
‘Baroness Mone has asked Hello Magazine to donate to three charities, Royal Marsden, Rebecca Hospice and Isle of Man Hospice. She has almost made her own donations with her husband.
Newlywed: Shortly after the nuptials, the parliamentarian unveiled her bridal gown in photos shared to her social media account
‘Anyone can travel to The Maldives as long as you present a negative COVID test.’
The outrage comes after Michelle and Doug rang in their newlywed status in style as they jetted off to the Maldives after they tied the knot last month in rule-free Isle of Man after lockdown forced them to delay their ceremony three times.
Entrepreneur Michelle looked radiant as she soaked up the sun in an elegant baby blue dress. Shielding her eyes from the sun, the Ultimo founder accessorised with circle-framed shades, diamond stud earrings and her wedding band.
Doug, meanwhile, appeared laid-back in an oversized white T-shirt as he gazed adoringly at his new wife.
Michelle wrote in an accompanying caption: ‘We are having the most fantastic time on our honeymoon! Special thanks to @ooreethirah for the outstanding hospitality #ReethiRah #Maldives.’ (sic)
The pair exchanged vows at Peel Cathedral on the Isle of Man, with the parliamentarian unveiling her breathtakingly elegant gown in snaps shared to her social media account.
The blonde looked delighted as she joined the Knox Group founder for a stunning photo straight after their nuptials where they stood outside their wedding chapel.
Michelle captioned the picture: ‘Thanks so much to everyone on The Isle of Man for making our day so special. You pulled the best wedding together …90 people in less than 2 weeks.
Going to the chapel: Michelle thanked the people of the island for helping put her dream wedding together
‘Only downside is that our family & friends couldn’t be there who live outside IOM.
‘A special thanks to The Cathedral at Peel, The Abbey Restaurant, The Abbey wedding planners, Alexandra the Opera singer and the 5 live bands for a superb wedding weekend. Love MB #isleofman.
The COVID-19 pandemic had forced Michelle to postpone her wedding date three times.
While much of the UK has been plunging into the upper tiers of highly restrictive governmental guidelines, the Isle of Man comfortably sits in the enviable tier one.
On the Isle of Man there have been 366 confirmed COVID-19 cases since March and rules have also been lifted on people’s lives due to the low rate.
Much missed: The media personality paid tribute to friends and family who were unable to join her on the big day
Fourth time lucky: The COVID-19 pandemic forced her to postpone her wedding date thrice
Announcement: The couple postponed their wedding for a third time in September, with Michelle taking to her Instagram account to share the news
The government’s website says: ‘Any legal requirements for social distancing and all restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings have now been removed. This has been possible due to the commitment of the Manx public.
‘Meeting friends and family is a really important way of helping to look after our mental wellbeing and keeping in touch.
‘When meeting people from outside your household, that is, people you don’t currently live with, you no longer have to keep a 2 metre distance; however it is advised to still practise basic hygiene measures, including regularly washing your hands and coughing or sneezing into your elbow.’
Breathtaking: In a brief video shared on Instagram, the mother-of-three was seen standing at the base of a sweeping staircase as she posed in the Suzanne Neville-designed dress
The newlyweds: As she shared footage on Instagram, Michelle referred to herself as ‘Mrs B’
Their road to the altar has been quite the bumpy journey, with the couple postponing their nuptials to keep in line with COVID-19 restrictions.
Taking to Instagram in September, Michelle shared an image of herself with Doug as she made the announcement.
She wrote: ‘With the announcement of new COVID restrictions in the UK, we’ve come to the difficult decision to cancel our wedding for the 3rd time.
‘It’s a little bit frustrating that you can walk into a restaurant and have dinner surrounded by a room full of people, but you can’t have more than 15 attendees at a wedding – including myself, Doug and the Bishop, violinist, photographer etc.
‘We couldn’t possibly choose between which family members to invite never mind friends. We might just get married with no guests present.
‘I understand that there is a greater concern at the heart of all of this, but considering it’s the 3rd time we’ve had to cancel, it’s difficult not to feel a little bit gutted. That said, there’s a key learning to take from the situation.
‘Be grateful for what you do have; don’t dwell on what you don’t – or can’t – have. Things can change in an instant and there are too many blessings in each of our lives to spend each day wishing time away! Stay safe, everyone x.’
The TV star, who was initially set to marry her love in early spring, shared another glam snap of herself on Instagram in August – on what would have been her rescheduled wedding date.
Captioning the selfie, which showed her standing before a waterfront setting, she said: ‘Today was meant to be the day Doug and I got married.
‘It’s the second time we’ve had to postpone our special day, but we’ve set a date and are more excited than ever. #ThirdTimeLucky ❤️.’
Following government guidelines amid the novel coronavirus lockdown, Michelle explained back in March that she didn’t want to risk the health of her guests and older family members at the large gathering.
‘We’re excited’: The Celebrity Masterchef star shared another glam snap of herself on Instagram in August – on what would have been her rescheduled wedding date
The ‘disappointed’ company owner said in a statement: ‘Doug and I were very much looking forward to getting married in the coming weeks but are equally aware of the need to avoid undertaking any unnecessary risks in the current circumstances.
‘We are particularly conscious of government advice in relation to both the well-being of older family members and large gatherings of people.
‘So in line with that advice for the UK and beyond we are postponing our wedding and have set a new date.
‘It’s been two years in the planning and of course we’re disappointed but safety comes first.’
She added: ‘I feel for everyone who is in the same situation and hope that they, like us, will be looking forward to a celebration in the future.’
The star was set to marry Doug in the 13th century Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the heart of London’s Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as ‘the House of Lords church’.
Michelle announced her engagement in December 2018 after Doug romantically proposed with a stunning eight carat diamond ring at their London home.
She exclusively told MailOnline in January that she was four weeks away from her wedding target weight and shared details of her then upcoming nuptials.
Michelle has candidly been keeping her Instagram followers updated with her weight loss journey, revealing in November that she was at her ‘target weight’ after losing 11lbs and slimming down to a svelte size 10.
Coy: Baroness Mone of Mayfair appeared on ITV’s This Morning back in January 2019, and was initially coy about showing off her ring
She said: ‘I think everyone has a target for themselves. It has been a journey for me, it has taken me many years to lose, what will almost be, seven-and-a-half stone. It has not been quick, it has been long, I have learnt so much along the way.
‘It has been a long journey but I think for the first time in the last six months, I feel amazing, I do not feel my age at all, I feel ten years younger! If you put the work in, then you get the results. It’s not easy! I hope I keep it up.’
Wow-factor: However, the diamond dazzler was on full display
Michelle, who spoke to MailOnline after jetting back from an idyllic Christmas break sailing around the Caribbean, said: ‘It’s all very exciting, there is so much to do.
‘Luckily, we have got an incredible company doing the wedding and they are used to doing weddings like this. They have been superb so far.
‘They have just told me ‘All you need to do, is turn up’. I kind of want to know all the details, so I drive them nuts a little bit, but they say, ‘Look, everything is fine, everything is OK, you don’t need to worry, that’s why you’ve got us!’.’
Talking further about her weight loss journey, Michelle revealed that she follows her own 29 diet rules which is a pescatarian diet with lots of legumes and vegetables as meat leaves her feeling ‘bloated and lethargic’.
Michelle said: ‘I’m not a nutritionist or a fitness instructor but I know my stuff now – what is good to eat, bad to eat, type of exercise and my exercise can be free. I do go out and walk a lot. I don’t have a trainer all the time!
‘I have fun as well but I know when to quit and when to buckle down. I know how to maintain it, which is the hardest thing.’
She added: ‘I’ve got these new 29 steps that I do. You know, it does work for me, some nutritionist out there might think ‘Well, that’s not good’ but I have studied a lot.’
Smitten: Michelle announced her engagement in December 2018 after Doug romantically proposed with a stunning eight carat diamond ring at their London home (pictured in 2017)