To date, the most controversial of selfies tend to involve the subject wearing nothing but a smile. As it happens, it's David Cameron, Barack Obama and Helle Thorning-Schmid's smiles at Mandela's memorial concert that are apparently the issue here.
In response to the "outrage" allegedly felt by the public at world leaders attempting to amuse themselves during a four-hour memorial concert, the photographer responsible for capturing the image has spoken out in their defense (his blog post on the matter is exceedingly long, so we're bringing you an edited version via Digital Spy). Over to you, Roberto Schmid (clearly Robert Smith's long lost Italian/German cousin)
"All around me in the stadium, South Africans were dancing, singing and laughing to honour their departed leader. It was more like a carnival atmosphere, not at all morbid," Roberto Schmidt said. The ceremony had already gone on for two hours and would last another two. The atmosphere was totally relaxed - I didn't see anything shocking in my viewfinder, president of the US or not. We are in Africa... I later read on social media that Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved on seeing the Danish prime minister take the picture. But photos can lie. In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance. I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have. At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural."
In short - cop yisserselves on, overly-sensitive media sorts grappling for an angle!
Personally, seeing people who have to act like droids 95% of the time having a laugh is warming. Lets just be grateful there wasn't a Saxophone lying around.
Someone's funeral is a celebration of their life. Where possible, people should kick up their heels and enjoy themselves. People still approach me to say "This sounds wrong, but I had the best time at your Mum's funeral." That is possibly the biggest compliment to someone's life one can receive.
