Have you seen Obama crying yet? Thanking campaign staff and volunteers at his Chicago headquarters on Wednesday, the re-elected president paused, welled up and wiped away a single tear, to rapturous applause from supporters.
The video went straight up on his official YouTube channel – we'd guess – for two reasons: to show volunteers and staff the depth of gratitude he felt for their hard work; and because Obama's people know that when it's real and the time is right, nothing does more for a person's public image than a little well-intentioned weeping.
Likewise, when the time is wrong, or the tears just don't seem warranted, it can be a very bad move indeed. Here are nine more teary moments, mixing heartfelt humanising triumphs with some embarrassing explosions of waterworks. And one that's just plain weird.
Gordon Brown wells up for Piers Morgan
It says a lot about the public attitude towards Gordon Brown in February 2010 that this YouTube clip is entitled "Gordon Brown cries for votes". The cynicism seems unfair. He had, after all, been asked to talk about the death of his daughter and look directly at Piers Morgan at the same time. That would probably reduce most people to tears.
Vladimir Putin's 'We have won!' speech
Flag-waving supporters filled Red Square, but the pageantry was overshadowed by a suspicious little trickle from Vlad's right eye. The explanation from Putin's people: it was the wind. Clearly they're not so keen on getting emotional in Russia.
Andy Murray's 'I'm getting closer'
It's generally considered bad form to crank the tears out when you lose, but an exception has to be made for Andy Murray. The usually dour and grumpy Scot transformed his image in the space of four minutes when he fought back heavy sobs to thank his fans and loved ones after losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final this year.
Glenn Beck's sorry, he just loves America
This is the weird one. When rightwing shock-jock Glenn Beck broke down in nationalistic weeping on air, it probably made him even more popular with the patriotism brigade. But it confirmed mounting fears among everyone else – including even the Fox News management – that Beck wasn't really the kind of man you should trust with an audience. Or even a pencil sharpener.
Ken Livingstone sobs at his campaign launch
It's fair to say this one didn't go his way. By all means, cry at some truly moving story on the campaign trail. But never, ever cry at your own manufactured election broadcast. Not a very mayoral look.
Gwyneth Paltrow implodes on Oscar win
The jury is still out on this one. Paltrow gasped and grimaced her way through floods as she thanked her agent, family and half of Hollywood in what was either an over-blown whirlwind of self-important sobs or a tender and endearing moment of raw emotion.
Chris Hoy fights tears on the podium
Moving, if a little bit odd this one. Cry when you first win gold, sure. Cry the second time, maybe, if it was hard-fought, or against the odds. But crying the sixth time you win a gold feels a bit naive. You'd sort of expect to win by then, wouldn't you?
Paul Gascoigne cries about a yellow card
When an ill-judged yellow card denied him a potential place in the 1990 World Cup final, Gazza bawled like a little baby, and a nation came to love him like a child too. In the end, of course, it was immaterial. England lost on penalties. But, in memory of Gazza's tears, losing on penalties became a team tradition.
Rebekah Brooks cries twice for Cameron
Sadly we only have Brooks' own word for this and no actual footage of her in tears. If you believe the former News International chief, then David Cameron's 2009 conference speech had her reaching for the hankies twice. A claim it would be easier to believe if it hadn't been sent in a text to David Cameron himself.
Comments (…)
Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion