Divine Desy a devil for media

Divine Desy a devil for media

JAKARTA (JP): There is no love lost between entertainer Desy Ratnasari and the media.

Their relationship has been put to the test by reporters' unrelenting coverage of the actress-singer's romantic ups-and- downs and, most recently, a drug scandal.

Her pale beauty and off-screen exploits are selling points in a public fascinated with celebrity gossip. However, her hostile attitude toward the media, which began when she was linked to former minister and business tycoon Abdul Latief, has led to harshly critical articles.

Desy is not one to take the barbs lying down. She is notoriously cool to most reporters and has had heated run-ins with photographers. When interview questions rub her the wrong way, Desy has been known to reprimand the offending reporters and cut interviews short.

She also uses every opportunity to trade her own jibes with the press.

"I can't come over there to greet you because it will be in tomorrow's papers that I'm dating you," Desy joked to a woman fan during a singing engagement at the Hotel Sheraton Media on Friday night.

When a portly middle-aged man performed a duet with Desy and then jokingly requested a kiss, she quickly demurred. "I'm still a married woman and there's too many reporters around -- they'll say you're the other man."

Despite the digs, a defiant Desy professed to be no longer concerned about what was written about her. "I have a new attitude that I'll get on with my life, and they can say whatever they want."

While she argues the media focus on her personal life is intrusive and unwarranted, Desy, if Friday's performance was anything to go by, does have every reason to fear music critics. She croaked out a rendition of Celine Dion's That's the Way It Is, her voice trailing off as she woefully missed the high notes. The Canadian diva has nothing to worry about. (brc).