| Popbitch is a weekly UK-based celebrity and pop music newsletter dating from the early 2000s. Much of the material for the newsletter
comes from the Popbitch message boards, frequented by music industry insiders, gossips and the casually interested. The board has
at various times been credited for celebrity rumours (both false and true) appearing in the press, and the invention and usage of
many phrases.
The website was the first of a slew of satirical and irreverent UK gossip sites
that, often playing fast and loose with journalistic ethics, skirted the limits of
defamation law. Its uncompromising ethos of cruel humour gave it a feel somewhat similar to usenet gossip newsgroups.
After falsely accusing a famous British TV celebrity of illegal acts, the board was closed and reopened with board members as
editors. The free spirit and anarchy that characterized the early days was heavily curtailed as a result.
However, its rise in profile has continued, with frequent name-checks in newpaper "diary" columns, and it can claim at least a
role in popularised terms such as Croydon (or council) facelift,
Chav and pramface (a term of abuse contracted from 'a face more suited to pushing a pram around a council estate).
It is partly because of this type of neologism that journalist Julie Burchill has heavily and repeatedly criticised Popbitch for a systemic
middle class bias, doing little more that denigrating those who get "ideas above their station". However, Julie used to be a
regular member herself, posting with the name landfill.
Like Julie, message board posters use amusing nicknames to hide their real identities. Apart from Rich Johnston who posts as
richjohnston. But then, he's a comic book geek.
Even toned down, however, Popbitch can claim its share of exclusives - one poster reported David Beckham's move from Manchester
United to Real Madrid at least four months before sports pages picked up
on the story - then stood by the story in the face of repeated denials.
The site has spawned its own spin-off, Bobpitch, which, unlike its parent, requires registration to view.
External links
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