President of the US, world leaders had a blast: talk about bad timing

Dec 11, 2013 19:36 GMT  ·  By
David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Barack Obama grin for a selfie at Nelson Mandela’s memorial
2 photos
   David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Barack Obama grin for a selfie at Nelson Mandela’s memorial

We all mourn in different ways but, whichever that might be, we would probably never take selfies at a funeral or memorial service because, let’s be real here, it’s in very bad taste. US President Barack Obama and at least 2 other world leaders clearly don’t think the same.

Above is a photo of Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt smiling for a selfie at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, which took place the other day at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The event was described as one where Mandela’s work and life achievements were celebrated, so the tone wasn’t one of mourning. Still, wiping out your phone to snap selfies as if you’re a tween at a Justin Bieber concert and you want all your friends to know just how happy you are to be there, seems rather inappropriate.

Apparently, I’m not the only one to think that, so Mr. Obama is getting lots of backlash online as we speak for not showing more restraint at what was, after all, a somber occasion.

Aside from the countless photos of Obama doing selfies, another pic is making the rounds online right now: it shows the President apparently flirting with Thorning-Schmidt, while Michelle Obama sulks in the next chair. The photo taken next shows Michelle between Barack and the blonde politician.

You will find it in the gallery below and it hardly needs a comment.

Obama at Mandela memorial (2 Images)

David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Barack Obama grin for a selfie at Nelson Mandela’s memorial
Barack Obama and Helle Thorning-Schmidt also flirted heavily during the memorial service
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