Bono walking behind Ali

Bono walking behind Ali? There's not a chance

23 MARCH 2013

Bono's got a big voice – and a big ego. That's why his wife, Ali Hewson, can't imagine the U2 frontman becoming the 'First Gentleman'.

Hewson has cleared up the rumours that she was approached in 2008 to consider running for president and admitted that if it were true, two things would have to happen that, as far as she's concerned, never will.

"No . . . I'd have to learn Irish, and Bono would have to walk behind me," Ali said.

Another Irish star had a pop at the singer this week. Poor Bono was given a hard time by Sinéad O'Connor during a lengthy interview with an English paper.

Although she thinks wonders of his efforts in Africa to eliminate extreme poverty, Sinéad put the boot in by criticising Bono for what she said was his lack of effort on the home front.

She thinks the rock'n'roll legend and fellow philanthropist Bob Geldof should use their star status to highlight topical issues in their home country – like the subject of abuse.

"To me there's a corrupt silence on terribly important matters," O'Connor said.

"There will be a blank chapter in the book of Irish history and it will be titled: What Bono and Geldof said on Irish Matters, 2000-2012, which is when all of the child sex reports came out.

"I admire both of them for what they have done in Africa, but I think that the Irish people have been relatively silent on these matters because the artists have been silent."

If that didn't do a job of irking Bono, her following comment might: "Mind you, male rock stars cease to be artists the moment they start dyeing their hair."

independent.it