Tricia Walsh-Smith, YouTube divorce lady, yells, does tarot

Self-described "YouTube superstar" Tricia Walsh-Smith has followed up her original high-profile divorce rant with a decidedly less titillating "Video #2." This time there's no camera movement, no live phone calls to her husband's secretary, no mention of "con-doms" and, perhaps most disappointingly, no story development.    

Appearing in her bedroom in some kind of flowy tunic in front of a camera (not a webcam, just something somebody put on a tripod), Walsh-Smith uses her encore not to describe the repercussions of the original video — like what her husband's response was, or what her five minutes of fame has been like, or whether she's gotten any movie offers — but to swing from tangent to tangent like a disoriented Tarzan. At one point she finger-waggingly castigates viewers for their abusive e-mails ("How dare you!"), as though she's the first to get flamed by the YouTube public.

Walsh-Smith and whoever is helping her make the videos are trying to set her up as an online personality. They play up her viral video "superstardom" ("3.2m hits and counting") and offer a teaser to the next episode, apparently to be released after the court proceedings in her husband's attempt to evict her: "D-Day fast approaches! Will Tricia end up in a tent?" 

But they need to up their game. This time Walsh-Smith's angry rants don't sound like good story material; they sound like one of those tipsy phone messages you wish you could have back.

I offer these criticisms only because I think there's plenty to work with here. With a good story doctor (doesn't she know any playwrights? Oh, right — she is one!), a mobile crew and a few hundred bucks for coffee and doughnuts, this could be a runaway reality hit.

Without all that, though, it's looking more like a runaway train.

Comments

[Angel]

I think what Tricia is doing is wonderful: IF ITS ALL TRUE !!!! If she is lying, she needs to hush up.

Also, Tricia: in your last rant you said you and your hubby never even had sex and yet he has porn and condoms. Did you wonder yet if the condoms were for your hubby to have sex with OTHER MEN and not females? I'm sure thats quite possible.

Keep ranting Tricia! You have been wronged! While it wasn't about money for you to marry, make DAMN SURE IT'S ABOUT MONEY WHEN YOU DIVORCE! It's the only thing men understand is the loss of their money.

[Raja]

I think people are being too harsh. This woman is facing an ordeal and chose a creative outlet where she could gain some control over a powerful man who wants to throw her out without a dime, after 10 years of marriage. The man has all the cards, and so her tarot cards give her a sense of courage and victory. So what? Our society is quick to condemn women for unorthodox actions, or having a free spirit, especially if they're over 25, and even women buy into this mass misogynistic trend. At least give her credit for bringing her plight outside of the courtroom, where she would, and probably will be massacred. At least she'll go out shouting. She has grown on me, and I'm sympathetic to her.

[Black Kat]

While I understand the need to sympathize with scorned women, I think any woman who needs to be so public about soliciting sympathy...I think there's more than meets the eye here. Wanting so badly to trash your soon-to-be-ex while also loudly proclaiming oneself victim really reeks of vindictiveness and self-centeredness. And it's not just women who do this...I'm a woman whose ex-husband trashed her on a personal and professional level, even though he himself initiated the breakup (go figure). So I really have little sympathy for such people...male or female.

[card lady]

They aren't tarot cards, they are Angel Cards by Doreen Virtue, who is probably loving the free publicity! But you're right, this is reality-youtube.tv that the public loves.

[Oudler]

Card lady is correct! The deck she is using is really a non-Tarot oracle. I know I'm drifting from the topic but the popular media should get their facts in order regarding Tarot cards. An oracle deck by definition is used for cartomancy. Playing cards are used for playing card games. Tarot cards are used for both cartomancy and for playing card games. The Tarot was created for a card game similar to Whist and the use of those cards for fortune telling did not begin until long after the creation of the deck. Tarot card games are still played today especially in Europe.

[BARB]

HAS DIGNITY AND SELF RESPECT DISAPPEARED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD MAKE SUCH A FOOL OF THEMSELVES.

[wiseone]

This seems to be a rather desperate and obvious try for a reality show from her. Problem is, no will will watch because she seems so unlikeable.

Then again, maybe it would be fun to see her actually have to get a job.