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Frank Lampard’s amazing rant at ‘idiot’ DJ
Amar Singh24 Apr 2009
Footballer Frank Lampard made an extraordinary appearance on live radio to defend himself after his bitter split from fiancée Elen Rives.
In an emotional and angry exchange with LBC presenter James O'Brien, the Chelsea and England star hit back at accusations that he was bad father.
He said: “Since I've had kids every penny I earn and every yard I run on the football pitch is for my kids. It hurts me every day when I wake up and my kids are not there.”
The 30-year-old called the presenter an “idiot” for upsetting his family on the first anniversary of his mother's death and accused Rives of “having had a few drinks” when she made the remarks in a national newspaper.
He said: “Someone approached her in a bar and got her talking after she had a few drinks. My ex-girlfriend is very distressed about the story. She gave it away in a moment of weakness.”
Miss Rives said that their daughters Luna, three, and Isla, one, were living in a small flat while Lampard had stayed in their £8.5 million townhouse.
Lampard called the phone-in show after O'Brien said that men who allow their children to live in inferior circumstances to them were “weak and scum”.
In a 15-minute rant, Lampard said: “My sister just phoned me up because she was upset about you calling me scum. Did you call me that?
“Since I've had kids every penny I earn and every yard I run on the football pitch is for my kids.”
Miss Rives, who split with Lampard last November, said he was a “bastard” for turning their family home into a “bachelor pad” and seeing other girls while she was struggling to raise their daughters.
But Lampard said: “They are living in a temporary flat which is actually in Fulham. It's not a bad flat at all. I am buying a house at the moment which is going to be of equal standard to mine if not better.
“It hurts me every day when I wake up and my kids are not there. Luckily I have a relationship with my ex-girlfriend where we will share custody or whatever you want to call it. For three nights a week — and I'm away two or three nights for my football — the kids wake up in my house. I look after them solely.”
Listen to Frank Lampard's radio rant
Lampard became emotional when O'Brien said that he also had daughters and would fight “tooth and nail” to keep his family together.
He said: “What do you think I have been doing for the last two years? Let me tell you something now, right, my mother died a year ago today and that has had a huge impact on my life and my family's life and on my sister's life and unfortunately that has had a huge impact on my relationship at home. I find it insulting that you insinuate I wouldn't fight tooth and nail for my kids. You don't know anything about me.
“The hardest part of my -up is not waking up with my kids every day. So before you start insinuating and calling people weak and scum on a radio station, sitting on a high horse which you are ... I hope one day that your wife or your girlfriend doesn't come up to you and say, I don't want to be with you any more.' That will hurt you as well.”
He then went on to tell O'Brien that he had no right to discuss his personal life.
He said: “I have to wake up and listen to idiots like you say, I read this' and this is what he's doing' and it's wrong. I put up with it and keep my mouth shut. The only reason I rang you is because my sister is distressed and as I said, it's the anniversary of my mum's death.
“Do you think my sister needs to hear idiots like you saying that on the radio station?”
O'Brien apologised for bringing up the issue on the anniversary of Lampard's mother's death — she died of pneumonia, aged 58 — but added: “You will understand that I am not likely to have an anniversary like that in my desktop diary.
“You cannot expect verbatim first-hand quotes from the mother of your children to go unremarked by the general public.”
Reader views (25)
Big up Frank for standing up to defend his integrity and James should be sacked for calling him a scum and being judgemental - how dare you question Frank's responsibilty to his family you dont even know frank. its about time someone tells James O'Brien to thoroughly do his research before coming on air and claiming to be Mr perfect, for once he was quiet.
Nice one Frank and goodluck. Be careful in d future.
- Koyor, Edmonton, 29/04/2009 23:58
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Frank is not able to see his mother every day as he used to and is now also not able to see his children everyday as he used to. It appears that he is trying to do the right thing by all concerned here and should be applauded for his actions and also in his dialogue to the "scumbag" from LBC. I do not support Chelsea FC but I have noticed that his performances over the past few months have been even better than previously as he seems to be absorbing himself in his football.
- Jeremy, Croydon, 28/04/2009 15:21
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Shes a gold digger who'll find another mug soon to pray on. In the meanwhile she needs some spare cash so she lies to a reporter and then claim "oops, sorry I was drunk!"
Sorry Frankie, you were too stupid to see her coming along. Better luck next time.
- Zznhl, London, 27/04/2009 08:12
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One problem with James O’Brien is that he’s incapable of being unbiased both politically and with religions, the bloke is so FAR LEFT. When callers to his show are winning a discussion, he does what they cant, press the MUTE button. This now shows how sad the 'man' is to call Lampard SCUM and hide behind is microphone, he clearly didn’t expect Lampard to phone in.
James O’Brien should be sacked!
- Steve, Surbiton, Surrey, 26/04/2009 09:06
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I read both sides of the story.
His is the story of a doting dad who is desparate to be heard; a man who cares to clear his name; and a man who have no problem to admit that he was rapped up in his grief and his personal relationship suffered as a result.
Hers is the outburst of a woman who have just realised that she made the worst mistake of her life when she left him; she finds the flat small; and she realised that she should have married him before she left him -at least she should have got the house!
I know it takes two to tango; still, I admire Frank for putting the record straight, and I pity her for not having the widsom and decency of a 34 year old woman-(starry eyes and flashed boobs, in the middle of the night, speak volumes for you love!)
As for the children will be better off with him -she should consider that next time she uses them to get to him.
Maria -an Arsenal fun
- Maria Kapiniari, london, uk, 25/04/2009 21:07
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What everyone has failed to mention is that she left him. She is now bemoaning the fact that her quality of life and her spending power is now far lower than she has been experiencing and what she wants to maintain. She should have married him before having children. She probably now regrets this.
- Jan, London, 25/04/2009 14:15
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In reply to Scott NYC, having read all the comments on here and then yours I have come to the conclusion there is only one moron on here and that title is yours and yours alone, you poor sad little boy!!!
- Bob, London, UK, 25/04/2009 11:58
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Totally agree with the DJ. That's what happens Frankie...mee ol china when money becomes the most important thing in your life.
- Bevvo, Stroud Gloucestershire, 25/04/2009 10:46
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I can't say I like Frank Lampard, but after this I might change my opinion. Nobody's perfect, and neither is he, but I really respect what his actions and his words. He stood up for himself passionately and articulately, and for very good reasons. Nobody likes it when someone preaches at them, let alone some busy body that doesn't know them, let alone if it's broadcast in public, let alone if it involves a painful split with a girlfriend who also is the mother of your (now absent) kids. Well done for sticking up for yourself Frank.
- Ted, London UK, 25/04/2009 10:17
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I agree wholeheartedly with everything that "Mickyinlondon" has said, Frank is a local boy from where I live and they are a very close and caring family, what gives this idiot DJ O'Brien the right to slag off a well known and well respected member of that family live on the air, all praise to Frank for putting him in his place.
- Bob, London, UK, 25/04/2009 10:05
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Frank is a moron.
- Scott, NYC, 25/04/2009 01:12
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Good job Frank!
I think James O'Brien might get see what it's like getting heavy puplic criticism for a few weeks and see how he copes with it.
- Rob, Woking, 24/04/2009 22:16
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I was surprised how well Frank held his own as the
conversation went on, especially as you say O'brien
is a professional broadcaster. He was articulate and
controlled. I'm impressed, he should get his own radio show when he packs up footie.
- Adrian, Esher, 24/04/2009 17:20
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Delphine, you're spot on - what a very poor DJ the chap is.
- Les, woking, 24/04/2009 17:03
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Frank is right to hit back at critics that know nothing at all about him and his life; if he did not; the scandal mongers would just increase their garden fence gossip.
It would be better if he did not have to, and he was able maintain his dignity in private; but there you go; some people need a whack in the mouth from time to time.
I do not know the man at all; but he is from London, and from working class roots; he is also from a very united, loving, and loyal family.
This alone would stop him ever neglecting his own children; not that he would anyway etc.
Frank is very good at his job; and in turn that makes him a powerful earner, and as such his children will benefit from his ability, and having a father to be proud of.
If anyone is at fault here; it has to be the mother for opening her mouth in public.
Give all this time; and everything will turn out fine for everyone; and the cheap-skate media wanabe’s should stop making mountains out of mole hills; if only for the children’s sakes.
What will be; will be.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 24/04/2009 16:21
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To Paul, London.
What a rediculous thing to say.
Are you saying then that because Frank Lampard has split up with his partner that he has had kids with, then he should never see another woman? Do you think his ex will never see another man either? If you have a relationship you need to spend money on it.
So what's next? He should be punished by not being able to see his kids as well? Relationships fall apart and i'm sure both parents are deeply hurt, neither parent OR the kids should be hurt any further, that is why fathers have been protesting for years regarding access and maintenance payments, or have you not noticed by having your head buried in the sand?
- Paul R, London, 24/04/2009 16:21
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O'Brien, like too many radio 'presenters', likes easy targets. This time, he didn't have one. I'm a Spurs fan, but this isn't about football, it's about mouthy, no-nothing idiots on the radio, who think they can pontificate without engaging what litle brain they do have. I'm entirely behind Frank Lampard.
- John, Lincoln, UK, 24/04/2009 16:16
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Mr O'Brien is very good at ranting on his show calling people "idiots", "sum" and sometimes openly laughing at people who phone in, if they are a little inarticulate - not surprising for people who are not professional broadcasters on a live broadcast.
He shouldn't judge and it was especially insensitive to make such an accusation on the first anniversary of Frank's mums death - he was obviously very close to her, and a first anniversary is always a particularly difficult and painful one.
- Graham, Ilford Essex, 24/04/2009 16:15
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O'brien is typical of the rubbish on LBC, him and Ferrari are a couple of poseurs, pretending to be right wing shock jocks when they are just rabble spewing hate to get popular with the council estate underclass.
Frank should have punched his lights out.
- Kerry, Purley, 24/04/2009 16:11
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Fair play to Frank Lampard - rightly so he should stick up for himself and his family! This DJ doesn't know anything about him or his life. People always seem to forget there are two sides to every story.
- Kirsty, Poole, 24/04/2009 16:04
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Agree with Frank......the DJ is such an idiot....
- Guido, london, 24/04/2009 15:46
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James O'Brien got spanked, and then spanked again by Kay Burley on Sky News.
Some days you just shouldn't get up. Or if you do, keep your gob shut.
- Roger, Surrey, 24/04/2009 15:21
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I always thought he was the most appalling of them all. And he is.
- Delphine, Oxford, 24/04/2009 15:21
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“You cannot expect verbatim first-hand quotes from the mother of your children to go unremarked by the general public.”
Yes you can. It's called invasion of privacy, especially where children are concerned. O'Brien is a moron.
- Blue Baby, London, 24/04/2009 14:59
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Every penny he earns is for his kids ... apart from those spent on his latest bird of course.
- Paul, London, 24/04/2009 14:50
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