Made In Chelsea millionaire Jamie Laing is accused of being ‘privileged’ as he uses Denzel Washington quote to claim ‘ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship’
He raked in a staggering £2million in just one year through his sweets brand Candy Kittens.
And McVitie’s heir Jamie Laing sparked debate when he took to Instagram on Tuesday to tell his followers that tough times are better for you than the easy life.
Quoting a speech Denzel Washington gave to promote racial equality in cinema, the reality star, 32, said: ‘I wanted to share something with you that I think is really important…”ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.”‘
‘Privileged’: Made In Chelsea millionaire Jamie Laing sparked debate on Instagram on Tuesday when he quoted Denzel Washington to say ‘ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship’
The Strictly Come Dancing explained: ‘It’s no news to anyone that things are tough at the moment and people are really struggling.
‘When things are easy in life it means that you remain in your lane, you remain stagnant, and you don’t really grow as an individual.
‘When things are hard in life it means that you have to be persistent and consistent. It means that you have to overcome different challenges each day… you have to master a certain craft that you’re trying to achieve.
‘I really believe that making things uncomfortable for yourself is far more important than making things easy for yourself,’ said the Private Parts Podcast host.
Challenge accepted: ‘I really believe that making things uncomfortable for yourself is far more important than making things easy for yourself,’ said the reality star (pictured in 2020)
Fans were quick to point out the affluent lifestyle that Jamie inherited when he was born into the McVitie’s biscuit empire and privately educated.
‘This is the most privileged view of today’s challenges I can possibly imagine. The disabled, isolated and poverty stricken sections of society know this is bulls***,’ one follower wrote under the clip.
Another fan said: ‘I’d like to know what you know about having a hard life. I mean no disrespect here Jamie but you’ve had a better upbringing than many of us here.’
Controversial: Fans told Jamie he knew nothing about having a hard life and his opinion was ‘bullsh*t’
The inspirational line was first said in an extremely different context at an event for The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAAACP) by Denzel Washington in 2017.
Speaking on overcoming the adversity that ethnic minorities face in the workplace, the actor said: ‘I am particularly proud and happy about the young filmmakers, actors, singers, writers, producers that are coming up behind my generation.
‘So, never give up. Without commitment, you’ll never start. But more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish.
Origin story: Denzel Washington first said the line at an event for The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAAACP) in 2017 (pictured in January)
‘It’s not easy….If it were easy there’d be no Mykelti Williamson, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, and there’d be no Denzel Washington.
‘So, keep working, keep striving. Never give up. If you fall down seven times, get up eight. Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. So, keep moving, keep growing, keep learning. See you at work,’ concluded the star.
Black actors were nominated in four major categories for the first time in the award’s history that year. In the two years before that, nominees were all white actors.