Momsen blasted over knife comments
(UKPA) – 5 hours ago
Teen star Taylor Momsen has been blasted by anti-violence campaigners after boasting she carries a flick-knife everywhere and even took it on a plane.
The Gossip Girl actress and wannabe singer told how she has a knife collection and "relaxes" by opening and closing a switchblade.
But her words were condemned by campaigner Lyn Costello, co-founder of Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, who said her comments were "warped" and she needed to "get a brain" and set a better example to young fans.
Momsen, who is in the UK to promote her band The Pretty Reckless, made her comments in an interview with the Metro newspaper. She told the newspaper: "I have a knife collection. I have my favourite black knife with me all the time. It's a switchblade. It relaxes me to flick it. I close it and open it."
Momsen went on: "I flew from New York to Los Angeles and still had a couple of knives in my purse. I thought I took them all out but they got tucked up in the folds.
"I took them through security, took them on the plane, opened my bag to get my wallet in LA and they fell out. I was like 'holy s***'," the 16-year-old added.
Mrs Costello criticised the US TV star and said: "When they're put up as a teenage icon or any kind of idol they have to think about what they're saying.
"We're losing our teenagers on a high scale to knife crime. I'd rather they were saying don't have a knife and I certainly am quite appalled by her saying 'I sit and play with it to relax me'. It's just ridiculous. It, to me, just shows that she's a little bit warped.
"America has got the same problem with violence, it's worldwide now, and what we should be doing as sensible adults is now saying to our young people - it is not trendy, it is not cool, it is not fashionable.
"Not that it's okay to sit and play with a switchblade, because a child, or that young person that listens to them and thinks 'Well I'll have one in my bag' could end up either killing somebody or having it used against them. So get a brain."
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