Twitter users have been enjoying the Wagatha Christie trial for a myriad of reasons, not limited to unveilings of ‘evil’ WhatsApp messages between Rebekah Vardy and her agent, mystery celebrity affairs and ‘chipolata’ manhood references.
However social media has also been tickled by the court sketches which have emerged from the trial, some suggesting that Rebekah should ‘change target mid-case’ and others saying her and Coleen should ‘both be suing the court artist’.
Today saw the fifth instalment of the dramatic courtroom saga, which was brought by Rebekah after Coleen claimed stories about her had been leaked from her Instagram account following her own social media investigation – which involved her posting made-up stories which only Rebekah’s account could see.
As Coleen today revealed that she didn’t ‘believe a word that was coming out of (Rebekah’s) mouth’, the court sketch artist had captured her on the witness stand.
She was pictured in a variety of styles, from her cheekbones highlighted with white for a glam effect, to a more muted brown-and-black palette.
TODAY: A court artist’s sketch by Priscilla Coleman of Coleen Rooney on the witness stand at the High Court this morning
TODAY: A sketch by court artist Elizabeth Cook of Coleen Rooney, watched by husband Wayne, as she gives evidence today
It comes following the past days’ hilarity at the drawings, which saw Wayne Rooney being compared to a ‘potato’ and Coleen, to ‘Norman Bates’ mother’.
One user wrote: ‘Never mind suing Rebekah Vardy, I’d be suing the court artist if I was our Coleen. Terrible business this.’
Another said: ‘Coleen Rooney & Rebekah Vardy should both be suing the court artist.’
TODAY: A sketch by court artist Julia Quenzler of Coleen Rooney at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today
TODAY: A sketch by court artist Elizabeth Cook of Coleen Rooney, watched by Rebekah Vardy, being re examined by her barrister David Sherborne today, as she gives evidence at the Royal Courts Of Justice in London during the libel battle
‘If I was Rebekah Vardy I’d be asking if I could change my target mid-case from Coleen Rooney to these court artists. Just superb,’ someone added.
Pointing out a comparison, another user commented: ‘Who on earth is doing the court’s drawings? This is meant to be #coleenrooney It looks absolutely nothing like her.
‘It looks more like #NormanBates mother!’
And the rival WAGs haven’t been the only ones whose depictions have faced scrutiny.
Social media users have also been tickled by the court sketches which have emerged from the trial
Last week social media users were also left in stitches by the Wagatha Christie court sketches – with some saying the artists have made Wayne Rooney look like a ‘potato’.
One fan, commenting on the court sketch of Wayne, said it had made him look like a certain heavyweight boxer. They wrote: ‘Tyson Fury will be furious.’
Another said: ‘That’s taken artistic liberty too the extreme.’ And one Twitter user simply described the person in the snap in one word: ‘Potato!’
Commenters on Twitter have also likened one portrait of the Rooneys to art styles from the 1400s.
Mike Peters said: ‘Thanks to the court artist for allowing us to imagine what it would look like if the Rooneys were at Agincourt.’
LAST FRIDAY: A sketch by court artist Elizabeth Cook of Coleen Rooney, watched by Wayne, as she gives evidence on May 13
LAST FRIDAY: A sketch of Coleen Rooney on the witness stand in her ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case against Rebekah Vardy
LAST THURSDAY: Coleen Rooney sits next to her husband Wayne Rooney on May 12 in this court sketch by Priscilla Coleman
He was referencing a battle between the English and French in 1415, which has been heavily depicted through paintings.
Other sketches from the trial have also been picked up on social media, with people suggesting that both Rebekah and Wayne Rooney ‘aren’t happy’ with the way they have been depicted.
Charlotte Johnson said on Twitter: ‘I keep seeing random things on Twitter about Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, not even interested in this nonsense, but I applaud the sketch artist in court for getting Michael Jackson pretty much bang on.’
Others focused on the portrayal of Wayne Rooney, with one likening his image to American professional wrestler, Brock Lesnar.
Another compared an image of the football manager, 36, to the restoration of a Spanish fresco of Jesus, now referred to as ‘Monkey Christ’, by Cecilia Jimenez.
It comes as the sensational trial today saw Coleen reveal how she ramped up her ‘Wagatha Christie’ investigation when her husband Wayne was ‘misbehaving’ with a blonde barmaid during a ten-hour bender with teammates in Florida.
LAST THURSDAY: A sketch by court artist Elizabeth Cook of Coleen Rooney’s barrister David Sherborne (centre back) questioning Rebekah Vardy (left) as she gives evidence, as Coleen (right) and Wayne (second right) Rooney watch on May 12
LAST THURSDAY: A sketch by court artist Priscilla Coleman of Rebekah Vardy giving evidence on May 12 after taking the stand
She also admitted keeping her probe secret from the former England captain – as well as lying to Rebekah after being asked why she had unfollowed her on Instagram, as the women’s £3million libel trial continued.
London’s High Court heard the sting gathered momentum at a time when Rooney was ‘misbehaving.’
Asked if that was the case by Rebekah’s barrister Hugh Tomlinson QC, Coleen replied: ‘There’s been a few unfortunate things that have happened and they have been publicised.
‘It’s happened quite a few times and I’ve dealt with it. We’ve dealt with it as a couple, as a family. There are a few things that have been publicised over a few years.’
It comes following the past days’ hilarity at the drawings, which saw Wayne Rooney being compared to a ‘potato’ and Coleen, to ‘Norman Bates’ mother’
Speaking of Rebekah’s response to her ‘troubles’, Coleen said: ‘I did feel that when there’s tough times going on, I felt Mrs Vardy would message more. I felt It’s when there are things in the news, she would message me and say “How are you?”. I felt like it was fishing for information.’
The court heard one occasion when Rebekah went ‘fishing for information’ happened hours after her husband allegedly ‘spent time’ with the barmaid in Florida.
Coleen told how Rebekah got in contact after The Sun told how she was threatening to quit the US and return to Britain after Rooney’s encounter with Vicki Rosiek when he was playing for DC United in Washington.
Making contact with Coleen at lunchtime on February 11 2019, the day after the article appeared, Rebekah wrote: ‘Hi my love! Hope you are ok! Just saw another s***ty story online!
Another compared an image of the football manager to the restoration of a Spanish fresco of Jesus, now referred to as ‘Monkey Christ’, by Cecilia Jimenez
Artist impression of Rebekah Vardy and Wayne & Coleen Rooney at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Sketch from May 10
An artist impression of Rebekah Vardy giving evidence (left) to Barrister Mr Sherborne (right) with Wayne and Coleen Rooney looking on (centre) on May 11
‘Can they not just leave you guys alone…I don’t know how you do it! It’s relentless…stay strong. Sending hugs.’
Coleen replied: ‘Thanks, just a pain in a**e…it’s the kids half term so just gonna come home.’
Messaging Coleen back, Rebekah wrote: ‘It’s a joke! Annoys me someone close to you is clearly selling you out! And for what…I don’t blame you come home and be with your family’.
Last week social media users were also left in stitches by the Wagatha Christie court sketches – with some saying the artists have made Wayne Rooney look like a ‘potato’
Over a two-month period, Coleen posted up to 50 stories on her account, up to five or six a day, that were only visible to Rebekah’s account, the court heard. Mr Tomlinson said: ‘This was really a serious and concerted operation wasn’t it Mrs Rooney.’
Coleen replied, saying: ‘It was important but I felt like it’s been made out in the public a lot more important than it actually is.’
Asked by Mr Tomlinson why she had not told Rooney about her investigation, Coleen replied: ‘One thing I don’t do is put any troubles or worries on anyone else. I don’t like to put pressure on anyone until I need to.
Rebekah (left) and Coleen (right) both arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in London for day five of the trial
‘That’s what I’ve always done. I wanted to do it for myself without telling anyone.
‘There’s trust and there’s trust. It was quite hard keeping it to myself but I had to do it if I wanted to find out who was doing it to me.’
Also today, Coleen admitted lying to Rebekah after being asked why she had unfollowed her on Instagram.
Coleen and Wayne Rooney arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today as the high-profile libel battle continues
During cross-examination about her actions, 36-year-old Coleen also told Mr Tomlinson at the trial today: ‘Yes I did lie, it was a cover-up for what I was investigating, I had my suspicions.’
The trial comes after a widely-shared social media post in October 2019, in which Coleen said she had carried out a ‘sting operation’ and accused 40-year-old Rebekah of leaking ‘false stories’ about her private life to the press.
Rebekah, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, denies leaking stories to the media and is suing her fellow footballer’s wife for libel, while Coleen is defending the claim on the basis her post was ‘substantially true’.