http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/karima-el-mahroug-berlusconis-ruby-ruffles-feathers-at-the-vienna-opera-ball/story-e6frg6so-1226015876853
Karima el-Mahroug, Berlusconi's Ruby, ruffles feathers at the Vienna Opera Ball From: AP March 04, 2011 11:58AM Karima el-Mahroug, nicknamed Ruby, and her host, Austrian businessman Richard Lugner, enjoy a dance at the Vienna Opera Ball where US actor Larry Hagman was also among the guests. Source: AP THE TV cameras were told to ignore her, and Austria's rich and powerful sought to avoid her. But amid all the bling on display last night at the Vienna Opera Ball, most eyes were still on one particular jewel - Ruby. With Ruby, aka Karima el-Mahroug, at the centre of the scandal plaguing Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, her scheduled appearance at Austria's ball of balls was a sensation most of the wealthy and influential guests present would have been happy to do without. State TV was initially ordered to avoid covering her. But with the Berlusconi scandal big news, she was hard to keep out of sight - let alone out of mind. Ruby's comments on the eve of the ball added to Vienna high society's bad case of nerves. "I can't waltz," she told reporters before pausing for effect, and adding with a smile: "I can only belly dance." For centuries, Vienna's high society has waltzed blissfully through wars, recessions and firebomb-throwing anarchists opposed to the moneyed decadence they think such events represent. But it has never had to deal with an 18-year-old dancer said to have been paid by Berlusconi for sex while she was still underage - and the ripples caused by her presence relegated Libya's revolution and other top news events to the back pages of Austria's newspapers. Vienna's top priest was drawn into the fray, citing scripture in favour of her attendance. The ball's organiser threatened to ban Richard Lugner, the quirky 78-year-old millionaire who invited her and former Dallas star Larry Hagman. State television's program head ordered cameras and commentators to make a wide detour around her. That, in turn resulted in protests from TV employees who see her as the biggest news of the event. As guests started striding over the red carpet leading to the entrance that ban appeared to have been at least partially withdrawn, with hosts occasionally mentioning Ruby's presence. A camera showed her arriving, barely visible because of the paparazzi, and later panned over the box she shared with her entourage. In typical reporting ahead of the ball, this week's front cover of News, one of Austria's most widely read magazines, was dominated by a montage of Lugner in tails and top hat, his arm around a scantily clad Ruby and the headline "Scandal Surrounds the Opera Ball". Muammar Gaddafi and the uprising in Libya was relegated to a narrow strip running down the left side of the cover. To underestimate the uproar is to ignore the place that the Vienna Opera Ball holds in the hearts of Austrians. It is the main event of the annual ball season that stretches from the northern autumn into late winter. Watched on TV by millions from home, champagne-sipping government leaders hobnob with captains of industry from ornate boxes high above the main floor of the State Opera, while the less wealthy and influential crowd tables below. Their hands daintily perched on those of their male partners, debutantes - daughters of the rich and famous - celebrate their coming out into the privileged upper echelons by opening the festivities with a lilting waltz. Some of Lugner's past guests among a panoply of Hollywood actresses and other lookers had already raised carefully plucked opera ball eyebrows. He hosted porn star Dolly Buster in 1999 and burlesque artist Dita von Teese three years ago. But his pick of Ruby - after actress Bo Derek backed out - was simply too much for some in Vienna, where parents of the moneyed class still send their children to courses in etiquette. Berlusconi was indicted last month on charges he paid for sex with Ruby, when she was underage, then used his influence to cover it up. Both have denied having a sexual relationship. Lugner - who is reported to have paid ?40,000 ($55,000) for her appearance - doesn't understand the fuss. "If Berlusconi liked her, she's good enough for the Opera Ball," Lugner told News. But for ball organiser Desiree Treichl-Stuerkh, Ruby is a "prostitute involved in ongoing legal proceedings against Berlusconi" - and as such, persona non-grata. She said Lugner will not be given an opera box next year, adding her office had fielded calls from prominent ball goers asking how they can avoid being filmed or photographed with the Moroccan teen. Related Coverage a.. Berlusconi's Ruby wants compo Adelaide Now, 17 Feb 2011 b.. Berlusconi's women The Australian, 15 Feb 2011 c.. Berlusconi defiant at sex trial request The Australian, 10 Feb 2011 d.. Prosecutors request immediate Berlo trial The Australian, 9 Feb 2011 e.. Berlusconi linked to second underage girl Perth Now, 28 Jan 2011 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
