Introduction
Rod Stewart Causes Uproar After Calling Michelle Mone a “Manipulative Piece of Work” for Dropping Penny Lancaster
Rod Stewart, the iconic British rock singer, once made headlines after publicly criticizing businesswoman Michelle Mone for abruptly dropping his then-girlfriend, Penny Lancaster, from her lingerie brand Ultimo. The incident occurred in 2004 when Penny, who had been the brand’s high-profile ambassador, was suddenly replaced—by none other than Rod’s ex-wife, supermodel Rachel Hunter.
Stewart, never one to mince words, told a Scottish newspaper at the time, “I hope she chokes on her profits.” He believed the move was a petty and unnecessary blow, revealing that Penny—who had chosen to remain silent—was deeply hurt by the decision. “Penny is a beautiful woman. She did nothing wrong. I love her, and I hate seeing her treated like this,” he said.
Penny’s contract with Ultimo was reportedly worth around $200,000 a year. Still, Mone admitted, “I’ve always wanted Rachel to represent the brand. Penny was cheaper, but she did a fantastic job. Now that we’ve expanded, we can afford Rachel’s $1 million fee.” But for Rod, it wasn’t just business. He accused Mone of using his relationship with Penny for publicity. “I think Michelle Mone is a nasty piece of work,” he fumed. “She’s a manipulative cow.”
Rod claimed he had been warned about Michelle’s behavior in advance. “People told me she was a devious, conniving, publicity-hungry so-and-so. I was told she’s a user. If a business ends, it should end with dignity. But to treat someone like this is disgraceful. Michelle went out of her way to rub Penny’s nose in it.”
He concluded, “Penny doesn’t have a bad bone in her body. But Michelle’s entire skeleton reeks of self-interest.”
This incident wasn’t just a tabloid spat—it became a striking example of how fame, ambition, and personal relationships can collide in the harsh spotlight of celebrity culture.