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Murdoch on Wendi: 'Oh Yes, She's Tough'

Rare personal interview on Chinese TV reveals media mogul's home life

By Mark Russell, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2011 9:32 AM CDT

(Newser) – "Oh yes, she's very tough," said Rupert Murdoch prophetically about his protestor-smacking wife Wendi in an interview last month on Chinese TV. "Successful men need a critical wife, it brings him down to earth," said the media mogul. Murdoch went on to give some rare insights into his personal life, reports the Telegraph, saying that Wendi and their two daughters all speak Mandarin at home—and he doesn't. "So they only tell me what they think I need to know."

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

Rupert Murdoch, right, and his wife Wendi Deng, left, poses on the red carpet prior to the opening ceremony of the Shanghai International Film Festival at Shanghai Grand Theater June 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Wendi Murdoch reacts to a question by a member of the media during the 2011 Allen and Co. Sun Valley Conference, Friday, July 8, 2011, in Sun Valley, Idaho (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

In this July 13, 2011 file photo, producer Wendi Deng attends a special screening of 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' hosted by the Cinema Society at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

In this photo provided by Rio Tinto, Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng stop for a photo at the G'DAY USA Black Tie Gala, Friday, Jan 23, 2009 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Rio Tinto)

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Murdoch talks about his 'tough wife.' (Telegraph)

Rupert Murdoch on Chinese TV on June 27, talking about his wife. (Telegraph)

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Wendi Deng's Twitter Account Is—Gasp!—a Fake

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(NEWSER) - If you spent the weekend glued to Rupert Murdoch's newly launched Twitter account (sample tweet about St. Barth's: "too many people") and found glee in the public admonishments wife Wendi Deng tweeted his way (sample: "RUPERT!! delete tweet!!"), some bad news. Her account is, shockingly, a fake (though Twitter marked it as verified.) Let the shock wear off, then read the latest from @wendi_deng , posted about an hour ago: "Hello Twitter. As News International has finally come to their senses, it's time to confirm that yes, this is a fake account. I'm not Wendi." More»

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(NEWSER) - When a protester launched a pie at Rupert Murdoch today , his wife leaped to his rescue, pushing others aside before bashing the assailant on the head. Where did 42-year-old Wendi Deng get such guts—and such reflexes? Born in China, she grew up at a tough time in the country’s history, when intellectuals and “capitalist roaders” faced persecution, writes Melinda Liu at the Daily Beast . It also probably helped that she’s a 5-foot-10 former volleyball star. "While today's performance could well be seen as the most important 'slam dunk' of her life, Wendi has always been proactive and ambitious," writes Liu in her profile. (Click to read the full piece .) More»

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Murdoch on Wendi: 'Oh Yes, She's Tough'

Rare personal interview on Chinese TV reveals media mogul's home life

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[Videos (2)]

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More Newser Stories

Wendi Deng's Twitter Account Is—Gasp!—a Fake

@wendi_deng is not actually Mrs. Rupert Murdoch

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Which could be problematic, given phone-hacking scandal

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In fact, 'doddering' Murdoch may have won sympathy, say other observers

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'Activist comedian' Jonnie Marbles wants to cut Murdoch down to size

Smackdown by Murdoch's Wife Steals the Show

A glimpse into the life of Wendi Deng

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