Sally Morgan

{{Psychic}}
'''Sally Morgan''' (1951–) is a British "celebrity [[psychic]]" and [[medium]] who is totally genuine and in ''no way, shape, or form'' a fraud or [[charlatan]]. She was in regular contact with [[Princess Diana]]—being a "personal psychic" of sorts—and gained some notoriety when it transpired that she successfully predicted Diana's death in a car crash, although apparently only revealed as much about 12 years later having got the victim confused with the [[Elizabeth II|Queen]].<ref>[http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2009/09/psychic-predicts-princess-dis-death-twelve-years-too-late/ Merseyside Skeptic Society - Psychic Predicts Princess Di’s Death, Twelve Years Too Late]</ref> Morgan is often referred to by her stage name, '''Psychic Sally'''.

==Hot reading controversy==
In the middle of a September 2011, voices were ''allegedly'' heard ''allegedly'' feeding her information ''allegedly'' through an ear-piece. When audience members ''allegedly'' reported that what the voice was saying was ''allegedly'' repeated by Sally on stage only a few seconds later, the story broke and Sally became quite the centre of attention in the [[skeptic]] world, but this in no way proves that she has been making her whole "gift" up and conning people out of money.<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/national-news/no-happy-medium-as-psychic-sally-sidekick-prompts-outrage-2874250.html The Independent - No happy medium as Psychic Sally 'sidekick' prompts outrage]</ref> Since Psychic Sally came to the attention of the press, skeptics, [[magic|magicians]] and mentalists have taken the opportunity to elaborate on known [[cold reading|tricks of the trade]] (not that we know for sure that Sally uses these tricks, of course) including [[Derren Brown]]<ref>[http://derrenbrown.co.uk/testing-psychics/ Derren Brown - Testing psychics]</ref> and street magician Paul Zenon.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xu2cUAVlr8 Paul Zenon on 'Psychic' Sally Morgan, BBC News]</ref>

===Psychic or not?===
Now, remember, no one is implying that Sally Morgan ''isn't'' genuine, and no one is insinuating that she's a fraud and fake, but in February 2012, one reviewer was sent to a Psychic Sally show and was shocked to notice that she ended an act terrified by the shocking image of an explosion and a man being thrown into the air. When she came back for the second part after an intermission, she described, in detail, a message from Toby ‘Tobias’ Wren, who was killed in an explosion in [[Afghanistan]] the previous December. 

Now, remember we're ''not'' saying she didn't see the image and no one is saying she cheated, or used underhand techniques in her show, but there was, in fact, no Toby Wren - she merely recounted what the reviewer sent via email and sent her via various "Love Letter" cards in advance.<ref>[http://psycicornot.wordpress.com/ Psychic... or not?]</ref> So, remember, no one is passing judgment here, and we're not accusing her of being a fraudulent hack because there's simply not the ''evidence'' for that - perhaps she psychically read the email, or something - but there simply was no Toby Wren killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, and the story and character in fact bear (presumably ''coincidental'') strong resemblance to a television show.

In fact, Sally Morgan is ''such'' a skilled psychic as to successfully contact the spirit of ... a woman who was sitting alive in the audience.<ref>http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/celeb-psychic-sally-morgan-embarrassed-3611040</ref>

==Million dollar challenge==
On Halloween of 2011 she was challenged to take part in [[James Randi]]'s [[million-dollar challenge]]<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/oct/27/sally-morgan-psychic-powers-halloween Sally Morgan avoids million dollar challenge]</ref> by the Merseyside Skeptics Society. This is a prize offered to anyone who can unequivocally demonstrate paranormal powers.

She failed to take part, presumably because of other commitments, 
like being a fraud
. 

Michael Marshall, vice president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society, said: "If Sally really is able to demonstrate in a very simple test that her skills are in fact psychically derived, as opposed to produced via the various magic tricks and techniques we know fraudulent mediums could use to appear to have psychic powers, then we'll be first in the queue to celebrate her talents. But until she can show her readings are genuine, we don't think it's right that vulnerable people are led to believe she's really talking to the dead."

==Disclaimer==
Did we mention that no one is implying that Sally is a fraudulent fake, charging £25 per person per night for her shows, and causing unnecessary distress to grieving families over something that she's made up out of whole cloth? Also, she's certainly ''not'' a liar or charlatan, or a fraudulent medium at all. Has that caveat been mentioned enough to avoid getting sued, yet?

==Sally's disclaimers==
Ms Morgan's website itself contains some interesting disclaimers.<ref>[http://www.sallymorgan.tv/terms-and-conditions/ Ms Morgan's disclaimers]</ref> including:
*Please note that Sally Morgan is investigational/experimental and for the purpose of entertainment. 
*Commentary and other materials posted on our site [[Quack Miranda Warning|are not intended to amount to advice]] on which reliance should be placed.
*The material displayed on our site is provided without any guarantees, conditions or warranties as to its accuracy.

The website selling tickets for her entertainment venues says: 
*Sally Morgan is investigational/experimental. There are no guaranteed or certain results and the show is for the purpose of entertainment. <ref>[http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/sally-morgan-psychic-sally-on-the-road/richmond-theatre/#overview_tab Ticket sale disclaimer]</ref>

We applaud the honesty implied by these disclaimers, and we're sure they would have been given even if they weren't a requirement of the 2008 UK consumer protection laws<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7416809.stm BBC article on the 2008 consumer laws]</ref>. That's how honest we think Ms Morgan is.

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Sally}}
[[Category:Living people]]

Categories: Living people