- Al-Fayed started out over 60 years ago, in the late 50s and 60s, with a very different world than what we have today. - These kind of "narratives" are about

- Al-Fayed started out over 60 years ago, in the late 50s and 60s, with a very different world than what we have today. - These kind of "narratives" are about averages, and there's always exceptions. This is really just a variant of the ol' "my uncle chain-smoked his entire life and lived to be 89 therefore smoking isn't harmful!", "it was chilly this winter in Chicago therefore climate change is a hoax!", and similar non-arguments. For these reasons I feel that any conclusion derived from Al-Fayed's life – positive or negative – are invalid. It doesn't prove "you can only become rich by being a crook" but also doesn't prove "anyone can get ahead with enough skills". It's a single data point, nothing more. As for "trashing the man's legacy", Al-Fayed didn't exactly beat around the bush when it came to other people. I'm reminded by a Christopher Hitchens quote, which goes something like "I don't expect any kindness after my death, because I'm not dishing out any", or something along those lines.