What SJP's selfie trick tells us about the terrifying rise of conspiracy theories | Arwa Mahdawi

The actor used to point vaguely to the sky and suggest the government was watching when asked for a photo. Nowadays, that could lead to some very awkward conversations

Sarah Jessica Parker, the Sex and the City star and Booker prize judge, has a nifty trick for getting out of taking selfies with her fans. I did this for a really, really long time and it worked for ever," Parker said in an interview with Howard Stern. I used to say, I can't, because of the government,' and I'd do this," Parker said, pointing up to the sky. It really confused people. This was through different administrations, so it wasn't political."

It is not entirely clear why Parker - who has said she refuses to take selfies and would rather have a conversation" instead because it's much more meaningful" - stopped using this brilliant excuse. But one does have to wonder whether it is because the US has become a nation of conspiracy theorists. Rather than backing away from the weird the government is watching" woman, perhaps fans started to excitedly engage her with theories about how Bill Gates has implanted us all with mind-controlling microchips. Or maybe she just got tired of the joke. I don't know. But I'm sure someone out there (the government) does.