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Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh responds to backlash for “terribly white” coronation comment

<p dir="ltr">A star of the stage and screen, Adjoa Andoh HonFRSL, made waves around the world with her comments on the royal family’s post-coronation balcony appearance. </p> <p dir="ltr">Coverage of King Charles III’s coronation was available around the world from numerous providers, but it was the comments <em>Bridgerton </em>star Adjoa Andoh made during ITV’s extensive coverage in the UK that set the internet ablaze. </p> <p dir="ltr">To kick off their day, the network broadcast a special edition of their <em>Good Morning Britain</em> show, with a programme hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham to follow. </p> <p dir="ltr">Their show saw them welcome a whole host of guests - including but not limited to reporters out on The Mall for the day’s festivities. Their coverage was going as planned until they cut to their temporary studio for the royals stepping out onto Buckingham Palace’s balcony.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bradby and Etchingham asked for thoughts from their guests, and it was then that Andoh shared her take, noting that “we have gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to a terribly white balcony. I am very struck by that.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking ‘what are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?’”</p> <p dir="ltr">A clip from the show went viral on Twitter soon after it was uploaded, where it was met with mixed - and loud - response. </p> <p dir="ltr">The comment stunned the ITV presenters, and Myleene Klass was seen staring at the actor as she spoke.</p> <p dir="ltr">The clip was later shared on Twitter, where it received a mixed response. Some people criticised Andoh for her words, while others applauded her for speaking out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dozens raced to submit complaints to OFCOM, claiming that Andoh’s take had stemmed from racist ideals, while others rose to her defence, thanking her for speaking out. </p> <p dir="ltr">As author and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu wrote, Andoh “told no lies in factual observation of ‘terribly White’ (literal & symbolic) Buckingham palace balcony at #Coronation in contrast to tokenism of race diversity at Westminster Abbey & got branded ‘racist’”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, conservative commentator Darren Grimes demanded to know “why is it ok to dismiss a white family for being white?”</p> <p dir="ltr">They were only two of such comments flooding social media, and were the exact kind Andoh addressed in her next public appearance, when she joined Paddy O’Connnell on <em>BBC Radio 4</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I think I upset a few people yesterday,” she noted. “I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was, and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going ‘oh, it’s so white!’ because the day had been so mixed, and I didn’t mean to upset anybody.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, it wasn’t quite enough to stem the tide of feedback, while users all across Twitter taking sides, and sharing their opinion on the latest round of comment. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There's an old saying: "Think before you speak". Andoh thought about it and said it anyway,” one said. “Spare us the crocodile tears. You knew exactly what you meant.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“She said the right thing they didn’t want to hear instead of the white thing they did want to hear,” another wrote. “The firm had an extraordinary opportunity to show progress and inclusion, not to mention the perfect ambassadors for the Commonwealth - and they ran them out of town.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Chatbots set their sights on writing romance

<p>Although most would expect artificial intelligence to keep to the science fiction realm, authors are facing mounting fears that they may soon have new competition in publishing, particularly as the sales of romantic fiction continue to skyrocket. </p> <p>And for bestselling author Julia Quinn, best known for writing the <em>Bridgerton </em>novel series, there’s hope that “that’s something that an AI bot can’t quite do.” </p> <p>For one, human inspiration is hard to replicate. Julia’s hit series - which went on to have over 20 million books printed in the United States alone, and inspired one of Netflix’s most-watched shows - came from one specific point: Julia’s idea of a particular duke. </p> <p>“Definitely the character of Simon came first,” Julia told <em>BBC</em> reporter Jill Martin Wrenn. Simon, in the <em>Bridgerton </em>series, is the Duke of Hastings, a “tortured character” with a troubled past.</p> <p>As Julia explained, she realised that Simon needed “to fall in love with somebody who comes from the exact opposite background” in a tale as old as time. </p> <p>And so, Julia came up with the Bridgerton family, who she described as being “the best family ever that you could imagine in that time period”. Meanwhile, Simon is estranged from his own father. </p> <p>Characterisation and unique relationship dynamics - platonic and otherwise - like those between Julia’s beloved characters are some of the key foundations behind any successful story, but particularly in the romance genre, where relationships are the entire driving force. </p> <p>It has long been suggested that the genre can become ‘formulaic’ if not executed well, and it’s this concern that prompts the idea that advancing artificial intelligence may have the capability to generate its own novel. </p> <p>ChatGPT is the primary problem point. The advanced language processing technology was developed by OpenAI and was trained using the likes of internet databases (such as Wikipedia), books, magazines, and the likes. The <em>BBC</em> reported that over 300 billion words were put into it. </p> <p>Because of this massive store of source material, the system can generate its own writing pieces, with the best of the bunch giving the impression that they were put together by a human mind. Across the areas of both fiction and non-fiction, it’s always learning. </p> <p>However, Julia isn’t too worried about her future in fiction just yet. Recalling how she’d checked out some AI romance a while ago, and how she’d found it “terrible”, she shared her belief at the time that there “could never be a good one.” </p> <p>But then the likes of ChatGPT entered the equation, and Julia admitted that “it makes me kind of queasy.” </p> <p>Still, she remains firm in her belief that human art will triumph. As she explained, “so much in fiction is about the writer’s voice, and I’d like to think that’s something that an AI bot can’t quite do.”</p> <p>And as for why romantic fiction itself remains so popular - and perhaps even why it draws the attention of those hoping to profit from AI generated work - she said that it’s about happy endings, noting that “there is something comforting and validating in a type of literature that values happiness as a worthy goal.”</p> <p><em>Images: @bridgertonnetflix / Instagram</em></p>

Books

Bridgerton – how period dramas made audiences hate the corset

<p>When you think of a corset, you might imagine period drama dames sucking in as they cling onto a bedpost as a feisty lady’s maid aggressively laces them in. Nextflix’s hot Regency inspired drama Bridgerton features similar such tortuous scenes.</p> <p>In the run up to the show’s second season, Simone Ashley, who plays the new heroine Kate Sharma, complained to Glamour Magazine about the <a href="https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/simone-ashley-bridgerton-interview-2022">horrors of wearing a corset</a>. She claimed that her corset caused her “a lot of pain” and “changed her body”.</p> <p>In the first season, Prudence Featherington (played by Bessie Carter) was tight-laced into a corset. Prudence’s mother urges her daughter on: “I was able to squeeze my waist into the size of an orange-and-a-half when I was Prudence’s age”. Rather unnecessary, when regency gowns fall from an under-bust empire line, which obscures the waist. Unlike their later Victorian counterparts, regency corsets focused on enhancing a lady’s assets, not shrinking her waist.</p> <p>This scene is ubiquitous in period dramas, from Elizabeth Swan fainting in Pirates of the Caribbean, to Rose DeWitt Bukater unable to breath in Titanic, and, of course, Mammy’s iconic line, “Just hold on, and suck in!”, as Scarlet O’Hara clings to a bedpost in Gone with the Wind. It may be on screen shorthand for the restricted lives of historical women, but it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of historical corsets and women alike.</p> <p>After centuries of women (and some men) wearing corsets to support and shape the body, it was Victorian men who <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNwTqanp0Aw">taught us to hate corsets</a>. Corset-related health issues were a myth, constructed by doctors, to promote their own patriarchal perspectives. So, you might be surprised to hear that period dramas are perpetuating Victorian misogyny.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZ7r2OVu1ss?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p><strong>Medicine, misogyny, and the corset</strong></p> <p>The list of medical complaints that 19th-century doctors attributed to the corset seem unending. Constipation, pregnancy complications, breast cancer, postpartum infection and tuberculosis were all blamed on the corset. One Victorian doctor, Benjamin Orange Flower, author of the 1892 pamphlet <a href="https://archive.org/details/fashionsslaves00flow">Fashion’s Slaves</a>, claimed that “if women will continue this destructive habit, the race must inevitably deteriorate”.</p> <p>As science has developed, the medical root of these illnesses has been identified, and the corset’s culpability disproved. The corset offers an example of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/13/the-female-problem-male-bias-in-medical-trials">gender bias within medical research</a>. The many ailments of <a href="https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/2016/04/22/inside-georges-breeches-the-health-of-george-iv/">George IV</a>, one of the many men to wear a corset in the 19th century, were never blamed on his corset wearing.</p> <p>Some corsets were even specifically designed to be healthy and supportive. Lingerie company Gossards published <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Corsets_from_a_Surgical_Viewpoint.html?id=hztGtwAACAAJ&redir_esc=y">Corsets from a Surgical Perspective</a> in 1909, which promoted the flexibility and supportive possibilities of the corset, which could “preserve the lines demanded by fashion, but without discomfort or injury”.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/file-20220330-5868-a1x92v.jpg" alt="Regency stays sought to shape women’s breasts by separating and lifting them. V&A" width="754" height="1005" /></p> <p><em>Regency stays sought to shape women’s breasts by separating and lifting them. Image: <a href="https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138889/stays-unknown/?carousel-image=2010EE8174">V&A</a></em></p> <p>But the hourglass shape of the late 19th-century period was not what women of the regency desired. They were only interested in their breasts, as <a href="https://www.yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780300218725">Hilary Davidson has shown</a>. Breasts needed to be lifted and separated into two round orbs. Regency corsets (or “stays” as they were known) were often <a href="https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138889/stays-unknown/">short, always soft, and never heavily boned</a>. Their purpose was bust support, never restriction. I wonder what regency women would have thought of modern bras with straps that pinch and underwire that rubs.</p> <p>Historical corsets were ingenious, light and bendy. Whalebone (which is baleen from the mouth of a whale, and is not actual bone) is wonderfully flexible, and moulds to the body beneath it – and many corsets were simply reinforced with cotton cording. Corsets reduced back pain from bad posture and <a href="https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/staff-pick-pregnancy-corset/">had expanding portions for pregnancy</a>.</p> <p><strong>Historical myth making</strong></p> <p>The problem then in the depiction of corsets in period dramas is not “historical accuracy”, an idea <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br_tGCadJPE">widely debunked by historians</a>, including Bridgerton’s own <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/period-dramas-should-not-be-judged-on-historical-accuracy-say-historians/">historical advisor</a>. Bridgerton’s costumes are joyously reminiscent of designer <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/80018036">George Halley</a>’s highly embellished and brightly coloured empire line fashion designs from the 1960s. Bridgerton’s costumes are historically inspired fantasy.</p> <p>Bridgerton is to Regency England what Game of Thrones is to the Wars of the Roses, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is a fantastical reimagining, creatively inspired by the past. The idea that its costumes should be “historically accurate”, or that such an aspiration is even possible, is not what is at stake here.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qYNCws-a6CQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>This is an issue of historical fallacy. Women of the past had agency over their bodies and how they were dressed. They were clever about how they achieved the fashionable proportions, padding out the <a href="https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O354882/bustle-pad-unknown/">hips</a> and <a href="https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/bust-improver-6003412">bust</a>, rather than reducing the waist. Like the show’s famed dressmaker, Madame Delacroix, many of the professionals dressing them were themselves women. We strip away that agency and ingenuity when we assume historical women were passive dolls, dressed up and cinched in by a patriarchal society.</p> <p>For historical women, corsets were a support garment, which allowed them to follow the fashionable silhouette without having to diet, exercise, or have cosmetic surgery. It would be a refreshing change to see period dramas embrace this feminist history of the corset, instead of falling back on a misogynistic stereotype.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/180267/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/serena-dyer-1127384">Serena Dyer</a>, Lecturer in History of Design and Material Culture, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/de-montfort-university-1254">De Montfort University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/bridgerton-how-period-dramas-made-audiences-hate-the-corset-180267">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: @bridgertonnetflix (Instagram)</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Bridgerton heartthrob to star in new heist movie

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Bridgerton</em> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">star Regé-Jean Page shocked fans when he announced his departure from the show, the actor has gone on to star in a new, untitled heist film.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written and directed by TV writer Noah Hawley, the film will be produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the duo behind several </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avengers</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Captain America </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">films.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for the film’s plot, those involved have remained tight-lipped regarding the details beyond the </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/rege-jean-page-starring-in-heist-film-from-noah-hawley-and-the-russo-brothers/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">idea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that one or more items will be stolen over the course of the movie.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Page will be working with the Russo brothers for the second time, after starring alongside Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling in the brothers’ upcoming film </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Gray Man</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMfF9ubJUrY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMfF9ubJUrY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Russo Brothers (@therussobrothers)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/why-bridgerton-s-hottest-property-said-no-to-season-two?fbclid=IwAR1TnfmpZI9HUiSs65vuJL44GOSwSWQepIDXA_31bR2gXRAxn056FL5z0us" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">his departure</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Netflix’s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridgerton</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ahead of the second season, Page has been involved in a number of projects, including a role in Paramount’s upcoming </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dungeons & Dragons</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> movie, and a starring role in the studio’s reboot of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Saint</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Page has also lent his voice to an audio play of Nail Gaiman’s <em>The Sandman</em>, with fans swooning over an excerpt of him singing in Greek.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Anyone else get goosebumps when they hear <a href="https://twitter.com/regejean?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@regejean</a> sing in Act II? Dirk Maggs and <a href="https://twitter.com/neilhimself?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@neilhimself</a> share more behind the scenes gems from making the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SandmanxAudible?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SandmanxAudible</a>: <a href="https://t.co/FENe8HpJR3">https://t.co/FENe8HpJR3</a> <a href="https://t.co/lUHJdBwKk9">pic.twitter.com/lUHJdBwKk9</a></p> — Audible (@audible_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/audible_com/status/1446158444990451713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dirk Maggs, the co-executive producer and director, also made an appearance in the clip praising Page’s musical talent.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We have Regé-Jean Page as Orpheus, and it turns out that Regé-Jean Page is not only an excellent actor and an outrageously good-looking chap. He also sings like an angel,” Maggs </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/hollywood-news/bridgerton-star-rege-jean-page-sings-like-an-angel-for-the-sandman-audiobook-watch.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve been, and I’ve got to say, it still sends shivers up my spine.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @regejean / Instagram</span></em></p>

Movies

Bridgerton offers clever relationship advice — why friendship is the foundation of happy romantic partnerships

<p><em>This story contains spoilers for Bridgerton</em></p> <hr /> <p>The first season of <a href="https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80232398">Bridgerton</a>, Netflix’s new hit show based on Julia Quinn’s <a href="https://juliaquinn.com/series/bridgertons/">novels</a>, premiered on December 25 last year.</p> <p>The show is set in London, during the debutante season of 1813. It starts with Miss Daphne, the eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family, being presented to the court in preparation for the social season of marriage arrangements.</p> <p>As the story develops, filled with secrets and scandals, the young lady seeks to understand what marriage and love is all about. Her mother, Lady Violet, offers this advice:</p> <blockquote> <p>My dear, why ever do you complicate matters so? You must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend.</p> </blockquote> <p>As a psychology researcher who studies romantic relationships, I think this touches on an idea well supported by research evidence: friendship is the foundation of happy romantic partnerships.</p> <p><strong>The importance of friendship</strong></p> <p>American psychologist Robert Sternberg originally <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1986-21992-001">theorised</a> love is composed of three elements: passion, intimacy and commitment.</p> <p>But these elements do not comprehensively describe the complexity of romantic relationships. Researchers have long sought to include other elements such as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1468199031000099424">partner compatibility</a>, <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=xRCAAAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=info:Vuqqrl6AGiIJ:scholar.google.com&ots=AsvwXKnRxG&sig=5oKQDpBgdR9niPa-_HzeGsU2Lwc&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false">emotional connection</a>, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-33681-007">accessibility</a>, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-33681-007">responsiveness</a>, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-33681-007">engagement</a>, <a href="https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ps.40.5.540">acceptance</a>, the ability to communicate and reveal thoughts and feelings (called “<a href="https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/pdf/10.1521/jscp.23.6.857.54803">self-disclosure</a>”), <a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/7220710">independence</a> and <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1994-01471-001">conflict resolution</a>.</p> <p>What’s more, although it’s <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167203262847">well established</a> physical attraction and earning potential will influence how people select partners, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.51.6.1167">similarity</a> and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/abm/article-abstract/41/1/131/4569550">familiarity</a> are more important for relationships long-term.</p> <p>Over time, similarities such as values, political attitudes, and religiosity become more relevant and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16958707/">are likely to lead</a> to greater happiness and relationship satisfaction.</p> <p>All of these are qualities you’d also find in a good friend.</p> <p>Indeed marriage researcher and psychologist John Gottman argues friendship is the foundation of happy romantic partnerships and the most important predictor of maintaining good relationships long-term.</p> <p>In his book, <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=HB43DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT10&dq=seven+principle+of+making+marriage+work&ots=yJ-Bw-nIbt&sig=J0SDLtQIz2NefIqsRrCXOTysWG0#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9Cknow%20each%20other%20intimately%20%5Band%5D%20are%20well%20versed%20in%20each%20other%E2%80%99s%20likes%2C%20dislikes%2C%20personality%20quirks%2C%20hopes%2C%20and%20dreams&f=false">The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work</a>, Gottman explains couples have a better chance of success if they “know each other intimately — they are well versed in each other’s likes, dislikes, personality quirks, hopes, and dreams”.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/378168/original/file-20210111-21-hvpfqa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Daphne Bridgerton and her mother Lady Violet Bridgerton" /> <span class="caption">Lady Violet (right) has sound advice for her daughter Daphne: ‘You must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend’.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX</span></span></p> <p>The relationship advice and support provided by Lady Violet was a significant contributor to Daphne’s decision to marry Simon, the Duke of Hastings.</p> <p>The Duke explains that at first, love was out of the question, but in removing it, they found friendship, which is a far greater feat. He put it simply:</p> <blockquote> <p>To meet a beautiful woman is one thing, but to meet your best friend in the most beautiful of women is something entirely apart.</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Barriers to finding (and keeping) love)</strong></p> <p>On the other hand, the show demonstrates how people’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviours can potentially sabotage their chances in love. One reason why so many couples struggle to navigate conflict in their relationships is because people are often intrinsically motivated to protect themselves rather than be vulnerable.</p> <p>The Duke of Hastings is a good example. In an attempt to protect himself from the hurtful memories of his childhood and relationship with his father, the Duke closed himself off to relationships and love.</p> <p>Unfortunately, this is all too common. In my recent <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15332691.2020.1795039?needAccess=true">study</a>, published in July 2020, I surveyed 696 people and uncovered countless examples of people who describe being afraid and believing they’re not worthy of love.</p> <p>Here are some of them:</p> <blockquote> <p>“I am always afraid it is not going to work out or I am going to get hurt, but I know that me trying to maintain a distance like that is one of the reasons my relationships always fail”</p> <p>“I fear not being accepted for who I am”</p> <p>“My own beliefs that I am maybe not good enough, or worthy of such affection, make it difficult to maintain relationships”</p> <p>“I am not good enough for my partner and one day they will realise that and leave.”</p> </blockquote> <p>These beliefs influence how people perceive quality and stress in relationships, and can mean people prevent themselves from forming and maintaining successful relationships.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/378171/original/file-20210111-19-p5jwn2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Sad woman lying on bed facing away from her partner" /> <em><span class="caption">Many of us are afraid to be vulnerable, and shut ourselves off to potential chances at love.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></em></p> <p><strong>Overcoming the trials of relationships</strong></p> <p>Unlike “happily ever after” tales, Bridgerton follows the couple into a story of conflict when navigating the expectations of marriage.</p> <p>The trust between the couple seemed to have been broken beyond repair after Daphne discovered Simon had been lying to her about his inability to have children. But a foundation of friendship remained. And it was this foundation that helped them overcome their issues.</p> <p>In my research, I <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15332691.2020.1795039?needAccess=true">found</a> participants were able to overcome issues in their relationships by focusing on trust, communication, commitment, safety and acceptance. They noted these as important elements when managing conflict and relationship expectations.</p> <p>Maintaining a healthy relationship long-term requires partners to know, trust and be vulnerable with one another, while also engaging in open communication and collaboration towards the common goal of working on their relationship. Altogether, these elements also describe meaningful friendships.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/152953/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/raquel-peel-368041">Raquel Peel</a>, Lecturer, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/bridgerton-offers-clever-relationship-advice-why-friendship-is-the-foundation-of-happy-romantic-partnerships-152953">original article</a>.</p>

Relationships

Why Bridgerton’s hottest property said no to season two

<p>Regé-Jean Page isn’t returning to<span> </span><em>Bridgerton</em><span> </span>because he disliked the plans producers had for his character, the Duke of Hastings.</p> <p dir="ltr">A Hollywood source told<span> </span><em>Page Six</em> that the actor won’t be returning to<span> </span><em>Bridgerton</em><span> </span>because of “creative differences with [executive producer] Shonda Rhimes and her team”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He wasn’t happy with what was planned for his character for Season 2, which would have kept him a player but not the focal point of the show.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Page has also been “inundated with offers for other interesting and challenging leading roles”, the source continued.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZ34Rej-4c/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZ34Rej-4c/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Despite these “creative differences”, Page is leaving the show on good terms.</p> <p dir="ltr">Originally signed on with a one-year deal to play male lead Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, Page was drawn to the show because of the role’s “one-season arc” with a “beginning, middle, end”, he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/rege-jean-page-bridgerton-season-2-1234942827/" target="_blank"><em>Variety</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The recent announcement of his departure from the popular Netflix drama - watched by 82 million households worldwide - left fans distraught ahead of the second season.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpX0A1DMbG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpX0A1DMbG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Show creator and script writer Chris Van Dusen hoped both the Duke (Page) and Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) would return following their romance in the show’s debut season.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would love to be able to see them again and also at the same time explore the other brothers and sisters of the family,” Van Dusen told<span> </span><em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The British actor was reportedly offered an opportunity to return in Season 2 “as a guest star in three to five episodes'' but turned it down, according to<span> </span><em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>. Although he had several reasons, this included “an awareness that Simon would not be a focal point in Season 2.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, Page is focusing on his movie career and has been offered a flood of film offers. He is also set to star in the upcoming film<span> </span><em>Dungeons and Dragons</em><span> </span>alongside Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Justice Smith.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK71Dxjer8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK71Dxjer8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Regé-Jean Page (@regejean)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In his farewell to the show, posted along with a picture of himself on horseback as Simon, Page wrote, “The ride of a lifetime. It’s been an absolute pleasure and privilege to be your Duke. Joining this family - not just on screen, but off screen too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our incredibly creative and generous cast, crew, outstanding fans - it’s been beyond anything I could have imagined. The love is real and will just keep growing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As for<span> </span><em>Bridgerton</em>, the next season will see the return of Dynevor playing Daphne Bridgerton, though the focus will be on eldest brother Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey, and his quest for marriage.</p>

Why Bridgerton's steamiest scenes are causing such a stir

<p>Australia, along with the rest of the world, has been enraptured by the Netflix series <em>Bridgerton</em>.<br /><br />It has everything it needs to make it the perfect afternoon watch – drama, cattiness, classic woes, but most of all, raunchy sex scenes.<br /><br />Lovehoney’s psycho-sexologist Chantelle Otten weighed in on what <em>Bridgerton </em>is doing right, and what they could also stop doing to make it the best series possible. </p> <p><strong>*** A warning for those who haven't yet binged the oh-so-binge-worthy show, there are spoilers ahead – and some of it is a bit on the naughty side. *** </strong><br /><br />The first sex scene to enter on the screens is the solo one in Episode Three.<br /><br />The Duke and Daphne have a conversation where he questions her about whether she has touched herself.<br /><br />He is quickly shocked when he learns she has not, but quickly instructs her to do so anywhere on her body that gives her pleasure when she’s alone until she reaches a “pinnacle”.<br /><br />The scene finishes when Daphne reaches the “pinnacle” the duke speaks of.<br /><br />Otten has some very specific views on this scene. “(In 1813) times were very different and pleasure, and especially female pleasure, was not talked about openly or prioritised like it is now, although we still have a long way to go,” says Otten.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZn8MWjZtM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZn8MWjZtM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br />“The scene delicately portrays Daphne exploring her sexuality, however it is important to reinforce that every vulva owner is different … Solo play is a journey and it can take some time and exploration to discover what you enjoy and what works for you.”<br /><br />In Episode 5 of <em>Bridgerton</em>, there is a hallway "menage a trois".<br /><br />The second-born Bridgerton son accidentally walks in on Henry Granville having intercourse with another man.<br /><br />Benedict then goes on to have a particularly steamy session with Granville’s wife and Genevieve Delacroix.<br /><br />“This scene is hot,” Otten says.<br /><br />“It feels secretive and like the characters are letting go of their inhibition.”<br /><br />“As long as exploring sexual experiences with someone outside your relationship is something you have agreed with a partner, exploring sexuality (for example with someone of a different sex) is a great way to take your pleasure to new heights.”<br /><br />Episode 5 follows with a scene that everyone watching the show has patiently (not so much) been waiting for.<br /><br />The couple head on their honeymoon and once they get alone time, the sexual tension builds and they give in to desire.<br /><br />“This scene is beautiful and tender," says Otten. "One thing in particular that sticks out to me is the Duke’s approach to consent.<br /><br />“As they start to kiss, the Duke asks Daphne, ‘Do you want me to stop?’ Daphne then gives the Duke a visual cue to indicate that she doesn’t.”<br /><br />Otten goes on to say: “The reality of penetrative sex for the first time is that it can often be a bit awkward, messy and uncomfortable, which is not portrayed in this scene.<br /><br />“However, I will give the scene kudos for subtly and delicately approaching the topic of consent, which is a topic that comes up again later in the series. </p> <p>Like with any relationship, open communication is vital and consent must be at the foundation of every sexual encounter.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ3wsSKjauI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ3wsSKjauI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br />Episode 6 is one you might want to watch by yourself as it is as steamy as it gets!<br /><br />Daphne and the Duke run outside in the rain to a Secret Garden-like setting where they engage in innocent activities to begin with, but eventually go on to have intercourse.<br /><br />It is the first time viewers are forced to notice the Duke rolling off of his wife when he’s about to climax.<br /><br />“While it’s a visually beautiful scene and quite exciting, the main thing this scene gets wrong about sex is that it insinuates that heterosexual sex ends once the man orgasms. It is also telling us that sex lasts around 13 seconds and ends in a mutual climax at the exact same time, which of course we know is not the truth at all,” Otten says.<br /><br />“It also skips foreplay. We all know the importance of building up to arousal for pleasurable sex through kissing and touching, and now we also have the benefits of things like vibrators and lubricants to enhance pre-penetrative and post-penetrative play.”<br /><br />A controversial scene also comes up in Episode 6 when Daphne realises the Duke is not infertile and he has been persuading her to believe he is.<br /><br />Daphne takes matters into her own hands.<br /><br />“When the Duke propositions her for sex once again, she obliges. However, this time she gets on top and won’t get off, forcing him to climax inside of her. This is defined as non-consensual sex which is sexual assault,” says Otten.<br /><br />“This scene highlights three very important things when it comes to sex: first and most importantly, is sexual consent and not taking advantage of someone sexually, regardless of the situation. Secondly, is the importance of sexual education and thirdly, communication, and learning how to respectfully communicate sensitive topics with a partner.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJlx0gqjG3w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJlx0gqjG3w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br />Episode 7 contains the staircase scene and is one Otten says made her happy.<br /><br />“I must have had a big smile on my face when I watched this scene, because this male on female oral sex is a depiction we rarely see on screens, especially in such detail,” Otten explained.<br /><br />In this scene, the Duke performs oral sex on Daphne on a lavish staircase.<br /><br />“I’m not sure if it’s the beautifully intricate balustrade or the sex that made me more excited. This is where <em>Bridgerton </em>gets it very right. I hope these types of male on female oral action becomes more the norm on our screens,” Otten went on to add.</p>

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