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Father's emotional plea after death of his daughter from methanol poisoning

<p>The grieving father of 19-year-old Bianca Jones, who tragically died after consuming methanol-laced cocktails in Laos, has issued a plea to ensure his daughter’s death was not in vain.</p> <p>Bianca and her friend Holly Bowles had been travelling around south-east Asia on a gap year trip when they consumed the deadly drinks in the party town of Vang Vieng, a popular tourist area about 130km north of Laos capital, Vientiane.</p> <p>Both Bianca and Holly were rushed to seperate hospitals in Thailand, and passed away last week. </p> <p>Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy, Bianca’s father Mark Jones, said his daughter’s “lust for life and adventure” had “cruelly been cut short”.</p> <p>“Our daughter was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates,” he said.</p> <p>“This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many. Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.”</p> <p>Following the deaths of the two young women, an outpouring of sympathy flooded in from around Australia including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while hundreds attended a vigil held in the women’s honour in Melbourne on Saturday.</p> <p>Mr Jones thanked Australian government for its support but made a plea to authorities in Laos.</p> <p>“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn’t happen again,” he said.</p> <p>“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others. Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe."</p> <p>“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”</p> <p>The Laotian government has promised to bring perpetrators to justice after the mass poisoning that has killed six tourists, including the two Australian women.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News / Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

"So I quit!": Surprising reason for Abbie Chatfield news

<p>Abbie Chatfield has announced that she's left her radio show <em>Hot Nights With Abbie</em>. </p> <p>The former <em>Bachelor </em>star made the shock announcement to her 455,000 followers in a video posted on Instagram on Thursday. </p> <p>"So I quit radio! I wanted to do a video so it's not a dramatic post so it doesn't seem like its a big deal, I don't think it is and it's totally my decision," she said. </p> <p>"But finally after two months off... I realised what I wanted to prioritise, TV, podcasting, my live tours and putting things into that as well as having a social life and seeing my friends on a weeknight and being able to have some time to myself, Walter [her dog], my family and friends."</p> <p>She added that working on radio wasn't sparking her joy anymore.</p> <p> "I've made the decision, I wasn't getting joy from that environment anymore, it was really taxing on me and it made my performance in other areas go down as well.</p> <p>"I'm ready to let go and see what doors open up. I just didn't want to do it anymore, but I'm staying with the LiSTNR family," she added reassuring fans that her podcast <em>It's A Lot </em>will still keep going. </p> <p>Chatfield announced that her final show will air on Thursday evening and that she will still host <em>Fridayz Live</em>. </p> <p>"I'm really happy with my decision and super proud of myself for letting this role go," she wrote in her caption. </p> <p>She later on released an official statement which read: "I've made the difficult decision to move away from radio for now.</p> <p>"I have decided I want my focus to be on my podcast, It's A Lot and other television opportunities rather than remaining on air in a daily capacity on Hot Nights. I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with LiSTNR into the future."</p> <p>SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron also announced Chatfield's decision to leave. </p> <p>"For personal reasons, Abbie Chatfield has made the decision to step away from Hot Nights, her national radio show on the Hit Network. Abbie's last show will be today.</p> <p>"We are pleased to say that Abbie will remain with SCA, and we look forward to continuing to support the ongoing growth of her extraordinarily successful podcast, It's a Lot with Abbie Chatfield, published on LiSTNR."</p>

Abbie Chatfield fires up over Sonia Kruger's Gold Logie win

<p>Abbie Chatfield has slammed Sonia Kruger's recent Gold Logie win after accusing the TV presenter of discrimination.</p> <p>The <em>Masked Singer </em>judge expressed her disapproval of Kruger's Gold Logie win on her <em>It's A Lot podcast</em>, where she criticised the "disgusting" comments Kruger made about Muslim immigration in 2016.</p> <p>"It's very easy for white feminists to be like, "A woman won. Aren't you happy a woman won?" Yeah, no Sonia," she said.</p> <p>"I'm not happy that someone who made discriminatory comments on the <em>Today</em> show about Muslim people in 2016 won," she added.</p> <p>Chatfield echoed the voices of the viewers at home who also took issue with Kruger's "discriminatory" comments and believed that she did not deserve to win the Most Popular Personality award at the Logies.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvvilL9NQUm/?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;">Ver esta publicación en Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvvilL9NQUm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Una publicación compartida por IT’S A LOT PODCAST (@itsalotpod)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In 2016, Kruger called for Australia to stop Muslim immigration because she wanted to "feel safe".</p> <p>"Personally, I would like to see it stop now for Australia because I want to feel safe as all of our citizens do when we go out to celebrate Australia Day," she said during a heated panel discussion at the time.</p> <p>At the time, she also argued that there was a correlation between the number of Muslims in a country and the number of terrorist attacks.</p> <p>Chatfield also expressed her disappointment in Kruger for not using her platform to help those in need.</p> <p>"How about you use the privilege you have as a white woman to not discriminate against people of colour or people who have a different minority than you?" she said.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

"Proud mum": Opinions divided after mum praises teen daughter for punching bully in the face

<p dir="ltr">Bianca Austin, wife of former soccer star Charlie Austin has divided the internet after posting a tweet praising her daughter, Mallayla, for punching a bully in the face.</p> <p dir="ltr">Last week, she tweeted: “After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing, today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Proud mum,” she wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing,today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face👏🏻👏🏻 proud mum👏🏻</p> <p>— Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635307000992260097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The tweet, which now has over 2 million views and 17,000 likes, generated varying responses from those who sympathise to those who believe that hitting back is unacceptable.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Probably deserved!” commented one user.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca replied: “I told the school how proud of her I was for standing up for herself when they rang up to tell me Mallayla would be sanctioned for retaliating violently. No child should be able to make school hell for another child day in day out”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We all have our breaking points and can only be pushed so far. Does she feel better now she’s stood up for herself?” commented another user.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No, but she's hoping the girl will leave her alone now. X,” Bianca tweeted in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca then posted a follow up tweet expressing her dissatisfaction with the school’s response.</p> <p dir="ltr">“2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools,” she wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools... head high Mallayla🙏🏻</p> <p>— Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635608089754841088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I get that bullying is awful and harmful but when I said that your daughter’s actions would make things worse, you can now see where I was going,” one user wrote in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Bullying someone “back” by hitting is also bullying,” the user added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca went straight to the point with her response and asked them what their resolution would be.</p> <p dir="ltr">“School couldn't stop it, it was wrecking her mental health and affecting her GCSE studies. What is the right course of action here?!</p> <p dir="ltr">“Also she didn't "bully" back. Bullying is repeated behaviour,” she wrote, defending her daughter’s actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca also tweeted that her daughter had no malicious intent and only did it because she wanted to “be left alone to quietly enjoy school”.</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

Veteran Sunrise star announces sudden retirement

<p>Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone has announced her resignation from Channel 7 after 18 years with the network.</p> <p>Stone’s decision has taken her colleagues by surprise, as she revealed she was leaving the show this week to consider the next step in her career.</p> <p>Stone has been a Queensland correspondent for the Aussie breakfast show for the past six years. She said in a statement that she officially resigned from the network four weeks ago after reassessing her career over the Christmas break.</p> <p>Stone said it came as a shock to the network, but she had been considering leaving for some time.</p> <p>The long-time Sunrise reporter and mother of three children aged 22, 9 and 8, said she found Sunrise a dream job, but the wake-up calls and pressures of presenting were growing tiresome.</p> <p>Stone shared that she was still breastfeeding her youngest daughter when she started with Sunrise and has been presenting a live local bulletin Queensland since 2021 to help overcome delays caused by daylight saving, meaning she has a daily alarm of 2am.</p> <p>The Sunrise reporter revealed, in the beginning, the excitement of the show far outweighed the early starts, but as she grew older and her daughter grew up, her mind changed.</p> <p>Over the Christmas break, Stone had a chance to catch up on sleep, and her youngest daughter told her, “mum, we really like you when you’re not sleepy and cranky,” which is what led her to consider her next career move.</p> <p>In 2021, Stone made headlines after a confrontation with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about COVID vaccines, with some people suggesting she should consider getting into politics.</p> <p>Stone said that she hadn’t made any decisions about her future yet and was open to opportunities, including returning to Channel 7 in a freelance role.</p> <p>Her departure from the show has led to speculation about who will fill her role as the new Queensland correspondent.</p> <p>Seven’s director of morning television, Sarah Stinson, said that Bianca has been such a valued member of the Sunrise family and will leave with nothing but good wishes and our thanks.</p> <p>Image credit: Instagram</p>

Huge change coming to The Project after mass exodus

<p dir="ltr"><em>The Project</em> is reportedly opting for more youthful hosts following the shock resignation of their top dogs. </p> <p dir="ltr">Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar all announced they will be leaving the news program within weeks of each other. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Studio 10</em> host Sarah Harris has already been named as Carrie’s replacement but now the network may have new faces for the show. </p> <p dir="ltr">”I did not see this coming. And I'm still trying to wrap my head around it,” Sarah said at the time of the announcement. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It's such an incredible opportunity to step into some pretty huge shoes and be part of The Project's next chapter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can't wait to learn more, and have some fun with Waleed and the team. This is one of the biggest jobs in TV, and feels like a once-in-a-lifetime gig.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Bachelor stars Abbie Chatfield and Laura Byrne, and the ABC's Tony Armstrong have all been possible name drops to front Channel Ten’s news program along with remaining host Waleed Aly. </p> <p dir="ltr">A strong possibility of Laura replacing Lisa has seen fans point out her appearance on the show in the previous weeks. </p> <p dir="ltr">She is also constantly sharing similar snaps as to what Carrie does, showing off her outfit. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Lisa, you’re all class and it has been a career highlight. The biggest privilege to sit at your desk,” Laura wrote on her podcast Life Uncut.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a viewer and lover of the show, you will be so very missed.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Lisa responded: “I absolutely loved doing the show with you. I am so thrilled you are now a part of The Project family.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Watch this space. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The Project</em></p>

Abbie Chatfield destroys Sam Frost over anti-vax rant

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As <em>Home and Away</em> star Sam Frost broke down on Instagram detailing why she is not getting vaccinated, Abbie Chatfield let loose. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday, Sam Frost took to Instagram and became emotional in her live video, saying, “There are a lot of different reasons people aren’t getting vaccinated – and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns they might have, they might have family history, it might be religious reasons, whatever.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I want to tell those people that feel like they’re getting separated from society – well, I’m not vaccinated, and there’s a reason why I’m not, I’ve spoken to my doctor and my psychologist about it, and I’m going to keep it private,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam then begged people to have “compassion, kindness and empathy” for the unvaccinated, before deleting her Instagram later that day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former <em>Bachelor</em> star Abbie Chatfield, who has been outspoken about the selfishness of the anti-vax community, write on her own Instagram on Sunday, “I mean, it kinda speaks for itself. So brave to ‘come out’ as putting yourself as an individual above your community because you listen to misinformation.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Another reality star bites the dust #love #light #empathy.”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUy_DAelh6r/?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/CUy_DAelh6r/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ABBIE CHATFIELD (@abbiechatfield)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbie’s “peace” only lasted so long, as she took to her Instagram stories to call out those calling her a “bully” for her comments. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Like I didn’t say anything. I said, ‘babe I chose peace today’ pretty much speaks for itself. ‘Another reality star bites the dust’ because she deleted her Instagram. “</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“How was that bullying? I … didn’t add any commentary. Like these people want to be victims so badly and saying she was bullied to the point of leaving Instagram because of Abbie Chatfield.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These people are just dying to have a reason to hate people who just want misinformation to stop spreading,” she said. “They want to have people on the other side be bad people and bullies and not care at mental health like them.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With her “peace” longer an option, Abbie decided to be honest about her opinions of Sam’s video. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A huge issue with her video was she said she felt segregated and like less of a human, so she’s trying to use the struggles and the oppression of people of colour in the past and currently, to use that idea of equality for her being unvaccinated.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbie also pointed out that Sam stated she had a medical exemption for not getting the jab, which didn’t make sense given her tirade.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The people who do have legitimate medical exemptions, are the ones who I see posting begging for everyone to get the vaccine because they’re the people who are at most risk for covid.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They’re not doing videos crying on the floor talking about being a second-class citizen … it seems you want to victimise yourself.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another former </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bachelor</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> star Matt Agnew also shared his thoughts on Sam’s monologue, saying her post was “affecting others”.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzcn63hiZI/?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/CUzcn63hiZI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Matt Agnew (@drmattagnew)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the hours after Sam’s emotional rant, Channel 7 responded to the video as Sam continues to work on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home and Away</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Seven strongly encourages vaccination for all our people and all Seven productions strictly adhere to the public health COVID-19 safe protocols,” a spokesman told </span><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/seven-responds-to-sam-frost-covid19-vaccination-controversy/news-story/8a506656dc7adb80d745edbca0c72c7f"><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home and Away </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">cast and crew also undertake Covid-19 testing three times a week in addition to other preventive measures. Sam Frost continues to work on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home And Away</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and follows the safety protocols in place.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @abbiechatfield @fro01</span></em></p>

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The Block finale controversy: The 9 words Scott Cam said that angered viewers

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Some off-the-cuff remarks made by The Block host Scott Cam during Sunday night’s finale have landed the popular Channel Nine personality in hot water, with accusations flying on Twitter of “casual sexism”.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">He made the comments to contestants Bianca and Carla during the auction of their apartment at this year’s renovation site, the Gatwick Hotel in St Kilda, as the bid for the apartment reached $2,982,500.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Not bad for a couple of single girls, aye,” said Cam of the pair who made a healthy $301,000 profit after a final sale of $2,991,000.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“You will be on the market now. Or off the market. There are two million people watching this show. A couple of good sorts with plenty of cash.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span><span class="s1">But some viewers watching the anticipated broadcast hit out at the 55-year-old, accusing him of being “sexist”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Casual sexism from Scotty,what else do we expect🙄 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9TheBlock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9TheBlock</a></p> — Proud Pie Jo (@joferguson9) <a href="https://twitter.com/joferguson9/status/1056479392367489026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">One viewer tweeted:</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">“Does Scott Cam always talk about Bianca & Carla like it’s a miracle they can do anything because they’re two single women?!”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Another called the remarks “inappropriate jokes” about the women’s single status, and one viewer asked,</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">“What does their relationship status have to do with the result of their work, Scott Cam?”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Others branded the comments “casual sexism,” with one remarking that it was an attitude to be expected from the reality show host, known for his larrikin tradie persona.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">But some viewers disagreed, saying the criticism went too far and was unwarranted.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“What type of world are we living in now where PC tossers just whinge about anything!” tweeted one. “No one was whinging when he was taking the p**s out of the two country boys a few years back for their design skills.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">And one asked whether the contestants Bianca and Carla we’re actually offended.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">It was banter between the three of them..some may have taken offence if that banter was said to them but the girls didn’t, neither would I if it was said to me..no one needs to speak on my behalf or theirs I’m assuming..</p> — Janine (@maxandbella27) <a href="https://twitter.com/maxandbella27/status/1056729236357017600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2018</a></blockquote> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We were actually fine with it,” Bianca told news.com.au. “We are always bantering with Scotty about a range of things, we had a lot of fun on the show and Scotty knows us well enough to know we wouldn’t be offended by that.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Do you think the comments were offensive? Let us know in the comments below.</span></p>

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