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"Devastating blow": Back to the Future star's tragic family news

<p><em>Back to the Future </em>star Lea Thompson, renowned for her role as Lorraine, the endearing mother of Michael J. Fox's iconic character, Marty McFly, has recently shared some deeply saddening family news.</p> <p>The 62-year-old actress opened up about her personal struggle, revealing that both of her older brothers have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease within a few months of each other.</p> <p>This announcement resonated profoundly with her fans and followers, especially given Michael J. Fox's well-known battle with the condition since his diagnosis in 1991 at the tender age of 29.</p> <p>In an emotionally charged Instagram post, Thompson shared her family's ordeal, writing, "Both of my beloved exceptional big brothers have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s within a few months of each other. It was such a devastating blow."</p> <p>She went on to describe how the disease had stealthily crept into their lives, noting that her brothers had been displaying signs of slowing down, but the true nature of their condition hadn't been immediately apparent.</p> <p>Fortunately, their early diagnosis, made possible by the diligent efforts of researchers supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, has offered them access to medications and tools that have significantly improved their quality of life.</p> <p>Accompanying her heartfelt message, Thompson posted pictures of herself with her two brothers during a day of golf, capturing a precious family moment. Another poignant photo showed her brothers with their arms wrapped around each other.</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/p/Cyz8bCxO9GF/?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> <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/p/Cyz8bCxO9GF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Lea Thompson (@lea_thompson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Thompson's dedication to raising awareness and support for Parkinson's research was evident when she expressed feeling "honoured" to be part of a "public service announcement" for the Michael J. Fox Foundation's gala, sharing a behind-the-scenes photo from the campaign. She also expressed gratitude for the support of scientists, philanthropists, and her "movie son", Michael J. Fox, who has been an unwavering advocate for Parkinson's research.</p> <p>The response from Thompson's fans and followers was heartwarming, as they flocked to the comments section to express their solidarity. Messages of love, hope and empathy poured in from all corners, with many sharing personal connections to Parkinson's disease and the advances in treatment and therapies they have witnessed.</p> <p>Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition, and it is the second most common neurological disorder in Australia, with over 100,000 Australians grappling with its impact. Common symptoms include tremors, slowness of movement, and rigidity.</p> <p>Michael J. Fox's diagnosis at the astonishingly young age of 29 stands as a stark reminder of the disease's unpredictable reach, as the average age of diagnosis hovers around 65.</p> <p>Parkinson's disease results from the brain's inability to produce sufficient dopamine, a neurotransmitter vital for controlling movement. Diagnosing Parkinson's is not straightforward; it often relies on clinical evaluation by specialists such as neurologists, who meticulously assess clinical signs and symptoms, as there are no definitive laboratory tests like blood work or brain scans available for diagnosis.</p> <p>Lea Thompson's open acknowledgment of her family's struggle with Parkinson's disease not only shines a light on the challenges faced by those living with the condition but also underscores the importance of continued research and support for those affected. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Delta Goodrem’s childhood home up for grabs

<p>Australian singer songwriter Delta Goodrem’s childhood home is set to go under the hammer with a $4m price tag. </p> <p>Lea Goodrem, Delta’s mother, reached the difficult decision to sell after 38 years in the 5-bedroom property in Sydney’s Hills District. As she told <em>News Corp</em>, the family had shared many happy memories in the Glenhaven home - with both Delta and her brother Trent spending their childhoods there - but that the time had come for her to move on. </p> <p>“I’m not 21 anymore,” she pointed out. “It’s been a beautiful house, such a wonderful home, full of laughter and such fantastic memories that I will always cherish. But it’s just me and the animals now. </p> <p>“It’s time for another big family to enjoy it and all its benefits. It’s been such an incredible place to live and we are very grateful to have called this our home for so long.”</p> <p>Lea hopes to travel before she settles down again, probably downsizing in comparison to her current abode.</p> <p>“I’m sure I will miss it,” she confessed, “but it’s time for another family to enjoy it, for this house to be filled with joy and laughter again. It’s the perfect sanctuary.”</p> <p>“I hope whoever buys it will love it as much as we have. But I’m not getting any younger. I need something more manageable. It’s a bittersweet decision. But the kids understand, it’s time to move on.”</p> <p>Louis Carr’s Michael Robert, the agent bringing the property to market, agreed with its potential for the next big family, noting that the home has “everything a family needs, including a tennis court and pool in a quiet bush location which is close to shops and schools.” </p> <p>From its modern architecture to its innovative designs, tennis court, paved courtyard, vaulted ceilings, and indoor spa, its next owners are in for a treat. Granted, of course, that they have a space four million dollars lying around. </p> <p>The home, situated on Delavor Place, raised more than just the Goodrem children. It also supported and nurtured budding star Delta’s career, with the singer penning her 2003 debut album Innocent Eyes and the hit track ‘Born to Try’.</p> <p>“It was a home that was filled with music, lots of exciting things were happening,” Lea Goodrem explained.</p> <p>“The home is an oasis,” she added, “we had two baby grand pianos and the music could be belted out without fear of retribution by the neighbours. There was a lot of inspiration here, a lot of music. ‘Born to Try’ was written in the loungeroom. This is where it all happened.”</p> <p><em>Images: Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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Back to the Future stars reunite

<p>It’s been 37 years since the cinematic masterpiece, Back to the Future part 1, graced our screens. You might be wondering where they are now, although the appropriate question would be, “when the hell are they?”</p> <p>The Back to the Future stars joined up at a fan convention in Portland, USA, and the excitement from fans sighting Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Thomas Wilson used up a lot more energy than 1.21 gigawatts.</p> <p>Last year, Fox and Lloyd came together on stage at Comic-Con in New York in an emotional display, which brought fans in the audience to tears.</p> <p>On stage, Fox said, referring to his co-star Lloyd, “The best part of the movie was working with Chris,” going on to say he was a genius, also revealing there was “immediate chemistry” between the pair.</p> <p>Fox played the iconic Marty McFly in the 1985 movie. Director Robert Zemeckis had originally cast Eric Stolz as Marty, however, due to conflict with his schedule on Family Ties, Stolz couldn’t continue with the project.</p> <p>Stolz started filming in November 1984 but was replaced by early January. Aside from the schedule conflict with Stolz, it was reported that early footage was also underwhelming. Now that’s heavy!</p> <p>Fox officially joined the production in mid-January of 1985.</p> <p>Fox played Marty McFly in all three Back to the Future movies, Great Scott!</p> <p>The fans are on a sweet nostalgia trip seeing the cast back together after over three decades.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Movies

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"Devastating": Jack Thompson reveals the iconic movie role that got away

<p><span>Jack Thompson is a name many would recognise.</span><br /><br /><span>He can boast a stellar acting career, however he has admitted there is one role that might have changed his whole life if he’d gotten it.</span><br /><br /><span>Appearing on Anh's Brush With Fame on Tuesday, the 80-year-old Aussie screen legend revealed he only just missed out on the lead in <em>Schindler's List</em>.</span><br /><br /><span>The Steven Spielberg-directed film was released in 1994.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837628/jack-thompson-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fdf91a1ce4d54da3aab296670b96dedf" /><br /><span>The iconic movie won seven Oscars, with Liam Neeson ultimately cast in the role.</span><br /><br /><span>The 68-year-old Irish actor also picked up a Best Actor Oscar nomination, but Jack said the role was “almost” his.</span><br /><br /><span>“I'd done camera tests, shot a couple of scenes, and then did a whole afternoon with Spielberg,” he explained to host Anh Do.</span><br /><br /><span>“At the end of it [Steven Spielberg] said, ‘Well, there's not much doubt.’”</span><br /><br /><span>Jack said Steven then told him that he had to catch a flight to New York, and they'd sign the contracts when he returned on the Monday.</span><br /><br /><span>But while he was in New York, the legendary director met up with Liam and had a change of heart.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837629/jack-thompson-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/688a7d12ba824ab8a97d2aeecb70ee7e" /></p> <p><span><em>Liam Neeson in the Schindler's List </em></span><br /><br /><span>Jack said while the news was “a bit devastating”, he was ultimately “OK” with it, due to the complex nature of the business.</span><br /><br /><span>However he confessed that the full impact of what had occurred only struck him ”months and months and months later”.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m on my farm, I've gone right up to the back hill, and I get off the horse… and [I'm thinking about] what had just happened with Schindler's List and I just [yelled]: ’F***’,” he admitted.</span></p>

Movies

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Chocolate lovers rejoice: Darrell Lea launches new range after 92 years

<p>More and more beloved Aussie brands are stepping into the chocolate game. A month ago, <a href="https://twitter.com/ArnottsBikkies/status/1121688038764007424">Arnott’s</a> released a new range of chocolate blocks based on their classic biscuits – and now, Darrell Lea has followed suit.</p> <p>The confectionary maker, which is well-known for its liquorice bullets, has finally launched its own range of chocolate blocks for the first time in the company’s 92-year history.</p> <p>It comes in six flavours, including classic varieties from the brand such as liquorice, peanut brittle and Rocklea Road, as well as new selections like Fruitier &amp; Nuttier, Peppermint Partytime and Caramel Craving.</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/ByCgbu0n4QH/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/ByCgbu0n4QH/" target="_blank">A post shared by Darrell Lea (@darrelllea)</a> on May 29, 2019 at 1:08am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Since the new products hit the shelves weeks ago, fans have praised the fresh take on their favourite treats.</p> <p>“Great chocolate bars. Excellent taste and smoothness without being too sweet,” one reviewed.</p> <p>“Just bought the new Rocklea Road block and it was absolutely delicious and jam packed with flavour,” another commented.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">My god. Has Darrell Lea just released the ultimate pave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TourSnacks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TourSnacks</a>? <a href="https://t.co/Crl7L19ds4">pic.twitter.com/Crl7L19ds4</a></p> — Beth (@zahribeth) <a href="https://twitter.com/zahribeth/status/1133575528739270656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/DarrellLea_AU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DarrellLea_AU</a> has made <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBest</a> soft licorice since my childhood. Nothing has changed except I'm spoilt for choice. <a href="https://t.co/fTX93guK8G">pic.twitter.com/fTX93guK8G</a></p> — tarkan orada (@TarkanOrada) <a href="https://twitter.com/TarkanOrada/status/1133638241041625088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">You know how those Cadbury blocks have little hard marshmallows in them and it kind of ruins your whole day?<br /><br />These Darrell Lea blocks have actual marshmallows. Fluffy ones. A+. <a href="https://t.co/KOhdjKsewj">pic.twitter.com/KOhdjKsewj</a></p> — anna spargo-ryan (@annaspargoryan) <a href="https://twitter.com/annaspargoryan/status/1132799234099433473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“We make some of Australia’s favourite confectionery products and we knew these would translate perfectly into a block format,” said Tim York, CEO at Darrell Lea.</p> <p>“We also thought we could improve on a few great flavour combinations … so we did. It’s time the confectionery aisle got a shake up and we’re excited to be doing it.”</p> <p>The new chocolate blocks are now available exclusively at Woolworths.</p> <p>The confectionary company has pulled its ‘No Worries Jan’ ad campaign for the new range after the Yellow Pages issued a cease and desist letter. In a statement, Darrell Lea said it “wanted to celebrate a classic Australian television ad”, referring to the iconic ‘Not Happy Jan’ campaign from the early 2000s.</p> <p>“As an Australian company with a 92-year heritage, we wanted to give an iconic ad a new lease of life and from the comments we received, the response was extremely positive.</p> <p>“However, [Yellow Pages’ parent company] Sensis has demanded that we shut down our campaign through its lawyers.”</p> <p><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPOO0emzAaY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>

Food & Wine

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The awkward moment between Prince William and Emma Thompson

<p>Academy Award winning actress Emma Thompson was recently on <em>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</em> and shared some details about what happened whilst she was being awarded her damehood from Prince William.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Becoming a Dame was nothing compared to the honor I awarded Emma Thompson. <a href="https://t.co/DtMTMRNEh8">pic.twitter.com/DtMTMRNEh8</a></p> — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1116814002401660928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>As it turns out, Prince William had pinned the dame pins in a bit of an awkward position.</p> <p>Thompson re-enacted the moment with DeGeneres to explain just how awkward it was.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Congratulations to Dame Emma Thompson! Today at Buckingham Palace, the actor received her Damehood from The Duke for services to Drama. <a href="https://t.co/1gSfaawBii">pic.twitter.com/1gSfaawBii</a></p> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1060200145969733632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>"He placed it right there,” Thompson explained through laughter.</p> <p>"And it's a little bit of a nipple moment and you go, 'Gosh, I wasn't expecting that.'"</p> <p>Thompson, 59, also joked about how she was “pretty low slung these days”, so when Prince William placed the two pins on her, it hurt “both times”.</p> <p>Naturally, being hurt generates a reaction to the pain. However, Thompson revealed that she made an “inappropriate” noise in the palace.</p> <p>"I made a very loud and inappropriate noise in Buckingham Palace," she admitted.</p> <p>The joy of receiving a damehood couldn’t be overlooked though, as Thompson was thrilled to receive it.</p> <p>It’s not the first time Thompson has had an awkward run-in with Prince William.</p> <p>When she received her honorary title last November, she shared a joke with the Prince. She told the Associated Press:</p> <p>“I love Prince William. I’ve known him since he was little, and we just sniggered at each other,” she explained.</p> <p>“I said, ‘I can’t kiss you, can I?’ And he said, ‘No, don’t!'"</p>

Movies

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Emma Thompson’s powerful open letter: “Why I quit”

<p><span>Two-time Oscar award winner Emma Thompson has acknowledged and explained why she refused to work with Pixar co-founder and former Walt Disney animation chief, John Lasseter, in an open letter to Skydance Media. </span></p> <p><span>Lasseter has previously been accused of sexual misconduct with female employees.</span></p> <p><span>Thompson quit the animated film project <em>Luck </em>last month after Skydance chief executive, David Ellison, hired Lasseter who was forced out of Disney just last year after owning up to “missteps” in his behaviour towards employees.</span></p> <p><span>In Thompson’s letter to Ellison, she wrote that she felt it was “very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate”.</span></p> <p><span>“If a man has been touching women inappropriately for decades, why would a woman want to work for him if the only reason he’s not touching them inappropriately now is that it says in his contract that he must behave ‘professionally’?” she continued.</span></p> <p><span>“If a man has made women at his companies feel undervalued and disrespected for decades, why should the women at his new company think that any respect he shows them is anything other than an act that he’s required to perform by his coach, his therapist and his employment agreement?”</span></p> <p><span>Thompson also acknowledged the company would be paying Lasseter generously in the role he was given, “How much money are the employees at Skydance being paid to GIVE him that second chance?”</span></p> <p><span>She continued her letter saying even though she “regrets” having to quit the film since she desperately wanted to work with director Alessandro Carloni, she can “only do what feels right during these difficult times of transition and collective consciousness raising. I am well aware that centuries of entitlement to women’s bodies, whether they like it or not, is not going to change overnight. Or in a year. But I am also aware that if people who have spoken out – like me – do not take this sort of a stand then things are very unlikely to change at anything like the pace required to protect my daughter’s generation.”</span></p> <p><span>Thompson’s letter was first published by <em><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-mn-emma-thompson-john-lasseter-skydance-20190226-story.html">The Los Angeles Times </a></em>and was confirmed for authenticity by Thompson’s representative.</span></p> <p><span>Lasseter’s hiring stimulated backlash, voicing that he didn’t deserve a second chance so quickly. Time’s Up, a non-profit organisation formed to rise against sexual harassment and gender inequality, said his hiring “endorses and perpetuates a broken system that allows powerful men to act without consequence”.</span></p> <p><span>Shortly after allegations against Harvey Weinstein emerged in 2017, Lasseter announced he was taking a six-month “sabbatical” from Disney and apologised “to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug” or any gesture that made them feel “disrespected or uncomfortable”.</span></p> <p><span>Disney revealed it was permanently cutting ties with Lasseter last June.</span></p> <p><span>When hired by Ellison, Lasseter said he had spent the last year in “deep reflection, learning how my actions unintentionally made colleagues uncomfortable, which I deeply regret and apologise for”</span><span> </span></p> <p><span>Ellison said Lasseter had been “forthright in taking ownership of his behaviour” and that he didn’t take the decision of hiring him lightly.</span></p> <p><span>What would you have done in this situation? Let us know in the comments below.</span></p>

Movies

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"I love you both": Jack Thompson's 15-year affair with two sisters

<p>With over 50 films under his belt, Jack Thompson has solidified his place within the Australian film industry.</p> <p>However, a little-known fact about the star is that he used to be in a polyamorous relationship with two sisters.</p> <p>Bunkie and Leona King were just 15 and 20 years old respectively when they started to get involved in a relationship with Jack in the 1960s and '70s.</p> <p>Leona had moved in with Jack whilst he continued to see Bunkie secretly.</p> <p>In a memoir written by Bunkie called<span> </span><em>Somebody That I Used to Know</em>, she details her thoughts and feelings about the relationship in an article in the <em><a href="https://amp.smh.com.au/lifestyle/love-and-loss-bunkie-kings-unusual-arrangement-with-jack-thompson-20150316-1m01sq.html">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>.</p> <p>Self-described as a “flat-chested, scrawny teenager” who had “never made out or even kissed” anyone, 15-year-old Bunkie was elated when Jack stopped by to invite her to her first “adult” party.</p> <p>Her mother didn’t let her go, but that didn’t stop the pair from meeting weekly to hang out.</p> <p>Bunkie explained her infatuation with now 78-year-old Jack, despite knowing he was her sister’s boyfriend and even though the pair had been caught kissing.</p> <p>“One night, he and I are kissing and cuddling in their bedroom when Le bursts in the door and starts yelling, 'What the hell are you doing?'</p> <p>“He's obviously Le's boyfriend and I feel bad for her, but I don't know how to give him up and just walk away.”</p> <p><iframe width="600" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r-fEJylLdMI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>However, Bunkie said that the trio tried to make it work after they found themselves in this predicament.</p> <p>“Jack suggests the possibility of a relationship that encompasses the three of us. He says we can make it work, because others have; it's about having love and understanding, being honest and open with each other and giving it a go. </p> <p>Bunkie admits in her memoir that Jack proclaimed: "We've found ourselves in this predicament, and the fact is I love you both."</p> <p>According to an interview with <em>New Idea</em> in 1979, Jack is quoted as saying:</p> <p>“I had someone the other day ask me if I was still living with the two sisters. And I wondered how an 11-year relationship could still be news … It only continues to be a relationship for the same reason as any relationship. There presumably must be a lot of trust, a lot of discussion and a lot of love."</p> <p>In an interview with<em> A Current Affair</em>, Bunkie said that she was “captivated” by Jack's attention.</p> <p><iframe width="600" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sxtSK_IdSjk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>"In some societies a man has a wife and a mistress, or maybe a couple of mistresses. But it is unusual in Western society ... I was captivated by his attention," she admitted.</p> <p>However, as the relationship evolved, Bunkie felt no trust and as her relationship with her sister began to disintegrate due to Bunkie’s feelings of “guilt about being there”, things began to turn bleak. </p> <p><span>Bunkie soon left the relationship in 1985 after a fight in Madrid airport. </span></p> <p><span>She decided to write about her experience after she realised that, as a divorced 60-year-old mother of two, her son was still unhappy with the fact that “my mother had sex with her sister”.</span></p> <p>Whilst that never actually happened, Bunkie decided to write the memoir to set the record straight once and for all. </p> <p><span>Her sister Leona</span><span> is still with Jack after all these years, however, the two sisters </span><span>are estranged.</span></p>

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Australian legend Jack Thompson's health battle: "It's very confronting"

<p>Jack Thompson is an Australian screen legend who has been in the film industry for 50 years. However, at age 78, he’s undertaking one of the most important films in his career and has shown no signs of slowing down, despite being diagnosed with renal kidney failure or the film being made in Arnhem Land. </p> <p>"What would I complain about?" Thompson reflected in a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-18/jack-thompson-battles-kidney-failure-while-shooting-film/10724272">new interview with ABC</a>.</p> <p>"I'm alive. I'm on the right side of the ground, as the old fella says! Take a look at where you are, take a look at how long you've been here and how long you might reasonably have ahead of you. Be here now. Enjoy this."</p> <p>Thompson initially wasn't always so accepting of his diagnosis.</p> <p>"I finally presented to the doctors at St Vincent's Hospital and they said, 'You're about 48 hours away from not waking up'," he explained.</p> <p>"That's very confronting."</p> <p>"I never thought that end stage renal failure would have anything to do with me," he says. </p> <p>"I certainly didn't have a diet full of sugar. I exercised. I had a healthy diet. I was stunned. Here I am."</p> <p>A groundbreaking medical dialysis service offered in the Northern Territory has been an integral part of his filmmaking journey.</p> <p>The Purple Truck allows Thompson to receive his lifesaving treatment on wheels and, as the service is delivered in a bus, it allows remote Indigenous communities to gain access to lifesaving treatment as well.</p> <p>A nurse in the hospital where Thompson received his diagnosis had heard about what was happening and reached out to her friend, Sarah Brown, who is the CEO of Purple House.</p> <p>They felt obligated to help Thompson create the film he’s been desperate to make over the last seven years due to the story he was telling. </p> <p>The film <em>High Ground</em> recreates the Indigenous resistance to white settlement and is set in 1934.</p> <p>"When I walked into the room in St Vinny's, Jack had just finished his first dialysis," Ms Brown recalled.</p> <p>"He was looking quite unwell, and he looked really sad. There was this big man with this big personality and this huge life sitting in a hospital chair next to a hospital bed in a gown, looking crook.</p> <p>"We were the only people in the country who could help Jack to do this. It just felt right."</p> <p>Brown explained that the team are proud to have been able to help Thompson during this part of his life.</p> <p>"It's an unlikely story, Clancy of the Overflow, having dialysis in Kakadu, in a truck owned and run by Aboriginal people from the desert, yeah that's pretty unlikely," she added.</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/BnsmHHFhoYK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/BnsmHHFhoYK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Purple House (@purplehousedialysis)</a> on Sep 13, 2018 at 11:40pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Thompson now receives dialysis three times a week, whilst filming in Arnhem Land, all thanks to the Purple Truck.</p> <p>"You would put this in a movie, and they would say, 'No don't be silly Jack, that's very unlikely to happen all that'," Thompson says.</p> <p>"But of course it has happened. It's wonderful.</p> <p>"They have made it possible for my career to continue, when it very well could have come to a full stop right there."</p>

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The moment Emma Thompson tried to sneak a kiss from Prince William

<p>Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has received one of Britain’s highest awards and used the opportunity to playfully joke with the second-in-line to the throne, Prince William.</p> <p>On Wednesday, the <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Love Actually </em>star was invited to Buckingham Palace to be appointed a Dame Commander of the Oder of the British Empire.</p> <p>The honour, which is the female equivalent of a knighthood, was made even more special as it was given to her by her long-time friend.</p> <p>Recalling the ceremony to reporters, Thompson said: “I love Prince William. I’ve known him since he was little, and we just sniggered at each other. I said, ‘I can’t kiss you, can I?’ And he said, ‘No, don’t!'”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Congratulations to Dame Emma Thompson! Today at Buckingham Palace, the actor received her Damehood from The Duke for services to Drama. <a href="https://t.co/1gSfaawBii">pic.twitter.com/1gSfaawBii</a></p> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1060200145969733632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Although Thompson didn’t receive a kiss from the prince, she praised the royal father-of-three for all his accomplishments.</p> <p>“He’s looking wonderful and doing so well,” the actress, who wore sneakers and a suit to the ceremony, commented.</p> <p>“He said, ‘This day isn’t about me, it’s about you.'”</p> <p>“It’s really lovely because I’ve always loved the boys, and I’ve always been a long-term correspondent with their dad,” Thompson added. </p> <p>“It’s a very lovely feeling.”</p> <p>After Prince Charles went through his divorce with Princess Diana in 1996, Thompson wrote him several letters to lift his spirits.</p> <p>“I would get periodical messages from the boys that look after him at Highgrove saying: ‘[Could you] drop him a note because he’s a bit low in the water,’ so I’d pick up my pen and write as funny a letter as I could think of,” Thompson revealed in the book <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Charles: The Heart of a King.</em></p>

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Good news for chocolate lovers! One of your favourite brands is coming back

<p>It’s been an Aussie favourite for decades, and after a tumultuous period, Australian confectioner Darrell Lea is making a comeback.</p> <p>The company was forced to shut down all its stores back in 2012 after going into administration, but now, the new owners of the classic brand will be opening up a “chocolate centre of excellence” in Melbourne’s southeast.</p> <p>The opening of the chocolate factory will create 50 jobs and plans to increase production have been put in place for early next year.</p> <p>Currently, Darrell Lea operates through a factory located in Ingleburn in Sydney’s southwest.</p> <p>The chocolatier does not have its own standalone stores, but rather prefers to sell its items through supermarkets and other retailers.</p> <p>Tim Stanford, the marketing director, spoke about Darrell Lea's relationship with Heritage, who were previously responsible for producing Easter eggs and other various chocolates for the company.</p> <p>“Their [Heritage] capabilities plus the Darrell Lea brand equals a big opportunity for all of us.</p> <p>“It’s great for us to be manufacturing in Melbourne and there’s new job opportunities coming from it.”</p> <p>Previous employees for Heritage will now work for Darrell Lea due to the takeover but according to Mr Stanford, 50 more jobs could be added early next year.</p> <p>“We will use it as our centre of excellence for chocolate and we will need more staff.”</p> <p>But if you were looking forward to Darrell Lea opening up their own stores, well prepare to be disappointed as at this current moment, the company has no plans in doing that.</p> <p>“It’s always a possibility but we don’t have any solid plans to become a retailer. But never say never,” said Mr Stanford.</p> <p>Every year, Darrell Lea manufactures a whopping 40,000km of liquorice and 400 million chocolate-covered bullets.</p> <p>“We are known for chocolate interestingly although we don’t do much chocolate now, mainly on bullets,” Mr Stanford said.</p> <p>Chief executive of Darrell Lea also had a few words to say: “Until now, we have always been viewed as a Sydney company but with manufacturing expansion into Victoria we can forge stronger relationships with our retailers and consumers.”</p> <p>When the brand collapsed in 2012, it was the Quinn family, who are responsible for VIP Pet Foods, who took over. This year, they sold the business to Quadrant Private Equity and received around $200 million in return. </p>

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Surprise! The original Back To The Future cast reunited

<p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__intro sics-component__story__paragraph">It's the power of Lloyd, not the Power of Love that's sent shockwaves through fans of<em><span> </span>Back To The Future</em>.</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">Doc Brown, aka Christopher Lloyd, has managed to reunite the stars of the '80s time-travel classic for a photo at the fan convention they were attending.</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">Stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Thomas Wilson had all been taking part in the Fan Expo in Boston in the US when the reunion happened.</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">"This was special," Lloyd captioned his post after getting Marty McFly, Biff Tannen, Lorraine Baines and Doc Brown together.</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/BmWLLMKHQYN/?utm_source=ig_embed" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.09259259259259% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BmWLLMKHQYN/?utm_source=ig_embed" target="_blank">This was special.</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/mrchristopherlloyd/?utm_source=ig_embed" target="_blank"> Christopher Lloyd</a> (@mrchristopherlloyd) on Aug 11, 2018 at 10:10am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">One fan commented, "This is awesome! My 11 year old son asked me today, 'Dad, do you think they will make a Back to the Future pt 4?' These movies mean so much to me and now him. Thanks!"</p> <div class="sics-component__ad-space sics-component__ad-space--storybody "> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">Lea Thompson also posted the picture with the title "Four old friends get back from the future".</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">There's been much speculation over whether there would ever be a fourth installment of the <em>Back To The Future</em> series, but there's still been no announcement on whether the foursome will reunite one more time.</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph"><span>Meanwhile </span><a href="https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/12/back-future-reunion-everything-7828665/"><em>Metro</em><span> </span>reported it probably won't happen</a>.</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">"Basically, I think America is saying, 'Come on, they've wrecked every other franchise with bad sequels, why not this one?'" Wilson said, who played Biff. "C'mon, we would watch it until it sucks."</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph">Fox also poured doubts it would happen, saying that the actors have no say in whether another movie gets made, saying that co-creator Bob Gale is the "gatekeeper of the franchise".</p> <p class="sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph"><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/106221083/fans-delighted-as-the-original-back-to-the-future-cast-reunited">Stuff.co.nz</a>. </em></p> </div>

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One of Australia’s largest chicken suppliers shuts down after 61 years

<p>More than 500 workers have lost their jobs as one of Australia's biggest chicken suppliers Red Lea Chickens goes into voluntary administration after 60 years in the business.</p> <p>Hundreds of workers from the Blacktown processing plant and Sydney retail stores were told over Easter in an email that they no longer had jobs. With an immediate freeze on pay, the workers are waiting for money owed.</p> <p><img width="457" height="273" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/03/12/4AC8B37C00000578-5573235-image-m-94_1522756765131.jpg" alt="Red Lea Chickens (file image) was placed into voluntary administration last week, and will wind down operations at its processing plant in Blacktown, in Sydney's west" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-b94c9812b7a8c234"/></p> <p>The franchisee network of 22 stores will continue to operate, but those in six company-owned stores are now out of work.</p> <p>Connor Smith, who was a retail store manager for nine years, said his staff were in tears.</p> <p>"They didn't expect the closure to happen so suddenly," he said.</p> <p>"That was the killer.</p> <p>"It would have been more professional if we were notified on a proper weekday, on a proper business day, and got a phone call."</p> <p>Zagorca Ciolac said she has been working for the family-owned business at its Blacktown plant for 33 years.</p> <p>“It's difficult ... now we have to go look for another job,” Ms Ciolac told Network Ten on Tuesday.</p> <p>The company, which has been operating since 1957, was founded by John Velcich, a teenage refugee from Croatia, who sold the company in 2016 due to shrinking profits.</p>

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Emma Thompson calls out Hollywood’s anorexia problem

<p>Emma Thompson has criticised Hollywood for the intense pressure it places on actresses to be thin, revealing she almost quit the film <em>Brideshead Revisited</em> when another actress was asked by the film’s producers to lose weight.</p> <p>Thompson, speaking on Swedish talk show <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eJK0xgLon0" target="_blank">Skavlan</a></strong></span> while visiting Scandinavia with Greenpeace, unleashed her frustrations over the industries obsession with weight.</p> <p>“There was a wonderful actress in a film I did called <em>Brideshead Revisited</em>,” the 57-year-old said, referring to the 2008 adaption. “The producer said to her, ‘Will you lose some weight?’ And she was absolutely exquisite!”</p> <p>“I said to them, ‘If you speak to her about this again, on any level, I will leave this picture. You are never to do that,’” Thompson revealed.</p> <p>“It’s evil what’s happening and what’s going on there, and it’s getting worse. The French fashion industry said they would get rid of size zero and then, you know, they didn’t.</p> <p>“The anorexia – there’s so many kids, girls and boys now, and actresses who are very, very thin into their 30s, who simply don’t eat. They don’t eat,” she said.</p> <p>“Sometimes there are just some subjects that you absolutely have to make noise about because it’s so tedious and it’s gone on and on.”</p> <p>In the interview, the British actress joked about how she’s never moved to LA because she’s“too fat” to live in Hollywood.</p> <p>“I never moved to the US,” she said. “I couldn’t. Can you imagine? Every time I go to LA I think, ‘Oh God, I am too fat to go there.’”</p> <p>Thompson also revealed how she handles comments about her weight, saying she simply retorts: “Sorry, do you want me to be an actress or a model?”</p>

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