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Inside Rita Ora and Taika Waititi's intimate wedding

<p>One year after tying the knot in an intimate ceremony at their Los Angeles home, Rita Ora and Taika Waititi have shared a glimpse into their special day. </p> <p>The Hollywood A-listers got married in a small ceremony in August 2022. They first met at a bbq at Taika's home in 2018, but didn't start dating until when they were both filming in Australia in 2021. </p> <p>Now that a year has passed since their wedding, the couple have enjoyed watching people online speculate about their big day, after they have kept the details under wraps until now. </p> <p>Speaking candidly with <a href="https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/rita-ora-and-taika-waititi-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Vogue</em></a>, Taika said, It wasn’t in London or in France like everyone reported. It was in L.A. with a small group of friends.”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cvko_xwN1iJ/?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/reel/Cvko_xwN1iJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by RITA ORA (@ritaora)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“It’s actually been quite entertaining for us to see the different stories people made up and all the while getting to keep it to ourselves,” Rita admitted.</p> <p>“And, I love that we now get to share what really happened—and to do it on our one-year anniversary, no less!”</p> <p>The couple said there was less than 10 close friends and family in attendance, as Rita said of the day, “I felt really peaceful actually. It was almost like another day. We just all dressed up and got married.”</p> <p>Rita was dressed by Tom Ford for the big day, and accessories with the pearls her mother got married in. </p> <p>A year later, they both are still revelling in newlywed bliss. “It’s still working!” Taika exclaims. “I can’t believe it’s been a year.”</p> <p>“Same. I can’t believe it’s been a year,” Rita says. “It feels like nothing’s changed since the day I met him at the barbecue. It just feels so good to be with my best friend.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Vogue</em></p>

Relationships

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Rita's Ripoff: Tassie author receives shock of her career

<p>When Lian Tanner went online to see if her book was available for purchase in Australia, the last thing she could have expected to learn is that it was - under someone else's name. </p> <p>The award-winning Tasmanian author has written no few books over the course of her career, and only released <em>Rita’s Revenge</em> in 2022. But according to one of Amazon’s sale listings for the latter, Lian had nothing to do with it, instead declaring Emilio M Parks to be the author responsible for the 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards shortlisted story.</p> <p>Tanner opened up to <em>ABC Radio Hobart</em> about her discovery, confessing that she was “absolutely shocked.” </p> <p>"Both had exactly the same cover, exactly the same blurb,” she explained of the two purchase options, “but one of them listed me as the author and the other one had this fellow Emilio M Parks listed as the author.</p> <p>"He had a whole list of books he had apparently written, including <em>Rita's Revenge</em> and Doctor Seuss books, and heaps of other stuff."</p> <p>She went on to comment that the mysterious Emilio M Parks came with a few red flags, noting that “there was no information listed on Amazon about the 'author', and his version of Rita only had 25 pages, when the real book runs to 351 pages. The stolen version was also selling at half the usual price.”</p> <p>Obviously he is hoping someone will come along and want to buy the book, not notice it's the wrong author listed, and then just click through and buy it. Their money's gone and it's too late. </p> <p>“It's a complete rip-off.” </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apparently Emilio M Parks has ALSO written a book called Rita's Revenge. With exactly the same cover. And he's selling it on Amazon for half the price of mine. Weird coincidence, huh? </p> <p>He's also selling The Lorax. <a href="https://twitter.com/AllenAndUnwin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AllenAndUnwin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ripoff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ripoff</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/theft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#theft</a> <a href="https://t.co/lzE5UhoE6q">pic.twitter.com/lzE5UhoE6q</a></p> <p>— Lian Tanner (@tanner_lian) <a href="https://twitter.com/tanner_lian/status/1629365601125949440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Allen and Unwin, the publishers behind legitimate copies of <em>Rita’s Revenge</em>, chimed in on the unfortunate theft, though digital publishing director Elizabeth Weiss’ take couldn’t have come as much comfort to Tanner or her fellow authors, simply stating that plagiarism like that “happens from time to time.” </p> <p>Tanner herself acknowledged the unfortunate likelihood of such events when she said that she’d “heard about entire books being stolen and published under a different title.”</p> <p>“That's much harder to pick up because you're not searching for your own title,” she added. "It happens a lot with translations. Someone will pick up a book that's published in English, translate it into a different language, and then put it up as their own work."</p> <p>However, all hope was not lost, with Weiss explaining that “sites like Amazon are pretty responsive. There is a particular channel we go through and if we can demonstrate the infringement of a title we hold the rights to, they're reasonably prompt [in] dealing with it.</p> <p>"We try to get on to it quickly but often it's the author who finds their own book online and raises the alarm.</p> <p>"Clearly they look identical. It's the same cover file but look at the price … it's a loss of sales but also a moral right infringement.”</p> <p>Weiss also shared advice with shoppers hoping to grab their next online bargain, telling them that “it’s always wise to be a bit careful”, and to double - even triple - check all the information on hand before adding to cart, even on large and “reputable sites like Amazon.” </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Books

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“Kia Ora NZ!”: First cruise ship returns to New Zealand

<p dir="ltr">After more than two years, the first cruise ship has returned to New Zealand’s shores, sailing into Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The P&amp;O Cruises flagship <em>Pacific Explorer</em>, decked out with a banner reading, “Kia ora NZ”, was carrying passengers on a 12-night round-trip cruise from Sydney to New Zealand and Fiji, who were greeted with a traditional Māori welcome before heading ashore for locally-run tours.</p> <p dir="ltr">Multiple Kiwi businesses welcomed the return of cruising to New Zealand and hope it will bring a boost to the local economy and their business.</p> <p dir="ltr">David Lee, who owns five eateries in the shopping and hospitality precinct in Auckland City, said the return of cruising has brought him hope after the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc when he opened in March 2020.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Without tourists, it was really hard to keep our restaurants afloat,” he said in a statement. “Our projected revenue amounted to less than half of what it should have been - we hung on by the skin of our teeth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The return of cruise ships and the tourists they bring has given me hope for our business. I can’t wait to see the city abuzz with tourists and energy again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Clinton Farley, the general manager of The Hotel Britomart, a boutique hotel in downtown Auckland, said the return of tourists through cruising isn’t just welcome financially, but also from a community aspect.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Along with our industry peers, we are extremely excited to see the maritime border reopening and tourists returning – they are such an important part of the fabric within our community,” Mr Farley said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Tourists are crucial not just to the hotel but also to the wider Britomart precinct and the New Zealand economy. The return of cruise is a big part of our reopening to the world, and we are thrilled to see downtown Auckland coming back to life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">P&amp;O Cruises Australia and Carnival Australia president Marguerite Fitzgerald thanked the Ardern government for enabling the cruising industry to return following the pandemic, </p> <p dir="ltr">“<em>Pacific Explorer</em>’s arrival in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland today is a signal that cruise tourism is poised to make a significant contribution to the restoration of the tourism economy,” Ms Fitzgerald said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are looking forward to our ships also being able to return to beautiful destinations in New Caledonia and Vanuatu and to the progressive return to New Zealand ports of ships from our other cruise lines as the tourism sector continues to rebuild.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Fitzgerald added that they were already planning for the <em>Pacific Explorer</em> to return to Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, in 2023 for the ship’s first home-ported cruise in three years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is an exciting day for P&amp;O and an exciting day for cruising and we thank New Zealand for today’s warm welcome,” she said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6ef01876-7fff-913a-4d2c-c7fb74120603"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: P&amp;O Cruises (Supplied)</em></p>

Cruising

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Taika Waititi and Rita Ora tie the knot

<p>Actor and director Taika Waititi has reportedly tied the knot with his pop-star partner Rita Ora. </p> <p>Sources claim the A-list couple married in an intimate ceremony in London, with rumours Rita has already changed her surname and will now be known as Mrs Waititi-Ora.</p> <p>Taika and Rita reportedly got engaged two months ago after going public with their relationship in August 2021. </p> <p>Despite holding a private ceremony for their nuptials, sources claim they are planning a huge Hollywood bash with all their celebrity friends to celebrate their secret wedding. </p> <p>A source told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/19454799/rita-ora-marries-taika-waititi/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">The Sun,</a> "It was a really intimate ceremony and super special for everyone there. Their nearest and dearest can see how madly in love they are."</p> <p>"Despite living in the spotlight, Rita is determined to keep the relationship as private as possible and didn't want to make a big song and dance about the wedding."</p> <p>In recent days, Rita has done little to quash speculation that she and Taika had secretly tied the knot, after she was seen wearing a gold band on her ring finger while on a trip to Paris. </p> <p>Rita's post came just days after the couple fuelled speculation that they have married, after the <em>Thor</em> director was also seen sporting a wedding band.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

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Woman awarded $131,000 after not being invited to work drinks

<p dir="ltr">A waitress has been awarded a whopping $131,000 after not being invited to work drinks. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rita Leher said that she felt “shunned” by her colleagues at a London casino when they didn’t invite her to a cocktail bar.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 51-year-old, who is older than her colleagues and has worked at the casino for 10 years, took stress leave after hearing the plans being discussed in front of her and not receiving an invite. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rita, who also happens to be of African descent, issued a complaint to the employment tribunal on the basis of race and claimed the victimisation was due to her age and ethnicity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We unanimously agree that being excluded from discussions at work about a social occasion amongst colleagues when one would normally be included would subject an employee to a detriment at work," Employment Judge Sarah Moor said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"A reasonable employee would consider that such exclusion was to their disadvantage because they had lost the opportunity to bond with colleagues on that social occasion.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The occasion was sufficiently linked to work by the fact that it was amongst work colleagues and was discussed at work, and would provide the opportunity for team bonding.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Rita was subsequently awarded £74,113.65 ($131,000) in compensation on the basis of injury to feelings and loss of overtime and financial loss. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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"That's rigged": Fans react with fury after Voice winner revealed

<p>Lachie Gill has been crowned as the winner of The Voice Australia 2022 and fans are not happy with the verdict.</p> <p>The 24-year-old was up against fellow finalists Faith Sosene, Thando Sikwila and Jordan Tavita – with some fans left feeling Gill's win was not at all warranted against his diverse fellow finalists.</p> <p>Several viewers took to Twitter to express their belief that Lachie only won because he is white.</p> <p>'Surely no one is surprised the pretty white boy won,' one person tweeted, while someone else added: 'Lachey won? Sounds about white'.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Surely no one is surprised the pretty white boy won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— BFM (@ChingChefandWet) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChingChefandWet/status/1530872019704696833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'I really hate to say this but there were three next level vocalists on #TheVoiceAU in the final. And the winner wasn't one of them. Was the only white one though. I truly can't think of another explanation,' another wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I really hate to say this but there were 3 next level vocalists on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> in the final. And the winner wasn’t one of them. Was the only white one though. </p> <p>I truly can’t think of another explanation.</p> <p>— Mister Spinner (@kiwibrotha) <a href="https://twitter.com/kiwibrotha/status/1530871795447787520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'Apparently all you need to win #TheVoiceAU is be a mediocre white man!!' someone else agreed while one more said: 'No way. That's rigged. White boy who fits the suit.'</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apparently all you need to win <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> is be a mediocre white man!!</p> <p>— the starving African child yall be talking about (@sayhope24) <a href="https://twitter.com/sayhope24/status/1530869304320659457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">No way. That’s rigged. White boy who fits the suit. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— Maddie Norris (@FionaNorris26) <a href="https://twitter.com/FionaNorris26/status/1530867341931622400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'No surprise there. Three world class vocalists and and one AFL player who plays guitar. Australia gonna vote white', another tweeted.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">No surprise there. 3 world class vocalists and an 1 AFL player who plays guitar. Australia gonna vote white. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— vicpetelo (@vicpetelo) <a href="https://twitter.com/vicpetelo/status/1530868984676945920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'Yep a white boy with no voice won #TheVoiceAU. What more could go wrong aye? Stop white washing everything. Stop making us all look bad. We must demand to see all the votes that came in,' one more chimed in.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yep a white boy with no voice won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a> 🙄<br />What more could go wrong aye? Stop white washing everything. Stop making us all look bad. We must demand to see all the votes that came in <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVoiceAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— Ted Lundy (@teddy_lundy) <a href="https://twitter.com/teddy_lundy/status/1530867842350198784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>'Well… that was a waste of time - three incredible singers of colour and the mediocre white guy won'.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Well… that was a waste of time - 3 incredible singers of colour, &amp; the mediocre white guy with a mo won 🤬<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheVoiceAU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheVoiceAU</a></p> <p>— Caro Line (@craftycaro1971) <a href="https://twitter.com/craftycaro1971/status/1530867699412217856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>During Sunday night's grand finale episode, Lachie won the $100,000 prize money and a recording contract with Universal Music Australia.</p> <p>After Sonia Kruger delivered the verdict, Lochie exclaimed: "Oh my God! From the start, I just never, ever would have expected this. I'm just blown away. Thank you so much. Wow. Thank you".</p> <p>Lachie's coach, Rita Ora, praised him for his talent and thanked Australia for their support.</p> <p>Rita and Lachie also performed Lady Gaga's hit "Always Remember Us This Way" during Sunday's grand finale episode.</p> <p><em>Image: Channel 7</em></p>

News

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Rita Ora breaks down during emotional moment on The Voice

<p>Rita Ora, a judge on The Voice 2022, broke down in tears as she shared a heartbreaking moment with one of this year’s contestants.</p> <p>Sydney-based Aleisha Gam, aged 26, blew the judges away with her powerful and emotional rendition of Adele’s Make You Feel My Love, prompting all four judges to turn around and pitch for her to join their teams.</p> <p>After being asked why she’d chosen that particular song, Aleisha explained that she was inspired by her mother’s battle with cancer.</p> <p>“My mum’s been struggling with cancer for the past two years, so I felt like with this song, I could really change the lyrics and make it more about having her feel my love,” she told the judges.</p> <p>An emotional Rita then spoke about her mother’s own battle with cancer and the impact it had on her. “I know how it feels to have a connection with a song and that the memory always sticks with that song,” she told Aleisha, as she broke down in tears.</p> <p>“When she would go and get her treatment and she was losing her hair and stuff, we were teenagers, and it was really weird to see your mum not be the superhero you always think your mum is going to be.</p> <p>“Because you never think your parents are going to break down in front of you … and you sort of need to put them together … but it’s OK, it’s also something she talks about, she’s a survivor.”</p> <p>Rita added: “I just wanted to put that out there, I don’t really talk about my mum like that, I want you to know that. It’s hard, it’s really hard.”</p> <p>Unsurprisingly, Aleisha chose to join Rita’s team to progress through the competition.</p> <p><em>Image: Channel 7 </em></p>

Music

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The Voice fans outraged at Rita Ora's pick for final four

<p><em>The Voice Australia</em> fans have expressed their outrage at Judge Rita Ora for picking girl group G-Nat!on over Sian Fuller and some have even slammed the competition as 'rigged.'</p> <p>On Sunday's episode of <em>The Voice Australia</em>, the judges had to pick between their last two finalists for the grand final next week and it was Rita Ora’s choice which left fans fuming.</p> <p>Ora chose girl group G-Nat!on over Sian Fuller and this infuriated fans – many of whom took to Twitter to express their disappointment.</p> <p>The top four artists competing for the title on <em>The Voice Australia </em>next Sunday are Bella Taylor Smith from Team Guy, Arlo Sim from Team Keith, Mick Harrington from Team Jess and G-Nat!on from Team Rita.</p> <p><strong>Sian had become a fan favourite</strong></p> <p>Sian Fuller has become a fan favourite on the show as she merely accompanied her talented brother, Jordan, to the audition and it was the host, Sonia Kruger, who asked Sian if she would like to try out to be part of the show.</p> <p>Sian said “yes” and when she auditioned, she was accepted. She competed with everyone else, including her brother Jordan, and both of them made it to the semi-finals last night.</p> <p>Jordan was unfortunately not picked by his coach as well. In a difficult choice, Guy Sebastian chose Bella Taylor Smith. But at least fans could understand these were competitors were both very gifted.</p> <p><strong>Outraged fans took to Twitter</strong></p> <p>But when Rita Ora chose G-Nation over Sian, fans expressed their anger with one posting: 'Thought it was The Voice not The Voices', while another said, 'What the hell wrong choice'.</p> <p>Someone else added: '#TheVoiceAU is rigged! What a crappy decision to take the girl group through instead of a beautiful amazing girl! Rigged I say!'</p> <p>Another didn't mince words, writing: 'I am gob smacked. Rita you are an idiot. I'm so disappointed'.</p> <p>Another chimed in: 'What's with the whole 'the world needs another girl group' we'll be fine, I promise'.</p> <p>Yet another complained: 'G NATION OVER SIAN????? F**k off Rita!' while someone else wrote: 'What the hell wrong choice'.</p> <p>G-Nat!on is made up of Isla Ward, 17; Taylah Silvestri, 18; Emma Caporaso, 18; Mateja Sardelis, 16; Alessia Musolino, 17 and Rylee Vormelker, 17.</p> <p>The six girls hail from Adelaide and they're the largest group to ever audition for <em>The Voice Australia</em>. They’re also the only group to take part this season.</p> <p><em>Image: Channel 7</em></p>

Music

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"Cut before a cut": The Voice fans react to brutal new format

<p>Viewers have slammed The Voice because they felt ‘The Cut’ segment was harsh and now it seems the new ‘Knockouts’ segment could be even more brutal.</p> <p>Sunday night’s episode of the show saw the coaches trim their teams down to only five members and they had to cut quite a few members from their teams to achieve this.</p> <p>Unfortunately, after this step, the coaches then needed to get rid of a <em>further </em>three members from each of their teams which was difficult for everyone concerned.</p> <p>Sunday’s episode saw coach Keith Urban’s team members go up against Guy Sebastian’s, and in another Voice first, the coaches were given three options after hearing their team sing.</p> <p>They had the choice of sending them straight through to the finals, send them straight home <em>or</em> get them to wait until the end of the night when the judge will make their final decision.</p> <p><strong>Keith and Guy had to cut down their teams</strong></p> <p>While Keith made most of his team wait except for Arlo, who he sent straight through to the finals, Guy sent his members home right after their performance.</p> <p>After getting a major makeover, Guy’s team member Adrian Hood sang his heart out to <em>Try A Little Tenderness</em>. While he sang it well, Guy decided to send him home.</p> <p>The same was said for Penelope Pettigrew, who Guy gave a song to sing by fellow Voice coach Jessica Mauboy, <em>This Ain’t Love</em>.</p> <p>While she did a great job with the song, doing Mauboy proud, Guy decided to send her home as well.</p> <p>In the end, Guy chose his team members – Bella Taylor-Smith and Jordan, to go through to the final shows.</p> <p><strong>Fans unhappy with new format</strong></p> <p>Some fans have already expressed their disappointment with the new format of The Voice where the judges have to cut their team members down in ‘The Cut’ segment.</p> <p>On social media, one fan wrote: ‘This format doesn’t allow for us to connect with the contestants. Couldn’t care less who wins when people are dumped after a 10 second sound bite.’</p> <p>‘This whole cut experience was so sh***y, they got rid of so many people who we had all grown to love and we barely had time to see them go,” another wrote.</p> <p><em>The Voice continues on Channel 7 on Monday night at 7:30pm.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Channel 7</em></p> <p> </p>

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“We can all sing, Jess!” snaps Rita Ora on The Voice

<p>It was after rapper Isaiah Lugo-Hale’s audition, when both the British songstress, Rita Ora and our own Aussie singer, Jessica Mauboy, were competing with each other to get him on their team as part of <em>The Voice</em> TV show.</p> <p>Jess chose to burst into song in an attempt to win over Isaiah and clearly annoyed with this play for his attention, a fed-up Rita snapped: “We can all sing, Jess!”</p> <p>This is not the first time it’s become heated at the judges panel on the TV show, The Voice, because the judges are competing with each other to get the best contestants on their teams and the stakes are high so each judge attempts any foil they think will get the contestant to choose them as their judge.</p> <p>Singing to contestants when she's pitching to them is something Jess has done multiple times over the course of the show so far and sometimes it's worked to her advantage - and sometimes not.</p> <p>This time, perhaps it didn't. Rita followed up yelling: “What else you got? What else you got? And then Jess merely smiled and asked Isaiah: “Do you like it?”</p> <p>Isaiah ended up choosing Rita to be his judge for the duration of the show.</p> <p><strong>Fans were both for and against Jess’s singing antics</strong></p> <p>From the social media posts which followed, there were fans who sided with Rita and others who sided with Jess.</p> <p>Viewers took to Twitter to share their opinion, with one writing 'as much as I like her, I'm getting a bit sick of Jess singing during her pitches.'</p> <p>'Even Rita hates when Jess sings,' another pointed out, while a third wrote: 'I wonder if Jess sing-talks to her family and friends too.'</p> <p>'Drinking game where you drink every time Jessica Mauboy sings to win a pitch and it doesn't work, and you're drunk,' another joked, while a fifth said: 'OK but why does Jess sing absolutely EVERYTHING.'</p> <p>But others were quick to stick up for the Jess, with one fan writing: 'Y'all getting mad at Jess for singing when you're forgetting the title of the show is <em>The Voice</em> - let her sing it ain't that deep!'</p> <p>When Isaiah chose Rita Ora as his coach, she was was ecstatic with his decision.</p> <p>“We're going to kill this! We're going to surprise everybody. Let's go!” she said.</p> <p><em>Photo: Courtesy Channel 7</em></p>

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Rita Wilson shares heartbreaking post about her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s

<p>Rita Wilson has opened up about her mother Dorothy Wilson’s devastating Alzheimer’s diagnosis in a touching Instagram post about the effects of the disease.</p> <p>Rita, 63, shared a photograph of her mother’s hand clutching hers tightly after Dorothy stopped being able to communicate with the family due to the disease.</p> <p>"My mothers hand. This was taken when she could no longer speak from Alzheimer's. How many times did she hold my hand? Walking me to school, going to church, comforting me at bedtime," she captioned the Instagram photo.</p> <p>"There comes a time when the tables are turned and the daughter becomes the mother. The lessons she taught now are given back. How can one ever thank a mother enough?" she said.</p> <p>"When I had the idea for 'Where's My Country Song'? it was about honouring all women, not only mothers, but women who nurture and care for others, for the work they do and for the love they give sometimes without acknowledgement but always with grace."</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/CALX0NrHHQl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=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/CALX0NrHHQl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Rita Wilson (@ritawilson)</a> on May 14, 2020 at 11:05am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Rita opened up about how the family coped after receiving the diagnosis on May 12th to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.com/celebrities/rita-wilson-interview" target="_blank">Health</a>.</p> <p>"It is one of the hardest things families go through. Even in the closest of families, it creates a lot of tension and anxiety. This person that you love, that raised you, doesn't recognise you anymore, and you are losing them every day, little by little," Wilson said.</p> <p>"I learned so much from my mum — even through her Alzheimer's. You learn about yourself, about your family, about grieving and letting go. You learn about what's important and what's not. That disease is not something you'd ever wish on anybody, but I try to find the beauty in it, too."</p>

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Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson released from hospital following coronavirus diagnosis

<p><span>After testing positive for coronavirus last week, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have left the Queensland hospital they were being treated at.</span></p> <p><em>PEOPLE<span> </span></em>reported that according to the Hollywood star’s rep, the couple are now taking it easy at their home where they remain in quarantine.</p> <p>The couple, who tied the knot in 1988, have been in Australia for pre-production of Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming Elvis Presley biopic in which Hanks plays Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker.</p> <p>Last Thursday, Hanks took to Instagram to reveal that he and Wilson had contracted COVID-19.</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/B9qBEyjJu4B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=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="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/B9qBEyjJu4B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Hello folks. @ritawilson and I want to thank everyone here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have Covid-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else. There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no? Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball. Hanx</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/tomhanks/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Tom Hanks</a> (@tomhanks) on Mar 12, 2020 at 7:08pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive," he shared on Instagram and Twitter. "Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed.</p> <p>"We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We'll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!"</p> <p>Officials from Queensland released a statement last week revealing where the couple likely contracted coronavirus.</p> <p>While they did not name Hanks and Wilson specifically, they did say that all of the state’s new patients are non-contact cases. Which means they have “contracted the illness outside Australia and travelled to Queensland with the virus”, so were most probably infected in the United States or while travelling to Australia.</p>

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What Tom Hanks did to help his wife get through cancer

<p>Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson are an example of a Hollywood couple who truly love each other.</p> <p>In an interview, Rita has revealed how the <em>Cast Away</em> actor helped her get through cancer battle.</p> <p>Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. Tom helped her through that time by going above and beyond to ensure she had everything to give her the strength to fight the disease.</p> <p>Rita said at a fundraiser for the World Cancer Research Fund, "When I was going through my diagnoses and surgery, the one thing I really wanted to tell people is that there are still times when you have love and you smile and you laugh.”</p> <p class="canvas-atom">"We watched movies, we watched great documentaries, we ate good food and we did our best to maintain our spirit and be thankful."</p> <p class="canvas-atom">Tom added, “You just clear the decks and you circle the wagons and you hunker down. It's not that hard to do.”</p> <p class="canvas-atom">"It's like when there's a big rainstorm outside, you bust out the hot cocoa and make sure everyone is comfortable."</p> <p class="canvas-atom">Once again this couple grow closer despite what comes against them. </p> <p class="canvas-atom"><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/02/tom-hanks-on-what-makes-his-28-year-marriage-untouchable/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Tom Hanks’ on what makes his 28-year marriage “untouchable”</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/2017/02/vintage-photos-of-hollywood-couples/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 vintage photos of Hollywood couples</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/02/actor-bill-paxton-passes-away/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Actor Bill Paxton passes away aged 61</strong></em></span></a></p>

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What Tom Hanks did to help his wife get through cancer

<p>Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson are an example of a Hollywood couple who truly love each other.</p> <p>In an interview, Rita has revealed how the <em>Cast Away</em> actor helped her get through cancer battle.</p> <p>Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. Tom helped her through that time by going above and beyond to ensure she had everything to give her the strength to fight the disease.</p> <p>Rita said at a fundraiser for the World Cancer Research Fund, "When I was going through my diagnoses and surgery, the one thing I really wanted to tell people is that there are still times when you have love and you smile and you laugh.”</p> <p class="canvas-atom">"We watched movies, we watched great documentaries, we ate good food and we did our best to maintain our spirit and be thankful."</p> <p class="canvas-atom">Tom added, “You just clear the decks and you circle the wagons and you hunker down. It's not that hard to do.”</p> <p class="canvas-atom">"It's like when there's a big rainstorm outside, you bust out the hot cocoa and make sure everyone is comfortable."</p> <p class="canvas-atom">Once again this couple grow closer despite what comes against them. </p> <p class="canvas-atom"><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/02/tom-hanks-on-what-makes-his-28-year-marriage-untouchable/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Tom Hanks’ on what makes his 28-year marriage “untouchable”</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/2017/02/vintage-photos-of-hollywood-couples/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 vintage photos of Hollywood couples</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/02/actor-bill-paxton-passes-away/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Actor Bill Paxton passes away aged 61</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson share adorable selfie

<p>They’ve been married for almost 30 years now, but it looks like 60-year-old Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, 59, are just as in love as ever, sharing this adorable photo of the two together.</p> <p><img width="500" height="600" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26389/tomhanksintexr_500x600.jpg" alt="Tomhanksintexr" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“Tom Hanks, the love of my life, my best friend, loving father, kick a** grandfather,” Wilson wrote last month in celebration of her hubby’s 60th birthday. “We love you!”</p> <p>The pair married back in 1988 and have two sons together – Chester, 26 and Truman, 20. Tom also has two children from a previous marriage – 38-year-old Colin, who is also an actor, and 34-year-old Elizabeth.</p> <p>“I wish there was a secret, you know,” Hanks said when asked about the reason behind the couple’s inseparable bond. “We just like each other. You start there.”</p> <p>Adorable! Do you have a beautiful love story to share? Tell us about it in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/07/heartbreaking-news-for-tom-hanks-and-his-family/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Heartbreaking news for Tom Hanks and his family</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/07/tom-hanks-13-greatest-movies-quotes/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Tom Hanks' 13 greatest movies quotes</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/05/7-actors-children-who-became-actors-too/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 children who followed in the footsteps of their actor parents</strong></em></span></a></p>

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