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"Shame on you all": Lydia Thorpe hits back after Senate censure

<p>Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has spoken out after the Senate voted to censure her over a protest she staged during King Charles' Australian visit.</p> <p>During the monarch's visit to Canberra, Thorpe started yelling from the back of the room following King Charles' speech to a room of political and community leaders at Parliament House's Great Hall. </p> <p>“You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us, our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people, you destroyed our land,” Thorpe said during her outburst.</p> <p>“We want a treaty in this country. This is not your land. You are not my King, you are not our King. F*** the colony.”</p> <p>The outburst prompted a vote from the Senate to censure Thorpe - meaning to formally share an expression of the Senate's disapproval - as she responded to the decision on Monday saying, the motion was "a clear articulation of the racism that I continually have to deal with in my workplace."</p> <p>Thorpe said the vote was, "A time where you see Labor and the Liberal party come together to shut down a Blak voice — that’s been happening in this country for over 200 years."</p> <p>The Senate passed a motion 46 votes to 12 to censure her over her actions, as Thorpe entered the Senate chamber after the vote and yelled: "Shame on you all".</p> <p>"If (the king) comes back in, I'll do it again."</p> <p>Thorpe was not present for the vote due to a flight delay, although she said she had contacted Labor minister Don Farrell to ask him to delay the vote but claimed she was "denied my right to be in that chamber whilst everybody else voted to shut me down".</p> <p>Thorpe later told reporters she "did not give a damn" about being censured and tore up a piece of paper with the motion on it.</p> <p>Thorpe said in a statement before the vote took place that that motion showed "where the major parties' priorities lie".</p> <p>"They don't stand with First Peoples in this country. They stand against justice for our people, preferring instead to defend a foreign king, rather than listen to the truth," she said.</p> <p>"In no way do I regret protesting the King ... it is time this country reckons with its history, and puts a stop to the continuing genocide on First Peoples."</p> <p>Image credits: MICK TSIKAS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </p>

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Seven star names and shames worst celeb interviews

<p>A former Channel Seven showbiz reporter has named and shamed the worst celebrities he's interviewed. </p> <p>Nelson Aspen, 61, who as an entertainment correspondent for Sunrise for two decades opened up on his worst celebrity encounters fellow showbiz reporter Kjersti Flaa on her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ7xEdVa25s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>YouTube show</em></a>. </p> <p>Flaa who is known for revealing her own "nightmare" celebrity encounter with Blake Lively, prompted Aspen to share his own experience with the <em>Gossip Girl </em>actress. </p> <p>Aspen said that his first interview with Lively in 2016 was “fun and playful” and he was "gobsmacked" by her beauty. But he had a very different experience just two years later when he interviewed her and Anna Kendrick for <em>A Simple Favor</em>. </p> <p>“I’m figuring, ‘Oh this is going to be fun.’ I’d interviewed Anna before and she’s fine, but Blake? She’s going to be be a hoot, I can’t wait,” Aspen recalled. </p> <p>“They were paired together, and I think that may have had something to do with it. She [Lively] could’ve been having a bad day, maybe they didn’t get along, maybe it was competition, maybe it was two egos trapped in the same room, maybe Blake is just better one-on-one … I don’t know, but she answered every question with a question, combatively.</p> <p>“It was not pleasant, and Anna sort of did the same. It’s like she was like, ‘OK this is girl power, we’re going to be team up on the journalist.’</p> <p>“And in your interview with Blake, I recognised it, this is a trait, obviously a recurring one,” he told Flaa.</p> <p>“Thanks to you, everybody’s warned.”</p> <p>He then revealed that one of his most uncomfortable chats was with Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, and prior to his interview, a publicist warned him that De Niro "won't look you in the eyes". </p> <p>That was exactly what happened when he interviewed the actor. </p> <p>“The camera that was on me was off to a weird angle so that Robert never had to look me in the face,” Aspen recalled. </p> <p>“He looked off camera, but when we cut it together it looked as if he was looking at me.</p> <p>“They went to so much trouble to avoid him having to look at the journalist.”</p> <p>Another A-lister he interviewed was Marvel star Paul Rudd, considered to be one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, but Aspen said it wasn't always the case. </p> <p>“He’s usually very sweet, but it was his birthday, and that’s when everybody was talking about ‘ageless Paul Rudd’,” Aspen said.</p> <p>“They [publicists] said, ‘Don’t ask him about his youthful appearance, and don’t say Happy Birthday.’ I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’</p> <p>“Yes it was coming from the publicist, but he must have said, ‘I don’t want to talk about my birthday’.”</p> <p>"I can’t remember exactly how it went down, but whatever it was they were very sensitive about it, and it was very uncomfortable and awkward, and nobody says that about Paul Rudd.</p> <p>“But it happens, they’re people too.”</p> <p>However, his interviews weren't all bad, with Hugh Jackman known as one of the kindest stars in Hollywood. </p> <p>“I’ve interviewed him a thousand times. He’s the best,” Aspen said.</p> <p>Meryl Streep and Julie Andrews were also among Aspen’s favourites.</p> <p><em>Image: Youtube</em></p>

TV

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Uproar over council's bin "shaming" move

<p>As councils around the country make big changes to the way we dispose of waste, one council's move has left an entire street in Melbourne "offended". </p> <p>On Wednesday morning, Essendon mum Kali took out her bins and thought nothing more of her weekly habit. It was when she came back after a coffee run that she spotted a tag that had "oh no" written in big red letters. </p> <p>"We found items that don't belong in your mixed recycling bin," the note read, identifying reusable shopping bags as the culprit. </p> <p>When she looked around all but one household on her street had the same yellow note. </p> <p>"I came back  and saw all these tags on the bins, I thought 'That's a bit weird'," she told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em>. </p> <p>"It was the talk of the street," she said, after finding out that fellow residents were in "uproar" over the tags. </p> <p>Kali, a mum-of-two, has lived in her home for over nine years and said this was the first time she saw the tag on her bin. </p> <p> "It's just a bizarre thing to do," she said.</p> <p>"I thought it was funny that I got bin shamed. I'm sure we're all guilty of [recycling incorrectly], it's an easy mistake.</p> <p>"Our whole street was embarrassed about it," she added, saying "other neighbours were more offended". </p> <p>Kali is adamant that she didn't do anything wrong, as she ensures the bags in her bin were made out of paper, but said that "you don’t know who is putting things in your bin."</p> <p>A council spokesperson told <em>Yahoo </em>that the move was made to "inform" residents. </p> <p> "Council’s intention is to provide information to people at their homes through our kerbside bin education program to create more awareness, so everyone in the community can recycle right," the spokesperson said.</p> <p>"We understand that recycling can be confusing and that there may be a misunderstanding in what can and can’t go into a recycling bin."</p> <p><em>Images: Yahoo News</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Jelena Dokic hits back at body shaming trolls

<p>Jelena Dokic has hit back at body shaming trolls after revealing her dramatic weight loss. </p> <p>The former tennis player revealed that she has lost 20kgs after becoming concerned about her family's health history, and she had a message for online bullies. </p> <p>“It’s not good if you gain weight and it’s not good if you lose weight. It’s not good if you are a size zero, 10 or 18 it seems,” she wrote in the raw Instagram post on Monday. </p> <p>“So you all know I am very open and honest.</p> <p>“Whether I gain weight, lose weight, depressed, feel great, go through the good or the bad, I am always honest about both sides.</p> <p>“So I thought I would just quickly address my recent weight loss because a few people have written to me and also commented.</p> <p>“So, I have lost 20 kilos from my heaviest weight last year.</p> <p>“I had some health issues but also I just wanted to get healthier and fitter and when I turned 40 last year, I really started to think about my family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.</p> <p>“Also, my work has increased dramatically and I needed to be fitter both physically and mentally and have more energy.</p> <p>“I didn’t have enough energy especially mentally to keep up. I needed to eat healthier to achieve that.</p> <p>“So, I didn’t focus on weight so much but just making better choices to feel my best.</p> <p>“With that the weight started coming off.”</p> <p>While she has previously faced people bullying her over her weight gain, she revealed that she's also been copping flak for losing weight, with some shaming her saying that: "I have succumbed to the ‘diet culture’ and don’t represent the plus size people anymore."</p> <p>"Please don’t even go there,” she said. </p> <p>She added that she will always stand up for people no matter their size, especially women. </p> <p>“It was always about not judging, shaming and bullying people no matter what their weight and size is and instead highlighting that kindness is what matters, not our size.</p> <p>“So, while I have lost 20 kilos it changes nothing.</p> <p>“I still want people to value me and others based on whether we are kind and good people.</p> <p>“I will always be proud of myself and not hide or be embarrassed no matter what size I am. And I will always be against body shaming and against valuing people based on their size and weight no matter if I gain or lose some kilos and dress sizes.</p> <p>“Always against body shaming no matter what.”</p> <p>Her post has already received over 45,000 likes and 3,000 comments, with many praising her for speaking up. </p> <p>“Keep well Jelena, don’t listen to the noise, you will never please everyone. Just keep doing the amazing work you do, love your commentary,” wrote one follower. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

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Channel 10 presenter exposes on-air dress shaming

<p>Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has exposed a “humiliating” email she received from a viewer who commented on an outfit she wore on-air Tuesday. </p> <p>The Australian journalist, who hosts <em>10 News First</em>, wore a v-neck blouse and patterned blazer when she was reporting that day, when the unsolicited "feedback" came through. </p> <p>Jacobs shared a screenshot of the email that was sent to the Ten News group on Instagram. </p> <p>“Inappropriate dress sense for reading the news. Cleavage is for the nightclub,” the email read. </p> <p>Addressing the email, Jacobs began:  “Yes, we still receive emails like this. Yes, it went to the entire newsroom." </p> <p>“Yes, I was on air at the time. Yes, it is intended to shame and humiliate me," the 48-year-old added. </p> <p>“No, what I’m wearing is not inappropriate but your email sure is.”</p> <p>Followers took to the comments to back Jacobs, with fellow journalists sharing their own experience of receiving sexist criticism. </p> <p>Retired swimmer Giaan Rooney wrote:  “Yep. The number of emails the newsroom used to get attacking everything about my appearance when I was presenting the weather was incredible.” </p> <p><em>The Guardian</em> journalist Amy Remeikis recalled how “not that long ago” a woman felt that she had to “hide” her nine-year-old son from the TV when she was on-air.</p> <p>“Because he wanted to know why that woman (me) had ‘sex face’ and what my boobs were,” Remeikis wrote. “Had never seen breasts apparently, but could use the phrase ‘sex face’.”</p> <p><em>ABC Radio</em> host Yumi Stynes joked, “How dare you cleavage?” before complimenting Jacobs for her radiant look, while <em>Dessert Masters</em> judge Melissa Leong wrote, “File under ‘When you really hate yourself, so you decide to email random strangers to tell them.’”</p> <p>Comedian Janelle Koenig slammed the ‘feedback’ as “absolute insanity.”</p> <p>This comes after thousands attended <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/it-s-up-to-men-anthony-albanese-joins-violence-against-women-rally" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rallies</a> in late April calling on the government to take action against the recent spate of acts of violence against women. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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The problem with shaming people for Auschwitz selfies

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-wight-1514086">Craig Wight</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phiona-stanley-1514087">Phiona Stanley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a></em></p> <p>Selfies have become the modern day equivalent of postcards, a way to share our travel experiences with family and friends on social media. It’s one thing to strike a goofy pose and snap a photo for Instagram on a beach or town square, but what if you are visiting a Holocaust memorial site?</p> <p>Taking fun, playful, even silly selfies at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9566811/">dark tourism</a> sites such as <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/45182/1/chernobyl-grenfell-tower-unpacking-the-rise-of-the-dark-tourism-tragedy-selfie">Chernobyl</a> Japan’s <a href="https://www.selondoner.co.uk/life/12122023-dark-tourism-in-london">“suicide forests”</a> or concentration camps has become a regular occurrence. It is widely regarded as controversial and distasteful.</p> <p>In 2017, Israeli-German artist Shahak Shapira launched a project aimed at shaming visitors taking selfies at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Germany. The project was <a href="https://yolocaust.de/">called Yolocaust</a> – a portmanteau of internet slang Yolo (you only live once) and Holocaust. It juxtaposed historical photos of Nazi murder victims with visitors’ photos of themselves, juggling and jumping, posing and playing at the Berlin memorial.</p> <p>Ever since, online vigilantes have been empowered to shame Holocaust-site selfie takers on social media. Many have used “yolocaust” in comments as shorthand for censure, judgement, and moral panic.</p> <p>We <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02508281.2022.2153994">analysed hundreds</a> of these posts, captions and comments to see how the selfie-takers are perceived and punished by others online. We examined posts with location tags at the Auschwitz Memorial Museum in Poland and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin.</p> <p>Based on our analysis, we think it may be better that young people engage with Holocaust sites in their own way, rather than not engaging at all. We also suggest that some commenters may be just as guilty as the selfie-takers, using their comments to show themselves in a positive light. Paradoxically, this is precisely what they are shaming the selfie-takers for doing: centering themselves, using the Holocaust as a prop.</p> <p>Vigilantism and public shaming has been around for centuries – think angry villagers with pitchforks raised. Vigilantes take it upon themselves to prevent, investigate and punish perceived wrongdoings, usually without legal authority.</p> <p>Online vigilantes (often called “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azv118">digilantes</a>”) punish others for perceived transgressions online. They act when they feel that someone has committed a crime or social wrongdoing on the internet as a form of <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/">cancel culture</a>. There is, of course, a fine line between constructively questioning someone’s choices and publicly shaming them.</p> <h2>Who gets shamed?</h2> <p>We found that it wasn’t just any photo (we also looked at non-selfie tourist photos) that attracted online shaming. Some people were more likely to receive negative comments than others, depending on age, gender, cultural identity, photo pose, facial expression and the captions accompanying the photos.</p> <p>Younger, more conventionally attractive people – especially women, and especially people posting in English or German – attracted many negative comments. In contrast, older and less conventionally “sexy” selfie-takers, men, and those posting in, for example, Italian or Russian tended to be ignored.</p> <p>Some of these patterns appear related to how young women are often sexualised and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2018.1447345">demeaned online</a>, especially when it comes to the selfies of women holding their bodies in “model-like” poses. To some commenters, it appears more acceptable to shame those who society already deems unserious and flippant.</p> <p>Location was also important. While the Berlin Memorial saw plenty of tourist behaviour deemed “disrespectful” by commenters, it was rare to encounter selfie-taking at Auschwitz. This may because Auschwitz is a paid visitor attraction offering structured tours.</p> <p>In contrast, the Berlin memorial is an art installation, always open and part of the streetscape. Its purpose and meaning may not be immediately apparent. This leaves room for the possibility that some Holocaust-site selfie-taking is an innocent, accidental part of tourism in Berlin.</p> <p>Another predictor of negative comments was the captions on the photos we examined. If the caption was flippant or suggested a lack of serious engagement with Holocaust history and memory, the photo attracted more critical comments. Those who made some attempt to justify or even intellectualise their selfie-taking were often excused censure.</p> <p>In one example, a young woman is pictured jumping between the concrete slabs of the Berlin memorial. But her picture is accompanied by a careful caption that explicitly questions whether her behaviour is ethical.</p> <p>She writes, “One part of you comes out, simply wanting to explore the structure for what it is physically. Another part of you says that you cannot take part in anything that brings you joy here”. As the caption appears to neutralise the fun selfie, her post escapes critical comments.</p> <h2>Think before you shame</h2> <p>Although the Auschwitz Memorial Museum <a href="https://twitter.com/AuschwitzMuseum/status/1108337507660451841?lang=en">tells visitors not to take selfies</a>, and while playful selfie-taking seems disrespectful, we don’t think it should be banned, as some online commenters have called for.</p> <p>We argue that it is more important to keep alive – however clumsily and imperfectly – the memory of the more than six million Jews and <a href="https://holocausteducation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/1.-Non-JewishVictimsOfNaziPersecutionMurder-Digital.pdf">millions of others</a> who were killed by the Nazis. Perhaps this is best done through people living their ordinary, complex, messy and often joyous lives, precisely as the Nazis’ victims could not.</p> <p>We also think it is important to question the motives of digilantes themselves. Some seem to be using their comments to display their own moral superiority, rather than trying to educate or influence the behaviour of the selfie-takers.</p> <p>Before you join the ranks of the digilantes and comment on something you think is disrespectful, think about why you’re doing it – these images, their captions and the comments show that there is often more nuance to “ethical” behaviour than can be captured in a photo.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224304/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-wight-1514086">Craig Wight</a>, Associated Professor in Tourism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phiona-stanley-1514087">Phiona Stanley</a>, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communications (Tourism and Languages), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-problem-with-shaming-people-for-auschwitz-selfies-224304">original article</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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Oprah's weight-loss backflip: "I'm done with the shame"

<p>Oprah Winfrey has become one of the first A-list celebrities to openly admit that she has resorted to using weight loss medication after months of speculation, according to <em>Page Six</em>. </p> <p>“I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,” she told <em>People Magazine</em>. </p> <p>“The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.”</p> <p>The 69-year-old added, “I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”</p> <p>This reversal comes after the actress rocked a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/slimmed-down-oprah-addresses-ozempic-rumours" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slimmed down look</a> at the premiere for the reboot of <em>The Color Purple </em>last week. </p> <p>She had previously denied using weight loss drugs in an episode of<em> Oprah Daily’s The Life You Want: The State of Weight, </em>where she said turning to weight loss medication is "the easy way out.”</p> <p>Although she did not disclose exactly which drug she took, or whether it was the celebrity favourite Type II diabetes medication Ozempic, the media mogul revealed the reason why she had a change of heart. </p> <p>She told <em>People Magazine</em> that she became more open to using a pharmaceutical after conducting a panel discussion with medical experts in July.</p> <p>“I had the biggest ‘aha’ along with many people in that audience,” she said. </p> <p>“I realised I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control.”</p> <p>She also shared the success she has had with the unnamed medication, claiming that she gained only half a pound “instead of gaining eight pounds like [she] did last year,” after Thanksgiving. </p> <p>Winfrey added that ultimately it wasn't about the number on the scale but “it was a second shot for me to live a more vital and vibrant life.”</p> <p>The O Magazine founder also said that the medication were just a larger part of her health and fitness regimen, which includes hiking. </p> <p>“I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.”</p> <p><em>Images: </em><em>Arturo Holmes/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images</em></p> <p> </p>

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"Shame on you!" Robert De Niro's courtroom outburst

<p>Robert De Niro has lost his temper in court, as his former assistant accused him of being abusive. </p> <p>The Oscar-winning actor is being sued by Graham Chase Robinson, who worked as his assistant from 2008 until several months into 2019, for millions of dollars after claiming he was abusive when they worked together. </p> <p>Robinson, 41, seeks $US12 million (approximately AUD$18 million) in damages for emotional distress and harm to her reputation, that she claims has left her jobless and unable to recover from the trauma of working for De Niro.</p> <p>The jury is also considering evidence pertaining to a lawsuit De Niro filed against Robinson in which he claimed that she stole things from him, including five million points that could be used for airline flights.</p> <p>De Niro is countersuing his former employee, seeking the return of three years of Robinson's salary.</p> <p>Robinson's attorney Andrew Macurdy interrogated the actor over some of his questionable behaviour, including allegations that he spoke to Robinson while he was urinating, and claims that he called her a "b***h" to her face.</p> <p>De Niro admitted that while he "got angry" at his former assistant, he was "never abusive".</p> <p>Growing frustrated with the line of questioning, he exclaimed, "You got us all here for this?" </p> <p>Eventually, he angrily looked toward Robinson and shouted, "Shame on you, Chase Robinson!"</p> <p>De Niro was also asked by Macurdy if he he sued Robinson before she sued him because he wanted publicity.</p> <p>"It draws attention to me. It's the last thing I wanted to do," De Niro said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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"I still can't fathom it": Wendy Harmer names and shames inappropriate guest

<p>Wendy Harmer has named and shamed the high-profile comedian who would regularly expose his genitals to her during an ongoing radio prank. </p> <p>Recalling the X-rated moments in her new memoir <em>Lies My Mirror Told Me</em>, the 68-year-old broadcasting veteran revealed that her former 2Day FM co-host, comedian Jamie Dunn would consistently expose himself as a joke. </p> <p>Harmer recalled how she never found the joke amusing nor sexual in nature, writing, "I suspect Jamie was a bit of a naturist."</p> <p>"I still can't fathom why he would do it as a gag on radio," she said, later confirming that she saw Dunn's penis "more times" than she "cared to remember". </p> <p>Harmer recalled the "joke" in detail, while her former co-host, Paul Holmes, also shared his experience in the memoir, saying he never understood the reasoning behind the bizarre prank.</p> <p>Holmes wrote, "He'd drop his dacks, exposing his penis, raise his hands in the air and strike a pose."</p> <p>When approached by the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em> for comment, Dunn, who was best known for voicing and operating the children's puppet Agro, admitted to exposing himself "once or twice" as a "harmless joke". </p> <p>In her memoir, Harmer went on to detail the early days of her career in the male-dominated media industry, and shared how she very quickly learned to stand up for herself. </p> <p>“I was a kid, I soon developed a more assertive attitude ... Many men I have worked with have said I’m a bit scary, they’re usually the ones who got second billing,” Harmer told the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em>.</p> <p>“Certainly, I would not like my daughter to have gone through some of the things I went through in the workplace.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Books

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Dawn French hits back at "shameful" weight loss comments

<p>Dawn French has hit back at hurtful comments about her drastic weight loss almost a decade ago, admitting she "never rejected" the size she was. </p> <p>In 2014, the British comedian and actress dropped over 45kg after undergoing a hysterectomy following a terrifying cancer scare. </p> <p>The dramatic weight loss came after French's surgeon said she would heal better from the procedure if she lost weight. </p> <p>At the time, dozens of articles were written about French's transformation, praising her weight loss. </p> <p>Now, the 65-year-old has taken umbrage with the comments, telling <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/id-never-felt-so-ugly-how-dawn-french-learnt-to-love-her-flaws-3z95kc823" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Times</em></a> how unfair it is that women are in the public eye are often “reduced” to descriptions of their appearance.</p> <p>“I have never rejected the bigger woman I have been. Lots of people do it and say, ‘Oh, you look so much better – now you look well.’ And I think, ‘F*** off! Don’t judge that other person who I loved,’” she said.</p> <p>“[British singer] Alison Moyet is a very good friend and so often she has been reduced to descriptions of her physicality.”</p> <p>“She’s this giant talent, why reduce her to that? I’m not taking any s*** from anyone about any of it,” she said.</p> <p>French went on to reflect on the early days of her career, which began in the late 1980s alongside Jennifer Saunders. </p> <p>Despite the success of their BBC show <em>French and Saunders</em>, they were often described by how they looked, something she says “never” happened to their male colleagues.</p> <p>“For many years Jennifer [Saunders] and I were always described by how we looked, especially me, because I was the bigger one.”</p> <p>“It was always about ‘running to fat’ or ‘plump’, and they never said that about any of the male comedians.”</p> <p>“I absolutely own whatever my size is and I will call myself whatever I want. But if I feel like the intent is to shame me, I will not have it,” French said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

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Richie and Gemma McCaw shame barefoot passenger on flight

<p>All Blacks star Richie McCaw and his Olympian wife Gemma have shared their displeasure after an inconsiderate passenger invaded their personal space on a flight to the Rugby World Cup in France. </p> <p>The couple - who were seated in economy class - were travelling with their young daughters Charlotte, 4, Grace, 2, and five-month-old Ella, when Gemma shared the video on Instagram. </p> <p>"Lovely pedi colour but I think I'll have to put my foot down for this one," she captioned the Instagram story, as she panned to reveal the strangers barefoot on her daughter's armrest.</p> <p>From across the aisle, Richie can be seen shaking his head in disgust. </p> <p>In the next update, the Olympian showed her eldest daughter Charlotte writing a polite message for the stranger. </p> <p>"Please put your foot down," the four-year-old wrote. </p> <p>"I don't want to put my foot in it so Charlotte thought of trying this approach," Gemma captioned the story. </p> <p>A few hours later Gemma revealed that the issue had been solved after a flight attendant stepped in. </p> <p>"Update on the foot gate: hostess stepped in and asked her to kindly remove her foot from the seat. All is well."</p> <p>Fans were quick to back the star, in an earlier post of the McCaw family at the airport. </p> <p>"Please tell that guy resting his bare foot on the arm of your daughters seat to bugger off and to put on some socks and to remove his foot from that personal space," wrote one fan. </p> <p>"Give that disgusting foot a shove after your daughter has drawn all over it," another commented. </p> <p>"Off to watch some footie," quipped a third with a foot emoji. </p> <p>"I hope you said something to the foot person, that is disgusting!!!" wrote a fourth. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Shameful": Betting company slammed for 9-11 themed "Never Forget" promo

<p>DraftKings, a prominent sports betting company in the US, has found itself in hot water on social media this past Monday when it featured a parlay with a 9/11 theme on its mobile app – on the 22nd anniversary of the infamous terror attacks of September 11.</p> <p>Social media users were quick to share screenshots of the DraftKings app late on Sunday night, revealing a parlay named "Never Forget". This special parlay entailed wagering on the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and New York Jets to secure victories on Monday, marking the 22nd anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.</p> <p>The parlay's description urged users to "Bet these New York teams to win tonight on 9/11," drawing sharp criticism from the online community. Many expressed their disapproval of DraftKings seemingly attempting to profit from the solemn occasion.</p> <p>The parlay remained accessible on the app throughout Sunday night and into Monday morning, further fuelling public discontent over the sports betting company's decision.</p> <p>However, DraftKings eventually removed the parlay on Monday and issued an official apology for its inclusion. Their statement read, "We sincerely apologise for the featured parlay that was shared briefly in commemoration of 9/11. We respect the significance of this day for our country and especially for the families of those who were directly affected."</p> <p>Bret Eagleson, who leads the 9/11 Justice organisation, an advocacy group representing families and first responders, strongly condemned DraftKings' offer as "tone-deaf".</p> <p>Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, tragically lost his life in the World Trade Centre attacks, emphasised to the Associate Press: "It is shameful to use the national tragedy of 9/11 to promote a business. We need accountability, justice, and closure, not self-interest and shameless promotion."</p> <p>DraftKings did not disclose how many individuals placed bets as a result of the 9/11-themed offer, leaving questions unanswered regarding the status of those wagers - whether they remain valid or if they have been cancelled.</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter (X)</em></p>

Legal

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Mum shamed and denied food for bottle feeding her baby

<p>A Brisbane mother has been left feeling "devastated, guilty and enraged" after being targeted by a controversial rule after she took her baby to the emergency room. </p> <p>It was the middle of the night when Sarah Stoddart's 12-week-old daughter became extremely unwell. </p> <p>The baby, who Sarah had decided to bottle feed, was vomiting and running a temperature, prompting her worried mother to take her to the emergency department of Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane's north. </p> <p>Things started to go wrong for Sarah when she was handed a "welcome sheet" after arriving at the hospital.</p> <p>"They had circled and brought to my attention that only breastfeeding mothers were entitled to meals," she <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-mum-denied-food-at-hospital-for-not-breastfeeding-child/f8ea2db9-b448-4ce8-8dfb-6e65657cc5ab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:told Nine News;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1">told <em>Nine News</em></a>.</p> <p>"First of all [it] made me feel devastated and guilty but then quite enraged, that is a decision that is being made in this country and this state in 2023."</p> <p>Furious, Ms Stoddart claims staff eventually told her that they could "make an exception" and would "sneak through an approval" so that she could get fed.</p> <p>According to Sarah, her partner was at home looking after the couple's other kids, and the whole ordeal left her feeling guilty over a decision that was made for the health of their child.</p> <p>She added that mothers are "already struggling with enough" in the first trimester and "don't need the judgement from the government as to how they chose to feed their child".</p> <p>After speaking out about her treatment at the hospital and raising the issue with Metro North Health, the hospital has changed their policy.</p> <p>"The Prince Charles Hospital now provides meals to parents of children six months and under who are admitted into our care," Prince Charles Hospital said in a statement.</p> <p>"Parents of all patients admitted to the Paediatric Ward at The Prince Charles Hospital have access to food, water, tea and coffee. Further paid options, including fresh food vending machines, cafes and a stocked fridge, are accessible 24hrs a day."</p> <p>Queensland's Health Minister Shannon Fentiman she would work with other hospitals across the state to ensure a similar scenario does not occur again.</p> <p>"It shouldn't really matter whether you are breastfeeding or not, it should be about trying to make our parents who are doing the best they can to look after their sick kids as comfortable as possible," she said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

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Jackie O’s hilarious walk of shame after wild Logies all nighter

<p dir="ltr">Jackie O didn’t let her 5am start time stop her from partying all night at the Logies afterparty even if that meant she had to show up to work wearing last night’s dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a hilarious video uploaded to Instagram, Jackie O shared behind the scenes footage of what it was like for a celebrity to do the walk of shame into work after a big night out.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video starts off with her walking down a footpath in her red strapless gown laughing as she said "this is embarrassing".</p> <p dir="ltr">When someone asked why she was still wearing last night’s dress she sheepishly replied:</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have not been home, I had the craziest night”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The radio host shared a bunch of clips from her wild all-nighter, spliced together with time stamps.</p> <p dir="ltr">She looked like she had a great time, partying with fellow entertainers Grant Denyer and Chris Brown.</p> <p dir="ltr">At 1:53 am Brown, who was shocked that Jackie was still at the afterparty incredulously asked her: "What the hell are you doing here?"</p> <p dir="ltr">The radio host replied: “I know, I know,” but she didn’t think too hard about it as she continued to party all night, only leaving when <em>KIIS FM</em> intern Pete Deppeler told her it was 4am.</p> <p dir="ltr">When she got in the studio, Kyle Sandilands beamed with joy when he saw his co-star and exclaimed: “Oh my god, you’re in the same outfit?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jackie O sheepishly repeated the same answer and told him that she hadn’t been home, to which a shocked Kyle replied, “what do you mean you haven’t been home?”</p> <p dir="ltr">She later explained on the show that she didn’t intend to have a big night out and got carried away with the festivities, all while sober.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I was planning on leaving straight after I presented that award," she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">"My car was booked [and] ready to go. Because I was seated next to Sophie Monk and she was at Hamish and Andy's table... and he was up for gold. I couldn't leave... it felt rude to do that."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Richard Wilkins names and shames worst celeb interviews

<p>Entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins has revealed some of the more challenging celebrities he’s dealt with in an interview.</p> <p>Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall made the top of the list.</p> <p>Wilkins shared in an interview with the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em> that the English singer, 62, is “probably the rudest person” he’d ever interviewed.</p> <p>Wilkins said he had been asked to present Hucknall with a gold record at a record company function while Simply Red were touring Australia.</p> <p>“Shook his hand, everything went all right,” Wilkins said.</p> <p>The problem came the following day, when Wilkins, who was then working for MTV Australia, arrived at the since-demolished Sydney Entertainment Centre to interview Hucknall ahead of Simply Red’s concert that evening.</p> <p>“I said, ‘G’day Mick’, held out my hand. He says, ‘I shook your hand last night, I don’t need to do it again’,” Wilkins revealed.</p> <p>“He’s subsequently divulged that he used to hit it pretty hard back in the day, so I don’t know whether he was on good stuff the night before. I remember my boss saying to me that day, ‘If anyone ever treats you like that again, just walk out the door’.”</p> <p>British actor Hugh Grant made the cut on Wilkins’ list, “I’ve always got on OK with Hugh Grant, but he can be very prickly,” he explained.</p> <p>“And he’ll quite willingly tell you that the characters he plays are much nicer than the person he actually is. I MCed a publicity tour that he and Liz Hurley did. They were quite difficult to work with. He can be a prickly one.”</p> <p>Not mentioned in the interview was Wilkins’ 2003 interview with music icon Prince, which he had previously named as the worst celebrity interview in his 2011 memoir Black Ties, Red Carpets, Green Rooms.</p> <p>Wilkins went backstage at Prince’s Melbourne show to interview him and recalled he was told by Prince’s entourage that the exchange could only proceed if Wilkins also interviewed every member of Prince’s band, and included them in the TV segment.</p> <p>He reluctantly accepted, but later found the band members weren’t too keen on a chat, including Prince.</p> <p>“Ah f**k! This was going to be an unmitigated disaster and total embarrassment,” Wilkins wrote of the awkward encounter.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

TV

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"Shame on you": Parents' major backflip on their son's name causes outrage

<p>A father has come under fire after revealing he changed the name of his adopted son back to his biological name after almost a decade, so his biological son could have the legacy name instead. </p> <p>The man, named August, took to Reddit's popular "Am I The A**hole?" thread to ask for the opinions of strangers on the internet if he had made the right decision about his child's life. </p> <p>According to the dad-of-two, the name August has "gone back for five generations" in his family, and he had always planned on giving their child the name to continue the legacy. </p> <p>When he and his wife had been trying to conceive for many years, they decided to turn to adoption so they could have a family. </p> <p>They adopted a baby boy from Vietnam, whose birth name was Thien, and decided to have it legally changed to August VI.</p> <p>However, seven years later, the couple found out they were expecting a "miracle" baby together, and decided to switch their adopted son's moniker back to Thien so that they could give the name to their biological baby instead.</p> <p>The man's post, which has since been deleted, read, "My name is August V. My name goes back five generations now and it was always my plan to make my son August VI."</p> <p>"My wife and I were horrified to find out I was essentially firing blanks and was told I would essentially never be able to father kids - heartbreaking."</p> <p>"We started the adoption process right away looking in mostly foreign countries so it would go faster, and we were able to adopt a baby boy from Vietnam."</p> <p>"His first name was Thien but my wife agreed to change his name to August VI. We also agreed we would let nature take its course because miracles can happen."</p> <p>"Seven years later, a miracle did happen and my wife turned up unexpectedly pregnant."</p> <p>"I decided with my wife's agreement that because we now have a bio son, it is better to give the firstborn biological son the family name."</p> <p>The father went on to explain that changing Thein's name was not a huge deal, because even though his legal name is August, everyone referred to him as Thein. </p> <p>When the dad informed Thein's school about the change, word got out about their decision, leading to the gossip mill in their town dubbing them "social pariahs".</p> <p>"We are the subject of massive gossip - accusations of not loving Thein enough."</p> <p>"We've heard it all through closed mouth hushed tones. It's gotten so bad. So, am I the a**hole?"</p> <p>Redditors were quick to condemn the parents' decision, with many not holding back in order to make sure the father knew that he was, in fact, the a**hole. </p> <p>One person wrote, "You are the a**hole. People like you really shouldn't adopt."</p> <p>Another said, "You're the a**hole. You dragged your kid to a legal proceeding to make sure he knows his place will always be less than your bio son."</p> <p>"Great way to show your adopted child that biology trumps all. Shame on you and your wife," another user raged.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

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“They snack-shamed my three year old”: Mum fires up on school note

<p>An American mother has taken to social media to share her Pringle problem with the world. </p> <p>As Megan Peavey explained in her TikTok video, she’d sent her three-year-old son to school with some chips in his lunchbox to enjoy when snacktime rolled around. </p> <p>However, the staff at the school weren’t exactly of the opinion that Pringles were the right choice, going so far as to suggest Megan had purposefully done the wrong thing and given her child something ‘unhealthy’. </p> <p>“Look at what happened to me today,” she said in the now-private clip. “I sent my son to school with Pringles, which is a very age appropriate snack for a three year old.” </p> <p>She went on to explain that the school had responded by sending the boy home with his empty chip container, the line “please help us make healthy choices at school” written across it in bold black marker. </p> <p>“They wrote that on his Pringles cup,” she said, “they snack shamed my three year old, they snack shamed me, by writing that passive-aggressively on his trash.</p> <p>After asking viewers what they might do in that situation, she described how she got in touch with the school, calling them out on what they’d done, and they “did not label things as healthy and unhealthy” in their house “because that starts eating disorders”.</p> <p>“Do you think that’s ridiculous?” came her final question. “Because I f***ing do.” </p> <p>Megan later shared an update on the entire situation, outlining how she had spoken to the school’s director, and was told “it was passive-aggressive of me to keep sending Pringles after the note”. </p> <p>But, as she pointed out, she didn’t believe Pringles to be an ‘unhealthy’ snack like they did.</p> <p>“I consider things like Doritos, Cheetos, and Milky Way bars to be unhealthy,” she noted, before adding that she regularly sends her son to school with the likes of granola bars with his other snacks, and that she just would have appreciated the school speaking to her directly without leaping to the note. </p> <p>Megan stood her ground and didn’t apologise to the educators, before she “walked downstairs and I just checked my son out - we’re done there.”</p> <p>Her comments were flooded by fellow parents who were more than eager to back her up, with many noting that they may not have handled it so well themselves - one even wrote that she’d have sent her child with an entire tub and a handwritten “no thank you” the next day. </p> <p>“I cannot even explain how out of line and wild this seems to me - on the school's part," another said.</p> <p>“On his birthday…send pringles for EVERY kid in the class,” someone suggested.</p> <p>And one pre-k teacher even came forward to share her take, noting “never would I ever tell a family to 'make healthy choices'. My girls get a bag of chips with their sandwiches, along with fresh fruit."</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Don’t let financial shame be your ruin: open conversations can help ease the burden of personal debt

<p>Nearly <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/19th-ipsos-new-zealand-issues-monitor">two-thirds of New Zealanders</a> are worried about the cost of living, and a quarter are worried about <a href="https://www.canstar.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consumer-Pulse-Report-NZ-2023-Final-4.pdf">putting food on the table</a>. But the <a href="https://visionwest.org.nz/food-hardship-part-one/">shame</a> that can come with financial stress is preventing some people from seeking help. </p> <p>According to a recent survey, a third of New Zealanders were not completely truthful with their family or partners about the state of their finances, and 12% <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/129477493/financial-infidelity-research-finds-kiwis-hiding-debts-from-their-partners">actively hid their debt</a>. This shame and worry about money can spill over into <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/concerns-buy-now-pay-later-schemes-could-fuel-addiction-as-kiwis-spend-17b-last-year/VOV3VIDIG2MZBGJEGPMLGWDMJI/">addiction</a>, <a href="https://www.newsroom.co.nz/i-had-serious-concussion-bad-credit-and-15000-debt-abuse-survivor">violence</a> and <a href="https://corporate.dukehealth.org/news/financial-strains-significantly-raise-risk-suicide-attempts">suicide</a>. </p> <p>Considering the effect of financial stress on our wellbeing, it is clear we need to overcome the financial stigma that prevents us from getting help. We also <a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/money/family-financial-strain">owe it to our kids</a> to break the taboo around money by communicating our worries and educating them on how to manage finances better. </p> <h2>The burden of growing debt</h2> <p><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/300817697/mortgage-pain-homeowners-facing-repayment-hikes-of-up-to-900-a-fortnight">Ballooning mortgage repayments</a> are compounding the financial distress of many New Zealanders. At the beginning of 2023, an estimated 11.9% of home owners were behind on loan payments, with more than <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/485045/data-shows-430-000-new-zealanders-behind-in-credit-repayments-in-january">18,400 mortgagees in arrears</a>. </p> <div data-id="17"> </div> <p>Given the <a href="https://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/an/an-21-01-html">majority of household wealth</a> in New Zealand is in property, our financial vulnerability is closely linked to the ebbs and flows of the <a href="https://content.knightfrank.com/research/84/documents/en/global-house-price-index-q2-2021-8422.pdf">second most overinflated property market</a> in the world. </p> <p>There are also cultural reasons for growing financial distress. Many households have taken on significant debt to “<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/7616361/Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses">keep up with the Joneses</a>” and to pursue the quintessential <a href="https://www.interest.co.nz/property/99890/westpac-commissioned-survey-suggests-many-new-zealanders-still-pine-quarter-acre">quarter-acre dream</a>. Social comparison and peer pressure act as powerful levers contributing to problem debt and over-indebtedness. </p> <p>The average household debt in New Zealand is more than <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/households-debt-to-income">170% of gross household income</a>. That is higher than the United Kingdom (133%), Australia (113%) or Ireland (96%).</p> <h2>The rise of problem debt</h2> <p>And we are digging a deeper hole. Over the past year, <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/485045/data-shows-430-000-new-zealanders-behind-in-credit-repayments-in-january">demand for credit cards increased by 21.7%</a>. The use of personal debt such as personal loans and deferred payment schemes <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/demand-for-personal-credit-rises-arrears-also-up-as-cost-of-living-bites/YCEM74CII5FQBPJXO3UOG4Y3GY/">is also climbing</a>. There is a real risk this debt could become problem debt. </p> <p>Problem debt can have severe and wide-reaching consequences, including <a href="https://theconversation.com/over-300-000-new-zealanders-owe-more-than-they-own-is-this-a-problem-173497">housing insecurity</a>, <a href="http://www.socialinclusion.ie/publications/documents/2011_03_07_FinancialExclusionPublication.pdf">financial exclusion</a> (the inability to access debt at affordable interest rates), <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07409710.2012.652016?journalCode=gfof20">poor food choices</a> and a plethora of <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-489">health problems</a>. </p> <p>Yet, the hidden <a href="https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sipr.12074">psychological</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11205-008-9286-8">social cost of financial distress</a>remains often unspoken, overlooked and underestimated.</p> <p>Even before the pandemic, <a href="https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1909/S00616/research-shows-financial-stress-impacts-mental-wellbeing.htm">69% of New Zealanders were worried</a>about money. The share of people worrying about their financial situation was higher for women (74%), and particularly women aged 18-34 (82%). It is no coincidence that the latter are particularly at risk of problem debt through so-called <a href="https://acfr.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/691577/Gilbert-and-Scott-Study-2-Draft-v10Sept2022.pdf">“buy now, pay later” schemes</a>. </p> <p>The stigma of financial distress extends beyond the vulnerable and the marginalised in our society. A growing number of <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/467417/middle-income-families-hoping-for-help-in-budget-as-rising-costs-sting">middle-class New Zealanders </a> are quietly suffering financial distress, isolated by financial stigma and the taboos around discussing money. When pressed, one in two New Zealanders would rather <a href="https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2203/S00384/research-shows-wed-rather-talk-about-politics-than-our-finances.htm">talk politics over money</a>. </p> <h2>Time to talk about money</h2> <p>Navigating financial distress and <a href="https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2526&context=sulr">stigma</a> can feel overwhelming. Where money is a taboo subject, it may feel safer to withdraw, maintain false appearances, be secretive or shun social support. </p> <p>This tendency to avoid open discussions and suffer in silence can lead to <a href="https://loneliness.org.nz/lonely/at-home/financially-struggling/">feelings of isolation</a> and contribute to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-financial-stress-can-affect-your-mental-health-and-5-things-that-can-help-201557">poor mental health</a>, such as depression, anxiety and emotional distress. </p> <p>Sadly, the trauma of living in financial distress can also <a href="http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/39442/1/1307565_Wakefield.pdf">break up families</a>. Losing the symbols of hard-gained success and facing the prospect of a reduced lifestyle can be tough. It often triggers feelings of personal failure and self doubt that deter us from taking proactive steps to talk openly and seek help. </p> <p>But what can families do to alleviate some of this distress?</p> <h2>Seek help</h2> <p>First, understand that <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/86767aac-98e0-4dae-8c5a-d3301b030703">you are not alone</a>. Over 300,000 New Zealanders <a href="https://theconversation.com/over-300-000-new-zealanders-owe-more-than-they-own-is-this-a-problem-173497">owe more than they earn</a>.</p> <p>Second, seek help. There are many services that help people work through their financial situation and formulate a plan. In the case of excessive debts, debt consolidation or <a href="https://goodshepherd.org.nz/debtsolve/">debt solution loans</a> may help reduce the overall burden and simplify your financial situation. </p> <p>For those struggling with increasing interest on their mortgages, reaching out to your bank early is critical. During the 2008 recession, banks in New Zealand <a href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/banks-exchange-letters-crown-support-distressed-mortgage-borrowers">worked with customers</a> to avoid defaulting on mortgages, including reducing servicing costs, capitalising interest and moving households to interest-only loans. It is essential to understand that the <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/130677426/are-we-on-the-brink-of-a-wave-of-mortgagee-sales">banks do not want mortgagees to fail</a>, and that options exist.</p> <p>To help future generations avoid debt traps, we need open communication about money – also known as “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10834-020-09736-2">financial socialisation</a>”. This includes developing values, sharing knowledge and promoting behaviours that help build <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1241099.pdf">financial viability and contribute to financial wellbeing</a>. </p> <p>The lessons about handling money from family and friends are crucial for <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02162/full">improving our children’s financial capability</a>, helping them be <a href="https://www.fsc.org.nz/it-starts-with-action-theme/growing-financially-resilient-kids">more financially resilient</a> and better able to survive the stresses we are experiencing now – and those <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/300836616/heres-how-much-household-costs-are-expected-to-increase">yet to come</a>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-let-financial-shame-be-your-ruin-open-conversations-can-help-ease-the-burden-of-personal-debt-202496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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"Obnoxious": Wendy Harmer names and shames worst ever guest

<p>Wendy Harmer has named and shamed the celebrity that left her feeling "very unimpressed" during a combative interview. </p> <p>The former 2DayFM and ABC Radio Sydney host has interviewed famous faces from all over the world during her decades-long career, but one US celebrity apparently treated her "like trash" when they met. </p> <p>Spilling her secrets on on the latest episode of <em>The Matty Johns Podcast</em>, Harmer admitted that late megastar Meatloaf was the "biggest a**hole" she came across. </p> <p>“Oh my god, what an obnoxious person he was,” she told him.</p> <p>“He came in to co-host the show one day on 2DayFM. He just treated me like trash, talked over the top of me, didn’t look at me … I just found him incredibly rude."</p> <p>“I was very unimpressed with Meatloaf.”</p> <p>Harmer also shared a funny anecdote about meeting and interviewing Jennifer Lopez while she was in Australia for a press junket. </p> <p>Harmer described how they spoke with her make-up artist first, who was gushing over her “fabulous” boss, telling them, “You know, she has a real natural look to her make-up, we don’t have to do too much because she’s such a natural beauty.”</p> <p>But once Lopez came out for the interview to commence, Harmer said there was a moment where the make-up artist sort of “slapped her face”.</p> <p>"And poof, a whole cloud of white powder... She looked like a skunk with two raisins for eyes, I swear to God,” the broadcaster joked.</p> <p>“It was like her facial features had been taken away and put in the witness protection program.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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