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Rebecca Loos claims Beckham is "playing the victim" over affair scandal

<p>Rebecca Loos, the woman at the centre of the alleged <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/woman-at-the-centre-of-alleged-beckham-affair-breaks-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affair scandal</a> with iconic football legend David Beckham, has recently shared her thoughts on the new <em>Beckham</em> docuseries, which was released on Netflix.</p> <p>Loos, now 47 and residing in Norway with her husband and two children, expressed her concerns regarding the way the affair was handled in the docuseries, which was produced in collaboration with Beckham's production company.</p> <p>In the early 2000s, Loos gained notoriety for her claims of a romantic involvement with David Beckham during his time as a football superstar. In the docuseries, the Beckhams primarily discussed the media frenzy that ensued following Loos' revelations in 2003, but skirted around the specifics of the affair itself.</p> <p>It was during that tumultuous period that Loos had declared her connection with the football player while working as his personal assistant, even suggesting that the Beckhams had been dealing with marital issues before her involvement came to light. At the time, the celebrity couple vehemently denied any wrongdoing and even considered legal action against Loos.</p> <p>Victoria Beckham, 49, revealed in the docuseries, "It was the most unhappy I have ever been in my entire life," while David Beckham, 48, tearfully stated, "Victoria is everything to me. To see her hurt was incredibly difficult… what we had was worth fighting for."</p> <p>Loos, however, took issue with David's statement. In a <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12657157/rebecca-loos-affair-david-beckham-netflix.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candid interview with the Daily Mail</a>, she expressed her frustration: "The [worst] bit for me is that he says he didn't like seeing his wife suffer. That bothered me. Because he's the one that's caused the suffering. He can say whatever he likes, of course, and I understand he has an image to preserve, but he is portraying himself as the victim and he's making me look like a liar, like I've made up these stories. He is indirectly suggesting that I'm the one who has made Victoria suffer."</p> <p>Loos also argued that the docuseries had thrust the affair back into the spotlight, an issue that many had forgotten about since the news first broke 20 years ago, thereby further impacting her reputation. She emphasised, "Yes, the stories were horrible, but they're true. He talks in the documentary about this ultimately being his private life, shutting it down. I think it's one thing to keep your private life to yourself. It's another thing to mislead the public."</p> <p>She suggested that David could have chosen to acknowledge that it was not one of his proudest moments or characterised it as a challenging period and moved on from the subject. However, she felt that he continued to phrase his statements in a way that indirectly shifted the blame onto her.</p> <p>"If you don't want to take responsibility for things because of your family and your children, that's absolutely fine," Loos commented, "But he specifically made it look like… my fault, that he had nothing to do with this."</p> <p>Loos, after the 2003 allegations, embarked on a path as a media personality, participating in various English and Dutch TV shows. In 2008, while filming the Dutch TV show <em>71 Graden Noord</em>, she crossed paths with her future husband, Norwegian doctor Sven Christjar Skaiaa. After becoming pregnant, the couple decided to relocate to Norway in 2009. Today, she works as a yoga teacher and a massage therapist in Norway while raising her two sons and only occasionally making media appearances.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Major twist in BBC presenter scandal

<p>A damning scandal surrounding a high-profile BBC presenter has grown after a second victim has come forward against the anonymous personality. </p> <p>Just days after an exclusive report from <em>The Sun</em> claimed a well-known presenter for the public broadcaster had paid a teenager for explicit images, another woman has now claimed she was contacted online by the star. </p> <p>She said the presenter sent “abusive and menacing” messages online, and “felt threatened” when she refused to meet up with the presenter in person. </p> <p>They recognised the presenter after connecting on a dating app and, the BBC reported, “hinted they might name” them which led to a number of “abusive expletive filled messages”.</p> <p>“The young person said they had been scared by the power the presenter held,” BBC News reported. </p> <p>“They said the threats made in the messages … had frightened them, and they remain scared.” </p> <p>The person, in their early twenties, has no connection to the first person who came forward with the allegations. </p> <p>The presenter, who has yet to be named, has not commented on the allegations. </p> <p>These new allegations come just days after the first victim's family <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/bbc-presenter-suspended-over-deeply-concerning-allegations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">came forward</a> and accused the anonymous presenter for sending their teenager a total of £35,000 ($67,000AUD) for explicit pictures over a three year period.</p> <p>The correspondence with the presenter allegedly began when the first person was just 17 years old, with the mother of the person, now in their twenties, saying the money was funding a dangerous drug habit. </p> <p>The mother said of the BBC presenter, “When I see him on telly, I feel sick. I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life.”</p> <p>In a statement on Sunday, the BBC confirmed that it "first became aware of a complaint in May".</p> <p dir="ltr">"New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own enquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols," it added.</p> <p dir="ltr">The statement said that "a male member of staff has been suspended".</p> <p dir="ltr">"This is a complex and fast moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps," the BBC added.</p> <p dir="ltr">London's Metropolitan Police released a statement later on Sunday confirming the BBC contacted it over the matter, "but no formal referral or allegation has been made".</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Pop star discovered tragically dead at 33 in the wake of scandal

<p>South Korean pop star Choi Sung-bong, who was caught running a notorious cancer scam has passed away at age 33.</p> <p><em>The Korean Times</em> reported that Choi was found by police at his Seoul home on the morning of June 20. He was pronounced dead soon after.</p> <p>Authorities have reportedly ruled the singer’s cause of death as a suicide.</p> <p>According to the Hollywood Reporter, after years of online fame stemming from a 2011 performance on Korea’s Got Talent, Choi confessed he had tricked his fans into donating money to him after claiming he needed funds for cancer treatment.</p> <p>Choi had claimed he had been battling multiple forms of cancer to obtain the donations, however, his claims were later exposed as a hoax.</p> <p>He also claimed he had returned all donated funds from a false fundraiser.</p> <p>Choi later issued a grovelling apology and vowed to return all of the donations sent by his fans.</p> <p>One day before his alleged suicide, Choi posted a note on his YouTube channel apologising for “foolish mistakes” in the past, according to The Mirror.</p> <p>The chilling letter said he needed to "repay for his sins with his life” and showed the address of where his body would be after taking his life.</p> <p>“My body can be found at [his home location]. I don’t know how to write a final message, so I will just write it in my own style. Even though my breath may have stopped now, I have no regrets about the brilliant journey of my life. I have lived my life to the fullest and made efforts to find happiness every day. Age thirty-four," (as per Korean age system), he said.</p> <p>Choi was best known for competing in Korea’s Got Talent in 2011, coming in at second place.</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIy99OT2BAQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vIy99OT2BAQ"></iframe></a></p> <p>A clip of him singing a cover of Nella Fantasia by Ennio Morricone quickly went viral online, thrusting him into the spotlight  – <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">with singing sensation Justin Bieber even acknowledging his talent.</span></p> <p><em>Image credit: YouTube</em></p>

Caring

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Why do people overshare online? 5 expert tips for avoiding social media scandal

<p>Social media are increasingly blurring the lines between our personal and professional lives, leaving us at risk of posting sensitive information that could have ramifications far beyond our “friends” list.</p> <p>Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin recently found this out the hard way after a video of her <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/finnish-pm-sanna-marin-seen-partying-in-leaked-video/news-story/ee2c1b2a86add23a7d693598a20d2631" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dancing and drinking</a> with friends, first posted to a private Instagram account, was leaked to the press. Marin was forced to apologise, and even volunteered for a drug test, after enduring a worldwide media storm.</p> <p>Other kinds of oversharing can have consequences, too. In 2020, police in Australia shared photos of <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thirteen-victoria-police-employees-suspended-or-transferred-over-dean-laidley-photos-20200717-p55d39.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested ex-footballer Dani Laidley</a> in a private WhatsApp group, and the photos were then made public. Thirteen officers were suspended or transferred, with some facing charges for privacy and human rights breaches.</p> <p>Many employers are <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7877807/parliament-house-crackdown-on-public-servants-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introducing policies</a> to reduce this kind of risk. <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2021/user_behaivors/user_behaivors/5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our research</a> shows what drives much online oversharing – and we can offer some tips to keep yourself clear of social media scandal.</p> <p><strong>The personal and professional risks of oversharing</strong></p> <p>People have different preferences for boundaries between their professional and personal lives. Some prefer to keep their work relationships formal, while others treat colleagues as friends.</p> <p>However, even if we choose to maintain strong boundaries between our professional and personal lives, we may still find details of our lives divulged on social media by others.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">'I am a human ... But I have not missed a single day of work, a single task, and I never will' — Finnish PM Sanna Marin continued to defend herself from the fallout of several leaked videos showing her drinking and partying with personal friends <a href="https://t.co/sA82YnpNxJ">pic.twitter.com/sA82YnpNxJ</a></p> <p>— NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1562835718195630080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><a href="https://www.webroot.com/gb/en/resources/tips-articles/hey-teens-chances-are-youll-regret-oversharing-information-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> has reported more than half of us feel anxious about family, friends and colleagues sharing information, photos or videos we do not want to be shared publicly. Yet many of us also reveal an inappropriate amount of detail about our own lives (“oversharing”) on social media, and regret it later.</p> <p>Beyond the potential for embarrassment, indiscriminate sharing on social media can have significant negative consequences for your professional life. Many employers actively use social media to <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-than-half-of-employers-have-found-content-on-social-media-that-caused-them-not-to-hire-a-candidate-according-to-recent-careerbuilder-survey-300694437.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research job candidates</a>, while some employees have <a href="https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/6-people-who-were-fired-for-social-media-posts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost their jobs</a> due to social media posts.</p> <p><strong>Emotions drive oversharing</strong></p> <p>Why are so many of us prone to oversharing? <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2021/user_behaivors/user_behaivors/5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our research</a> suggests emotions are central.</p> <p>When we feel strong emotions, we often use social media to communicate with and get support from friends, family and colleagues. We might share good news when we feel happy or excited, or anger and frustration might drive us to vent about our employers.</p> <p>When emotional, it is easy for us to cross the boundary between work and social life, underestimating the consequences of social media posts that can quickly go viral.</p> <p>We have five simple tips for people to avoid oversharing and creating a social media scandal for themselves or others.</p> <p><strong>1. Set clear boundaries between personal life and work</strong></p> <p>Be clear about the boundaries between your social life and work. Set rules, limits and acceptable behaviours to protect these boundaries.</p> <p>Let your friends, colleagues and family know your expectations. If someone oversteps your boundaries, raise your concerns. Consider your relationship with individuals who do not respect your boundaries.</p> <p>You can also establish boundaries by maintaining separate professional and social accounts on different social media platforms, and only sharing things relevant to work on your professional account.</p> <p><strong>2. Respect the boundaries of others</strong></p> <p>Be aware of and respect the boundaries of others. Don’t share photos or videos of others without their permission.</p> <p>If someone doesn’t want their photo to be taken, video to be recorded or their name to be tagged, respect their wishes. Treat others on social media the same way you would like to be treated.</p> <p><strong>3. Lock down your social media accounts</strong></p> <p>Adjust your privacy settings to control who can view your profile and posts.</p> <p>Most social media platforms provide features to help users protect their privacy online. Facebook’s “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/443357099140264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Privacy Checkup tool</a>”, for example, lets you see what you’re sharing and with whom.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Facebook revamps "privacy checkup" to help manage data settings<a href="https://t.co/nUMsnB7ACk">https://t.co/nUMsnB7ACk</a> <a href="https://t.co/jd1NAWdWkU">pic.twitter.com/jd1NAWdWkU</a></p> <p>— Mashable (@mashable) <a href="https://twitter.com/mashable/status/1214232258963488769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></p></blockquote> <p>Also consider what information you place in your profile. If you don’t want your personal social media profile associated with your employer, do not list your employer in your profile.</p> <p><strong>4. Share consciously to avoid mistakes</strong></p> <p>Do not use social media when you feel emotional. Especially if you are feeling strong emotions like hurt, anger or excitement, give yourself time to process your feelings before posting.</p> <p>Ask yourself: How many people will see this post? Would anyone be hurt? Does anyone benefit? Would I feel comfortable if my colleagues or supervisors saw this?</p> <p>Assume what you share can be seen by your friends, enemies, colleagues, boss and another 5,000 people. Stop if you don’t want any of them to see what you’re thinking about posting.</p> <p><strong>5. If you do overshare, try to remove unwanted content</strong></p> <p>Oversharing and accidental posting are not uncommon. If you have posted unwanted content, remove it immediately.</p> <p>If you are concerned about information about yourself on someone else’s social media, raise your concerns and ask the person who posted to remove it.</p> <p>If the information has spread through multiple sources, it is a bit tricky, but it is worth trying to contact the website or service that hosts the information or image to remove the content.</p> <p>If you need further assistance with removing online content, you can also try a <a href="https://www.contentremoval.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">content removal service</a>.</p> <p><strong>Posting is forever</strong></p> <p>Be aware that nothing shared over social media is private. Even “private” messages can easily be forwarded, screenshotted, posted and shared elsewhere.</p> <p>You should treat social media content like your personal brand. If you wouldn’t say it to your colleagues and managers, don’t post it online.</p> <p>Social media can enrich our professional and personal lives, but ill-considered posts and oversharing can be damaging to yourself and others. Being smart on social media is something we need to get better at in our professional lives, just as much as our personal lives.<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/189528/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/van-hau-trieu-1372977" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Van-Hau Trieu</a>, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vanessa-cooper-1374731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanessa Cooper</a>, Professor, Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-overshare-online-5-expert-tips-for-avoiding-social-media-scandal-189528" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

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Brian Houston resigns from Hillsong amid more scandal

<p dir="ltr">Brian Houston’s reign as the head of Hillsong Church has come to a shocking end, after it was announced he resigned from the global megachurch.</p> <p dir="ltr">The church’s founder resigned as Global Senior Pastor after an internal investigation into two incidents involving Brian found he had breached the church’s code of conduct, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/hillsong-church-brian-houston-resigns-as-head-of-megachurch/f4ead2f0-5292-418f-a38a-5c579ee2680b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dear Church, we would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation,” a statement from the church read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and (his wife) Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We ask that you continue to pray for them, and the entire Houston family, during this challenging time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The church revealed last week that Brian had breached its moral code following the investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">He allegedly sent inappropriate text messages to a staff member a decade ago, and entered a woman’s room at a conference in 2019 after mixing medication and alcohol.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The first issue was approximately a decade ago and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning,” last week’s statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At the time, Pastor Brian was under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hillsong said Brian apologised to the staff member and received help from the church for his use of sleeping pills.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Following an in-depth investigation, it was found that Pastor Brian became disoriented after a session at the Hillsong Conference, following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol,” the statement said of the second incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This resulted in him knocking on the door of a hotel room that was not his, entering this room and spending time with the female occupant.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Although members of the church were likely rocked by the news on Wednesday afternoon, this moment has been a long time coming for critics of the church and its leader.</p> <p dir="ltr">Brian Houston‘s resignation as Global Senior Pastor of the church comes just a month after he stepped down as the church’s figurehead last month while facing charges of concealing historic child sex abuse offences committed by his father, Frank.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence of another person in October last year, pleading not guilty to the charges after he returned to Australia from the US.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hillsong’s external legal counsel gave the board advice regarding the current charge I’m facing and that it would be best practice for me to step aside completely from church completely during court proceedings,” Brian previously said.</p> <p dir="ltr">These aren’t the first scandals Hillsong has been embroiled in either, with accusations of homophobia, celebrity pastor infidelity, and the accepting of millions in tax-free donations from attendees being just a few.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With that tax-free status must come greater responsibility. If you don’t pay taxes, like you and me, then you ought to be more accountable,” former Senator Nick Xenaphon told <em><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/hillsong-church-critic-reacts-to-leader-brian-houstons-resignation/fe878186-9fa6-4b1b-adf1-345478595282" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Obviously there’s a lot to unravel here but if you’re the leader then the buck must stop with you.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With Brian’s resignation, Phil Dooley and his wife Lucinda have now taken over leading the church.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, it’s still possible that this will simply be an interim measure until a new leader is appointed.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0b1858bb-7fff-6b2b-a4e0-f89b17a71040"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Peng Shuai T-shirt scandal puts Tennis Australia in hot water

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian Open organisers are at the centre of even more criticism over their handling of spectators with items asking “where is Peng Shuai?”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tennis Australia (TA) has </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open/tennis-australia-destroyed-over-peng-shuai-tshirt-scandal/news-story/cb7c1678360dd16a87bbf8e996924083" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stood by</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> its decision after footage emerged of security and police requesting a fan remove her shirt calling for the Chinese tennis player’s fate to be addressed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Shuai gained worldwide attention after she “disappeared” following a post she shared on social media containing allegations of sexual abuse against a former high-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though she has since been seen <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/missing-tennis-star-makes-public-appearance" target="_blank">in videos and photos</a> shared by Chinese state media, many have expressed concerns that those were staged and activists have questioned whether she is able to act freely.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The video of the scene at Melbourne Park ended with police saying TA was permitted to confiscate any material referencing Ms Shuai.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A TA spokesperson told News Corp Australia that the organisation feared for Ms Shuai’s safety, but that fans were not allowed to make political statements with clothing at the Australian Open.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Under our ticket conditions of entry we don’t allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political,” the spokesperson said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Peng Shuai’s safety is our primary concern. We continue to work with the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) and global tennis community to seek more clarity on her situation and will do everything we can to ensure her wellbeing.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Interestingly, journalists can ask questions about the Peng Shuai situation to players, but fans, seemingly, aren't allowed to.... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/SCqNlH2bOx">pic.twitter.com/SCqNlH2bOx</a></p> — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshMedia/status/1485052235251957760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drew Pavlou shared footage online of his friend Max Mok and another person being asked by security about their clothes - including shirts which said “Where is Peng Shuai?” - and later by police.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Mok slammed the TA’s reaction, telling </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/tennis-australia-confiscate-where-is-peng-shuai-shirts-banners-at-open-20220123-p59qi2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nine newspapers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> it was a hypocritical decision.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I can remember him  (the security guard) saying over and over that he had been instructed by someone higher up to confiscate (the Peng items),” Mr Mok said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“On top of that, he also kept saying - and I don’t think this was in the video - but he kept saying he had eyes and ears everywhere, you can’t hide, things like that. Who exactly am I hiding from?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He said someone found it political and reported it, but couldn’t say who.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I would be surprised if someone at the ground reported us.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Pavlou also spruiked a GoFundMe page to print more “Where is Peng Shuai?” shirts, revealing on Twitter that it had amassed nearly $6,000 in donations.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Wow, in less than 24 hours we have raised almost $6000 to print a thousand “Where Is Peng Shuai” shirts to hand out for free at the Australian Open women’s final. <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisAustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TennisAustralia</a> good luck keeping your $25 million corporate sponsorship from China <a href="https://t.co/BN9oi6mPdl">https://t.co/BN9oi6mPdl</a> <a href="https://t.co/iNiVxDrwP8">pic.twitter.com/iNiVxDrwP8</a></p> — Drew Pavlou For Senate (@DrewPavlou) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewPavlou/status/1484846760669638660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Mok said the TA’s treatment of him was hypocritical considering its claims that Ms Shuai’s safety was its “primary concern”, and hoped that more people would follow their lead and show their support for the tennis star.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Hypocrisy is an understatement. It’s not sincere, and it’s just a way for them (TA) to avoid a PR disaster,” he told Nine.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can see that from the huge amount of support that we’ve got from the public. If we had less support, this could have gone very wrong.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If Tennis Australia is serious about the movement, they’ll let people in (with Peng-related items). Time will tell which side they’re on.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Regardless, it’ll be a good message to send not just to Australia, but internationally. Imagine a whole court filled with ‘Free Peng Shuai’ shirts?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many have shared their criticisms of the organisation online, while some have pointed out the double standard between spectators and journalists with questions about the missing player.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Interestingly, journalists can ask questions about the Peng Shuai situation to players, but fans, seemingly, aren’t allowed to,” journalist Matt Walsh wrote.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I get if a hotel says 'No thongs', asks you to leave and then calls the police if you don't because the police can see that you're wearing thongs. I don't think the police can look at a 'Where is Peng Shuai?' t-shirt and just as easily tell that it's a political statement. <a href="https://t.co/hTmkcF7EXB">pic.twitter.com/hTmkcF7EXB</a></p> — Shaun Micallef (@shaunmicallef) <a href="https://twitter.com/shaunmicallef/status/1485115549718048771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comedian Shaun Micallef also weighed in, questioning why asking about Ms Shuai’s whereabouts was a political statement in the eyes of TA.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Only in mainland China would asking after somebody’s whereabouts be regarded as a political statement,” he wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I get if a hotel says ‘’No thongs’, asks you to leave and then calls the police if you don’t because the police can see that you’re wearing thongs. I don’t think the police can look at a ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirt and just as easily tell that it’s a political statement.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple players have been asked about Ms Shuai during the first week of the competition, with Aussie star Ash Barty saying she hoped she was doing OK.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Hopefully it’s not too long until we see her back out here,” Barty said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked whether she was concerned that something “sinister” was at play, Barty said she didn’t have the knowledge to answer.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, who is a member of the WTA Player Council, also spoke about Ms Shuai, saying the association’s main goal was to hear from her personally, while Japan’s Naomi Osaka said she hadn’t heard any news either.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m not sure if that’s concerning or not,” she said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I feel like it’s a situation where we need more information, which is definitely really hard. Kind of, I think everyone’s waiting.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @CaraMia200 (Twitter)</span></em></p>

News

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Voicemail and a car crash: How Tiger Woods’ cheating scandal emerged

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite becoming the first athlete to make $USD 1 billion in 2009, it was also the year that saw Tiger Woods’ life crumble around him as </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/tiger-woods-cheating-scandal-details-elin-nordegren-what-happened-explainer/b93a94da-8d22-4398-a9d3-2c4d58a26c11" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">it was revealed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> he had been cheating on his wife Elin Nordegren with multiple women.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In November of that year, tabloids reported on Woods’ affair with nightclub manager Rachel Uchitel. Several days later, he crashed his car outside his Florida mansion at 2am, with rumours emerging that he had tried to flee after being confronted by Nordegren.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following the news of his crash, reports of his infidelity continued to surface from a number of women.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some outlets also reported that Nordegren made the discovery while looking at Woods’ phone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A voicemail allegedly left by Woods for one of the women he was seeing was later published by </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">US Weekly</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Hey, it’s Tiger,” a man said in the message. “I need you to do me a huge favour. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Woods initially denied the claims, he later admitted they were true and apologised.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the next few months, women continued to come forward with claims of sleeping with Woods during his eight-year relationship with Nordegren.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He would go on to speak about the situation and share new details at a press conference several months later.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was unfaithful, I had affairs and I cheated. What I did was unacceptable,” he said at the time.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife’s family, my friends, my foundation and kids all around the world who admired me.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A year later, Woods and Nordegren announced they would be getting a divorce.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Daily Beast</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the couple had a prenuptial agreement that would see Nordegren receive $20 million after 10 years of marriage.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Woods allegedly tried to negotiate their existing prenup to get Nordegren to stay – allegedly including an immediate $5 million payment and an added $55 million to the original value - the divorce was finalised. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to TMZ, she received $USD 100 million ($AUD 129 million or $NZD 106 million).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite their marriage ending, Woods and Nordegren have maintained a good relationship.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The former couple share two children: Sam Alexis, 14, and Charlie Axel, 12.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We communicate so much better now, it’s incredible,” Woods told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">US Weekly</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in 2019. “I wish we would have done that earlier on, but it’s been incredible to have a best friend like that.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Monica Lewinsky discusses her mental health during the Clinton scandal

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica Lewinsky became a household name after she famously had an affair with President Bill Clinton during the 1990s while interning at the White House.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a recent </span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/axe-files?episodeguid=b0c4a76a-a89d-47ce-becf-adb3002a2a6a"><span style="font-weight: 400;">podcast interview with CNN</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Lewinsky discussed how the investigation into the scandal, along with the global pressure from the media, drove her to have suicidal thoughts. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I just couldn't see a way out. And I thought that maybe that was the solution," she said, explaining how she had asked lawyers working for then-independent counsel Ken Starr about what would happen if she died.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">At the worst moment of her life, when she was seized by the FBI, questioned about her affair w/Bill Clinton &amp; threatened W/prison, <a href="https://twitter.com/MonicaLewinsky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MonicaLewinsky</a> couldn’t see a way out. “What if I die?” she asked the lawyers interrogating her.<br />New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AxeFiles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AxeFiles</a>!<br />Pod here👉<a href="https://t.co/6gfKHZOtJ7">https://t.co/6gfKHZOtJ7</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Yqq2pZygW">pic.twitter.com/4Yqq2pZygW</a></p> — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod/status/1443565658575409153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thinking back on her experience, she asks, "How was there not a protocol?" to deal with a unique situation like hers. "That's a point where you're supposed to bring a psychologist in or, you know, something," she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The interview comes as new light is being shed on the affair in a dramatised FX series called </span><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/monica-lewinsky-impeachment-american-crime-story-how-to-watch/100436458"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impeachment: American Crime Story</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, for which Lewinsky is a producer. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica told the interviewer that after being dismissed by Ken Starr, she began seeing a forensic psychiatrist that helped her get through the ordeal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I think a lot of people who have ever had suicidal ideations find themselves in a moment where it's just – it's a moment of grace, like, you know, two roads diverged in the woods," she said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And the forensic psychiatrist picked up the phone. And so I was, you know, pretty, pretty lucky."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an essay published by </span><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/05/monica-lewinsky-speaks"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vanity Fair in 2014</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Monica said she had never attempted suicide but that she had "strong suicidal temptations several times during the investigation and one or two periods after."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica told the podcast that she constantly had to fight to not be defined by the affair after her views of the situation changed in the wake of the #MeToo movement. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"My narrative was stolen and then I lost it by trying to recede, trying to run away from everything that had happened for many years," she said, adding that part of "the work" she had to put in was accepting that she would have to face her past.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said that through working on the series, she was able to reclaim her story in the eyes of the public. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This story is about real people and I'm involved in it, but it's also about something bigger. It reflects something bigger in our society. And so as our society changes, there are different ways that this story feels relevant," Lewinsky said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Check out the trailer for the series here:</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rtipQ3EsGWo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>

Mind

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New trailer for Impeachment features first look at Monica Lewinsky actress

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">New television series </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impeachment: American Crime Story</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> revisits the scandal that rocked the US during Clinton’s presidency, and its first teaser trailer has just been released.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Viewers can get a first look at Beanie Feldstein in the role of Monica Lewinsky - the White House intern who had an affair with President Bill Clinton.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843119/lewinsky-feldstein.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9c94d85625c842408330f296eaf785b7" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica Lewinsky (left) and Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky (right). Image: Getty</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the new teaser, Feldstein - the sister of comedian Jonah Hill - can be seen opposite famed whistleblower Linda Tripp, played by Sarah Paulson, facing off in a hallway of the White House’s West Wing.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CScU_48Jdri/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CScU_48Jdri/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by American Crime Story FX (@americancrimestoryfx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The series is based on the true story of Lewinsky’s affair with President Clinton that occurred in Washington DC in 1995.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the synopsis, the series will depict “the national crisis that led to the first impeachment of a US President in over a century”, as told through the eyes of Lewinsky, Tripp, and civil servant Paula Jones, who filed a sexual harassment suit against Clinton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The series will also feature Clive Owens as Clinton, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sopranos</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> actor Edie Falco as former First Lady Hillary Clinton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Watch the trailer below for more.</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jCfbZgDKgsc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feldstein has shared new artwork that was released alongside the trailer on her Instagram page.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Every side has a story,” the actress captioned the photo.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSF1yY1J-L1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSF1yY1J-L1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Beanie Feldstein (@beaniefeldstein)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feldstein has said working with Paulson has been a dream come true, previously telling </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variety</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: “If you know the story, [Lewinsky and Tripp] are best friends and then one deeply betrays the other one, [Paulson’s character] betrays me and I just couldn’t be more excited to play that out with the person I think to be one of the best actors of all time.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And she’s just so funny and warm and giving, so to take this journey with her is going to be really exciting.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impeachment: American Crime Story</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is expected to be released in September 2021.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: American Crime Story FX / Instagram</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>

TV

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Fergie opens up about William and Kate wedding snub: “I don’t think I was worthy”

<p><span>Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York has spoken out about the scandal that plagued her in 2011.</span><br /><br /><span>The royal, who was married to Prince Andrew from 1986 until 1996 has opened up about her being left off the invitation list for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.</span><br /><br /><span>She shares daughter Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with Andrew and has been a controversial figure in the royal family for decades.</span><br /><br /><span>She told <em>Town &amp; Country</em> that being excluded from William and Kate’s wedding was not a situation that she fought.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842686/sarah-ferguson-plus-william-and-kate-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/73d23f3821a1454b935f8ca2317c8ea1" /></p> <p> <em>Image: Getty</em><br /><br /><span>"I didn't think I was probably worthy to go to their wedding," she told the publication.</span><br /><br /><span>“I took myself to Thailand, actually, to be far away from it so that I could try and heal."</span><br /><br /><span>Ferguson admitted to Oprah in recent years that the snub upset her greatly.</span><br /><br /><span>"I think what I felt was that I went through the phase of feeling so totally worthless and that (it) was quite right they didn't invite me.</span><br /><br /><span>“Why would they - why would they invite me?</span><br /><br /><span>"I felt that I ostracised myself by my behaviour, by the past, by living with all the regrets of my mistakes, that I sort of wore a hair shirt and beat myself up most of the day thinking and regretting why did I make such a mistake?"</span><br /><br /><span>Just a year before the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Sarah Ferguson found herself caught up in a major scandal.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842687/sarah-ferguson-plus-william-and-kate-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/047e85441656431093299643b3dc322b" /></p> <p> <em>Image: Getty</em><br /><br /><span>She was caught by an undercover reporter who reported her attempting to sell a meeting with Prince Andrew for cash.</span><br /><br /><span>The fallout from this saw her being left off the guest list for the upcoming nuptials.</span><br /><br /><span>"It was so difficult," she went on to say.</span><br /><br /><span>“Because I wanted to be there with my girls, and to be getting them dressed and to go as a family. And also it was so hard because the last (royal) bride up that aisle was me."</span><br /><br /><span>By 2018, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed, Fergie was back in the family's good books and received an invite.</span><br /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842688/sarah-ferguson-plus-william-and-kate-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c090e71110514bb8b33512f15c159ee3" /></p> <p> <em>Image: Getty</em><br /><span>The Duchess is enjoying being a new grandmother after the birth of grandson August to daughter Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank.</span><br /><br /><span>Her eldest daughter Princess Beatrice is also expecting her first child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi later this year.</span></p>

Relationships

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The dress that caused a scandal before Princess Diana's wedding

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The dress Diana wore in her first outing as a royal fianc</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">é</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">e propelled her into the spotlight and saw the start of her image as a global fashion icon who was willing to break the rules and ignore royal protocol.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On March 9, 1981, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were making their public debut following the announcement of their engagement by Buckingham Palace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As guests of honour at Goldsmiths Hall, in aid of The Royal Opera House, Diana wore a black low-cut strapless gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, who would go on to design her wedding dress.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a newsreel from the next day, a reporter said of Diana: “The palace did not know in advance of the dress she chose to wear … by normal royal standards, it was fairly revealing.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ken Gavin, former chief photographer for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mirror</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, was stationed at the top of the stairs to snap the couple as they walked up towards the press pack.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When she came out in that black dress, cleavage and everything [nearly] falling out everywhere, she was, she looked sensational,” Gavin said in the new documentary </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diana’s Decades</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which aired overnight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She came up the stairs and we were waiting for her. I knew that I had a page-one picture, there was no question about that.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think she would have known she was going to get a lot of attention [but] I don’t think she realised how low that dress was until she saw the stills the next day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While most took issue with the cut of Diana’s dress, Prince Charles instead disapproved of its colour.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Princess Diana later told her biographer Andrew Morton how her fiance reacted when he first saw the gown, just as they were due to leave for the ball.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I remember my first engagement so well,” Diana said. “So excited. I got this black dress from the Emmanuels and I thought it was OK because girls my age wore this dress.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hadn’t appreciated that I was now seen as a royal lady, although I’d only got a ring on my finger as opposed to two rings.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I remember walking into my husband-to-be’s study, and him saying: ‘You’re not going in that dress, are you?’</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I replied: ‘Yes, I am.’ And he said: ‘It’s black! But only people in mourning wear black!’ And I said: ‘Yes, but I’m not part of your family yet.’</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Black, to me, was the smartest colour you could possibly have at the age of 19. It was a real grown-up dress. I was quite big-chested by then, and [the Press] all got frightfully excited.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diana also told Morton how Princess Grace of Monaco, who was also attending the ball, helped her cope with the newfound attention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I learned a lesson that night. I remember meeting Princess Grace and how wonderful and serene she was,” Diana said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“‘Don’t worry,’ Princess Grace joked. ‘It will only get worse.’</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was a horrendous occasion. I didn’t know whether to go out of the door first. I didn’t know whether your handbag should be in your left hand or your right hand.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was terrified, really - at the time everything was all over the place. I remember that evening so well. I was terrified - nearly sick.”</span></p>

News

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Main Madeleine McCann suspect claims "unbelievable scandal"

<p>The main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has slammed German prosecutors of an "unbelievable scandal" by prejudicing the case against him.</p> <p>Christian Brueckner, 44, has not been charged in relation to the 2007 disappearance of McCann but was publicly identified as a suspect last year.</p> <p>He broke his silence in a handwritten letter from prison where he is serving a sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005.</p> <p>“Charging someone with a crime is one thing,” he said in the letter, according to the UK Telegraph.</p> <p>“It is something completely different - namely an unbelievable scandal - when a public prosecutor starts a public prejudicial campaign before proceedings are even opened,” Brueckner added.</p> <p>“You have proved worldwide, through arbitrary convictions in the past and through scandalous prejudicial campaigns in the present, that you are unsuitable for the office of an ‘advocate for the honest and German people who trust in justice’, and that you bring shame to the German legal system.”</p> <p>Brueckner was accused last year of raping the woman in the same seaside town where McCann disappeared.</p> <p>Prosecutors in the case have previously said they do not yet have enough evidence to arrest him.</p>

News

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Queen’s cousin caught in royal scandal

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The royal family has been hit with another scandal after the Queen’s cousin was accused of selling access to the Kremlin.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A joint undercover investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4 reportedly caught Prince Michael of Kent admitting he was willing to use his royal status for personal gain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sting involved reporters posing as investors of a fake South Korean gold company who approached Prince Michael seeking contacts in the Kremlin to further its business in Russia.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the investigation is yet to be aired, clips were posted on Channel 4’s Twitter account that revealed snippets from the recorded conversations.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">He said he was willing to accept $200,000 from our fake company in return for making the speech. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoyalForHire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoyalForHire</a><br />3/ <a href="https://t.co/qODD4Wta5e">pic.twitter.com/qODD4Wta5e</a></p> — Channel 4 Dispatches (@C4Dispatches) <a href="https://twitter.com/C4Dispatches/status/1391078183265525765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the clips, Prince Michael allegedly told the journalists by Zoom that he would record a speech giving their company his royal endorsement for a fee of $US 200,000 ($254,000).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 78-year-old royal also said he was happy to use his home in Kensington Palace as a backdrop for the endorsement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The royal’s business partner, Simon Reading, reportedly said the prince could be hired for 10,000 pounds ($17,800) a day to make “confidential” discussions with Mr Putin on behalf of the fictitious gold firm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If [Prince Michael] is representing the House of Haedong, he could mention that to Putin and Putin would find the right person who is interested in South Korea or interested in gold,” Mr Reading told the undercover reporters.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It just opens the door, you know, which is so helpful.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Vladimir Putin “regards Prince Michael as a friend of Russia.”<br />We asked Lord Reading if Prince Michael’s relationship with Putin has been damaged by growing tensions between Britain and Russia. <br /><br />He said “It hasn’t.” 6/ <a href="https://t.co/r4tyH1GKDs">pic.twitter.com/r4tyH1GKDs</a></p> — Channel 4 Dispatches (@C4Dispatches) <a href="https://twitter.com/C4Dispatches/status/1391078794841272320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also described Prince Michael as “Her Majesty’s unofficial ambassador to Russia”.</span></p> <p><strong>Royal response</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Michael, who is tied to Russia through grandmother and speaks Russian, has since issued a statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the royal’s office, Prince Michael “has no special relationship with President Putin” and that he “has not had contact with him or his office” since they last met in 2003.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since Prince Michael isn’t a working royal and doesn’t receive public funds, his office also pointed out he “earns his living through a consultancy company that he has run for over 40 years.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lord Reading is a good friend, who in trying to help made suggestions which Prince Michael would not have wanted, or been able, to fulfil,” his office continued.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Reading said he regretted his “over-promise” in trying to facilitate an introduction to Michael.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He told reporters, “I made a mistake and over-promised, and for that I am truly regretful.”</span></p>

Legal

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Woolworths accused of “disgusting” Anzac biscuit scandal

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Woolworths has rejected claims it renamed Anzac biscuits after social media outrage caused by a recent recipe in one of its catalogues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Posts appearing on Facebook and Twitter suggested the supermarket giant had succumbed to “cancel culture” by removing the word Anzac from its biscuit recipes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the lead-up to Anzac Day, Woolworths featured a recipe for Golden Oat Biscuits in one of its catalogues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Noticing the striking similarity between the oat biscuits and the traditional Anzac biscuits, one person claimed, “Woolworths in their woke wisdom has changed the name of Anzac biscuits calling them golden oats because it may insult some people.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another shopper claimed the name change was “disgusting and a slap in the face for our Anzacs”, vowing to never shop at the supermarket again.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clarification came when a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the biscuits were not called Anzac Day biscuits out of respect for the strict guidelines set by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has strict regulations around the word Anzac and how it can be used on products or in marketing,” they said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We didn’t have the relevant approvals to use the term for this particular recipe placement in the catalogue and wanted to ensure we respected the regulations.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:335.4166666666667px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840941/woolworths-biscuits.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3499d58e56df4033b6242382ddd4640c" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Companies considering using the word Anzac in their products need to be approved by the department first, which Woolworths did not pursue in this instance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia understands the Golden Oat Biscuits recipe has featured in previous catalogues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The spokesperson reiterated Anzac biscuits were still available to purchase and had been approved for sale, with proceeds helping raise funds for veterans and their families.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia also reached out to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to clarify on what the approved recipe is and whether Woolworths recipe would have been approved if an application had been submitted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comparing a 2014 recipe published by the department against the Woolworths recipe, both recipes feature the same ingredients but they use varying measures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the guidelines, “The use of the word ‘Anzac’ in the commercial production and sale of Anzac biscuits is usually approved, however the biscuits must not substantially deviate from the generally accepted recipe and shape, and must be referred to as ‘Anzac Biscuits’”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The biscuits must avoid any additions such as chocolate chips and must not be called cookies.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><strong>Image credit: Woolworths</strong></p>

Food & Wine

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Portia de Rossi speaks out on wife Ellen deGeneres

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Portia de Rossi is standing by her wife Ellen DeGeneres as scandals and controversy continue to surround the daytime talk show <em>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</em>.</p> <p>There have been multiple reports about the toxic work culture and environment on the show, with many former staffers speaking anonymously about the culture of "racism, fear and intimidation".</p> <p>This didn't stop de Rossi from expressing her support for her wife on Instagram.</p> <p>"To all our fans, we see you. Thank you for your support," she wrote. The Australian actress concluded her post with the hashtags #stopbotattacks, #IStandWithEllenDeGeneres, #IStandByEllen, #IstandByEllenDeGeneres and #bekindtooneanother, the phrase DeGeneres uses to close out her show.</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/CDb1I_Jp2S1/?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/CDb1I_Jp2S1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">To all our fans....we see you. Thank you for your support. #stopbotattacks . #IStandWithEllenDeGeneres #IStandByEllen ‪#IstandByEllenDeGeneres ‬ . . #ellendegeneres #ellen #theellenshow #ellenshow #bekindtooneanother</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/portiaderossi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Portia de Rossi</a> (@portiaderossi) on Aug 3, 2020 at 10:03am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>De Rossi's attempt might have backfired, as angry fans were quick to comment.</p> <p>“This can’t be real. Have some accountability. It isn’t made up when it’s dozens of employees and years of bad stories. Stop acting like she is a victim when there are real victims,” one user wrote in a comment which attracted nearly 2,000 likes.</p> <p>“Do you think those employees who are coming out and complaining are liars?” another asked.</p> <p>Her post comes just one week after WarnerMedia announced it was launching an internal investigation into the talk show after the accusations went viral.</p> <p>Ellen DeGeneres also addressed the accusations in an apology to her employees.</p> <p>"My name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that," she wrote. "Alongside Warner Bros, we immediately began an internal investigation and we are taking steps, together, to correct the issues. As we've grown exponentially, I've not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I'd want them done. Clearly some didn't. That will now change and I'm committed to ensuring this does not happen again.</p> <p>"We all have to be more mindful about the way our words and actions affect others, and I'm glad the issues at our show were brought to my attention. I promise to do my part in continuing to push myself and everyone around me to learn and grow. It's important to me and to Warner Bros. that everyone who has something to say can speak up and feels safe doing so."</p> <p>Dozens of former employees from the show have also spoken out about alleged incidents of sexual misconduct and harassment by top executives as well as outraged stage crew who had been kept in the dark about their employment on the show but watched on as non-union crews helped Ellen run the show from her home.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Relationships

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Princess Eugenie breaks her silence since Prince Andrew scandal

<p>Princess Eugenie has shared her first Instagram post since her father’s widely panned interview with the BBC about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.</p> <p>The Princess of York broke her two-month social media silence to publish a picture of herself and her husband Jack Brooksbank from 2018 in celebration of the second anniversary of their engagement announcement.</p> <p>“On this day two years ago... Jack and I announced we were engaged,” the 29-year-old wrote in the caption.</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/B7oss-zFJ-M/?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/B7oss-zFJ-M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">On this day two years ago...Jack and I announced we were engaged.. 💍😘</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/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Jan 22, 2020 at 12:48pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Royal fans welcomed the princess’ return to Instagram. “Welcome back to Instagram. I hope you and Jack are doing well,” one commented.</p> <p>The princess’ last Instagram post was on November 16, the same day that Prince Andrew’s interview about his links to Epstein aired on the BBC.</p> <p>Eugenie tied the knot with Brooksbank in October 2018. Last year, the princess marked their first anniversary with a video from the pair’s wedding day.</p> <p>Eugenie’s elder sister Beatrice got engaged to property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in September 2019. Their wedding is expected to take place this year.</p>

Relationships

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From scandal to true love: All the royals who gave up their titles

<p>Ahead of the bombshell announcement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex saying they have the intention to step back from the duty of being “senior royals” this January, there has been growing speculations that they might go as far to let go of their titles altogether.</p> <p>However, the act of renouncing a title is not new for royals all across the world. Whether by choice, law, request, punishment or scandal, there are a number of kings, queens, princes and princesses that have forgone their privileges and given up their titles for a different life.</p> <p><strong>1936: King Edward VIII</strong></p> <p>While it had been his birth right to ascend the throne, he gave it up after just 11 months and chose to abdicate in order to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson.</p> <p>An infamous speech he gave to the British public explained that he had “found it impossible” to remain king without Wallis betrothed to him.</p> <p>"I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love,” he said.</p> <p>While he was allowed to keep his title of His Royal Highness, Duke of Windsor following his abdication, the scandal followed him for the rest of his life and drove him out of England as punishment. They lived their lives as celebrities and travelled all across the globe throwing expensive, lavish parties. Not only that, but they sympathised with the Nazis.</p> <p>They were both buried side by side at Windsor Castle as Duke and Duchess.</p> <p><strong>1947: Prince Philip</strong></p> <p>Just a mere ten years after his uncle-in-law, Philip renounced his own right ot the throne. This time however, it was so that he could join the British Royal Family rather than leave it.</p> <p>Philip was born a prince of both Denmark and Greece, so in him choosing to marry Princess Elizabeth, he gave up not one but two thrones.</p> <p>Always seen walking a few steps behind his Queen, the prince went on to father four children, his eldest Prince Charles who is the next in line to the British throne behind his mother.</p> <p>Prince Philip gave up his regular royal duties and appearances at the tender age of 96.</p> <p><strong>1972: Ubolratana Rajakanya</strong></p> <p>Asia has its own secret scandals and royal family to gossip about, and in this case it was Thai Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya who gave up everything she knew for love. In choosing to marry Peter Ladd Jensen, a fellow student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she left behind her father King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit in Thailand. After moving to the US to live with Jensen, she went on to give birth to three children and maintained a strong relationship with her parents.</p> <p>When the pair divorced in 1998, the former princess of Thailand returned home with her children. After losing her royal title and marriage, Ubol was dealt another tragic blow when she lost her autistic son Bhumi in the deadly 2004 tsunami.</p> <p><strong>1981: Peter and Zara Phillips</strong></p> <p>While Princess Anne is the daughter of the Queen of England, it doesn’t mean she didn’t want a normal, unobtrusive and private life for her two children. Surprisingly, her kids were not automatically given a royal title when they were born and unlike her brothers, Charles, Edward and Andrew, she required the Queen to offer the titles as a gift.</p> <p>However, the offer was promptly declined for Peter and Zara. Peter remains 14th in line for the throne whilst Zara is behind his two daughters at 17th.</p> <p><strong>2014: Princess Srirasmi</strong></p> <p>After marrying into the royal family of Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and nearly a decade later, Princess Srirasmi became embroiled in a family scandal. Seven of her family members were charged with serious criminal charges, including defamation of the monarchy. Under her husband’s orders, Princess Srirasmi was stripped of her title receiving 200 million baht ($5.5m/£4.3m) as a divorce settlement.</p> <p>Now she watches on as her son and ex-husband continue their lives in the royal household, without her. Since the pair’s divorce, her parents have also been arrested and later admitted to misusing their royal connections.</p> <p>2015: Princess Cristina</p> <p>The sister of King Felipe VI, Princess Cristina, married Iñaki Urdangarín in 1997. Together they were appointed as the Duke and Duchess of Palma de Mallorca and enjoyed their lavish royal lifestyle together and with their four children. That was, until Urdangarin was convicted of embezzling €6 million ($6.6m/£5m) of public funds and using his title of Duke for political corruption. </p> <p>Cristina was charged with tax fraud and became the first member of the Spanish royal family to stand trial. Due to this, the King had no choice but to strip his little sister of her titles. Urdangarin received a six-year prison sentence and, in 2017, Cristina was acquitted of all charges. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see all the royal family members who gave up their titles.</p>

Retirement Life

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Prince Andrew to walk Princess Beatrice down the aisle amid scandal

<p>Prince Andrew was notably absent at his daughter’s engagement party on Wednesday – but still plans to walk her down the aisle, reports said.</p> <p>The Duke of York, who stepped back from his royal duties last month amid the scandal surrounding his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, did not attend Princess Beatrice’s engagement party in London late Wednesday.</p> <p><span>“This is a devastating blow for the Duke and a sign of just how bad things have got,” a source told <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10582971/prince-andrew-misses-princess-beatrice-engagement-abuse-fear/">The Sun</a></em></span>.</p> <p>“He agreed that he didn’t want to overshadow the event, especially seeing lots of celebrities and high-profile people will be there and it could have put them in a difficult position.”</p> <p>However, Prince Andrew will still walk Beatrice down the aisle at her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020, a source told <em><a href="https://www.etonline.com/prince-andrew-still-planning-to-walk-daughter-princess-beatrice-down-the-aisle-despite-jeffrey">ET</a></em>.</p> <p>The source said the royal family is putting on a “brave face” in response to the Epstein controversy despite their disappointment in the prince.</p> <p>“They love him; he’s family,” the source said.</p> <p>The source added that the wedding plans are yet to be fixed, with further details expected to be disclosed after a number of wedding venues have been explored.</p>

Relationships

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Fergie reveals life in wake of Prince Andrew scandal: “Been hard on the girls and me”

<p>The Duchess of York has leapt to the defence of her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, again in a new interview with<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://en.vogue.me/culture/sarah-duchess-of-york-interview/" target="_blank">Vogue Arabia.</a></em></p> <p>Prince Andrew’s interview on<span> </span><em>Newsnight </em>– where he discussed the matters of his personal relationship with sex offender and alleged child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein – went up in flames and is widely regarded as a disaster for the royal family.  </p> <p>In hindsight, the Duke of York’s words where he categorically denied any accusations that he’d had sex with one of Epstein’s alleged victims, is considered the decision that let to him standing back from his royal duties for the “foreseeable future”.</p> <p>"It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support," the Duke of York said in a personal statement issued back in November.</p> <p>"Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission."</p> <p>When speaking to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://en.vogue.me/culture/sarah-duchess-of-york-interview/" target="_blank">Vogue Arabia</a>,</em> Sarah Ferguson addressed the bitter royal scandal, saying the media scrutiny has been “incredibly difficult”.</p> <p>It is unclear whether the conversation with the publication took place before or after the<span> </span><em>Newsnight </em>interview, however, the Duchess did briefly discuss her ex-husband’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.</p> <p>"When I talk about Prince Andrew, I talk about family because the last six months have been hard on the girls and me," she said.</p> <p>"To see such a wonderful man go through such enormous pain. He is the best man I know.</p> <p>“It’s just incredible what he has done for Britain, and it’s all nonsense [her voice raises as she alludes to the Epstein scandal], so I talk about familyhood, and I’m very strong about it."</p> <p>This is not the first time Fergie has publicly declared her support for the royal, first posting a message of positivity about her former husband on November 16.</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/B45hF8DlXMg/?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/B45hF8DlXMg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">It is so rare to meet people that are able to speak from their hearts with honesty and pure real truth, that remain steadfast and strong to their beliefs. Andrew is a true and real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness and goodness of always seeing the best in people. I am deeply supportive and proud of this giant of a principled man, that dares to put his shoulder to the wind and stands firm with his sense of honour and truth. For so many years he has gone about his duties for Great Britain and The Monarch. It is time for Andrew to stand firm now, and that he has, and I am with him every step of the way and that is my honour. We have always walked tall and strong, he for me and me for him. We are the best examples of joint parenting, with both our girls and I go back to my three C’s .. Communicate Compromise Compassion @hrhthedukeofyork</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/sarahferguson15/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Sarah Ferguson</a> (@sarahferguson15) on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:00pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Andrew is a true and real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness and goodness of always seeing the best in people,” she said at the time.</p> <p>Prince Andrew is yet to make a public appearance since stepping back from his royal duties, however there is a chance we all may see him with the rest of the royal family at the Christmas church services in Sandringham.</p>

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Princess Beatrice cancels engagement party amid scandal

<p>Princess Beatrice has made the decision to cancel her engagement party in London over the backlash surrounding her dad, Prince Andrew.</p> <p>According to<span> </span><em>The Sun</em>, the 31-year-old and her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi had sent out invites for a party held at Chiltern Firehouse on December 18.</p> <p>The<span> </span><em>Mail on Sunday</em><span> </span>said: “Bea has had to change the date of her engagement party at the Chiltern Firehouse because of fears there will be too many photographers outside – looking for him.</p> <p>“But the venue choice caused alarm among pals concerned it was far too high-profile given the sensitive time her family is going through.”</p> <p>The publication says the pair decided on the date change so that “Andrew can sneak in under the radar.”</p> <p>Beatrice and Edo announced their engagement earlier this year but are yet to formally announce details for the wedding as they have been instructed to not reveal the date until after the general election.</p> <p>They have confirmed they will tie the knot sometime next year.</p>

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