The Daily Telegraph are saying Australia’s Next Top Model judges Charlotte Dawson and Alex Perry are suing Nine MSN and Facebook over allegations she bullied a university student during a vicious online exchange. (Previous blog post on the issue here).

The stoush cost Charlotte an $18,000 contract.

The article says:

Dawson said she initially joined the Facebook slanging match, believing it was “one of our friends joking around”.

“But as soon as we started, the responses became really full-on and the messages we were sent were so explicit,” she said.

Dawson said comments described her as a “disease-ridden prostitute” and “crack whore”.

“I was so fascinated people would write such hateful things and when I wrote back they’d say, ‘Oh, we love you, we were just having fun’.”

But the online “fun” allegedly ended in death threats to the pair, who now plan a joint action against a Ninemsn report which documented the thread.

In the piece, Dawson reportedly conceded calling the page’s creator a “westie scrag” and its members “f … ing losers”.

Ninemsn head of news Hal Crawford defended the article yesterday, stating: “Charlotte Dawson confirmed with [us] that she had made those comments.”

I think this will be an interesting court case to watch, and wonder if it will set case law in relation to social media comments.

Tweet This Post

Australia’s Next Top Model judges Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson have again created controversy by using the social media to have a stoush.

This time is with a student Lucy Blunt who set a facebook page called Alex Perry is a C**T. However the groups name was changed to Alex Perry is a T**t.

What I don’t get is why Alex and Charlotte bothered to respond to this girl’s offensive group. There are some things I really like about Charlotte Dawson, as she is open and direct, but seriously why bother engaging on this level. Also I am not sure why living in the Western Suburbs is such a negative thing.

The Nine MSN article said:

Sydney student Lucy Blunt set up the anti-Perry group in September last year, shortly after he appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.

The war of words began when Ms Blunt wrote last year: “Masterchef were after celebrity cooks, Alex Perry signed up, he thought they were after c-cks!”

Perry discovered the group and joined, referring to its members as “f—ing losers”. He told ninemsn he did not know Ms Blunt before the random attack, which he said left him deeply offended.

“I have a right to my opinion and others have the right to theirs but there’s a certain level of decency you have to uphold,” he said.

Dawson was among those who leapt to Perry’s defence, calling Ms Blunt a “sad attention whore who is loving winding everyone up”.

“Some suburban fattie [sic] with too much time on her hands and a dirty crack pipe has had her jollies creating this page,” Dawson wrote.

“Some fame whore … suburban moll wanting to brag to her mates about calling you a twat.”

Dawson, who also called Ms Blunt a “westie scrag”, said she had no regrets about defending her friend to online “trolls”.

The debate about this and other issues related to Australia’s Next Top Model has moved to a very interesting blog post by Melinda Tankard Reist. She discusses this Facebook incident as well as questioning how Sarah Murdoch can host a show like Australia’s Next Top Model, and be Chairperson of a Body Image Committee. It is something that has crossed my mind as well.

Anyway Charlotte Dawson responds in full to the issues in the comment section of the blog post. Not sure I agree with everything she is saying, but hey it is nice to see a personality/celebrity give a full and frank opinion without a publicist nearby.

Tweet This Post

Australia’s Next Top Model judge reveals to the Herald Sun that plastic surgery is not all it is cracked up to be.

The article states:

Dawson, an outspoken judge on Australia’s Next Top Model, freely admits she has had a number of surgical procedures over the years, including liposuction, fat injections, breast implants, Aptos threading, Botox injections, dermal fillers and an eye lift.

However, the 44-year-old has confessed to Who magazine she regrets some of the work she has had done.

“Anyone thinking plastic surgery will make them happier is wrong,” Dawson has told the magazine.

The thing I would like to know is why would you have fat injected into your face?

Tweet This Post

Australia’s Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson has kyboshed any hope for a plus sized model contestant to be part of the show this year.

At Westfield Chadstone yesterday Ms Dawson said to Nine MSN ” There is no market for plus-size models in Australia…. it would be tokenism to put a plus-size girl through just for the sake of it”.

She also said:

“I would like someone to name a plus-size model in Australia because I can’t,” she said.

“We could have a plus-size model win the competition and she would end up doing catalogues for Target.”

She makes it sound like modelling in a catalogue is a negative thing, something I am sure most of the previous ANTM contestant’s would love to, considering a lot of their modelling careers have come to a screeching halt, and they are working in retail.

In the US version regularly a “plus size” model (ie a size 12-14) will be included in the series and in fact Whitney Thompson won a series.

Personally I think a plus sized model should be included if they are pretty enough, but not if it is tokenism.

Tweet This Post

This is my attempt to get into the Spring Carnival spirit, as in acknowledge it.

Matt and Emma Preston at DerbyDay. Photo from www.news.com.au

Jenna and Lisa from Beauty and the Geek, with host Bernard Curry. Photo fromwww.news.com.au

Dancing With the Stars Sonia Kruger. Photo from www.news.com.au

Australian Idol’s Andrew G and Noa Tisby. Photo from www.news.com.au

Charlotte Dawson and Ivan Zellick from The Contender. Photo from www.news.com.au

Tweet This Post

The Contender commences on Fox 8 this Monday November 2 at 8.30pm. I will be doing a recap, but don’t have my usual enthusiasm as I am not a boxing fan. Anyway let’s hope it surprises me, and I am a big fan of Charlotte Dawson.

Here is what the press release said:

An unscripted drama about the lives, fears and hopes of 14 professional super middleweight boxers, The Contender Australia follows these boxers (from Australia and New Zealand), as they compete for the chance to forever change their lives and the lives of the people they love.   

Following the great success of the U.S. series of The Contender, the first series of the Australian version offers the boxers the ultimate prize of a fight with Anthony “The Man” Mundine.

 Charlotte Dawson and Daniel Amalm host The Contender Australia and work beside boxing mentor Johnny Lewis and team trainers Paul Briggs and Billy Hussein, who all play a part in guiding the boxers through the intense training and the most challenging experience of their lives.  

Produced by Granada Productions, the series follows their journey and the challenges these boxers face in their personal lives and career, as well as provide insight to their fears and hopes. The highly stressful, tough competition will test their relationships with each other in and out of the ring.  

Introducing our Contenders: 

ADRIAN TAIHIA, 26, Sandringham, New Zealand. Described as a rising star in New Zealand, Adrian only started his boxing career three years ago and boasts an undefeated record.

 BEN McCULLOCH, 27, Sydney. This hot Australian prospect is enjoying the “intensity” and “adult” world of boxing. Only turning pro last year, with three fights under his belt his future looks bright having won all three, two by way of knockout.  

DANIEL MACKINNON, 25, Otorohanga, King Country, New Zealand. Currently the New Zealand middleweight champion, Daniel credits his left hook as his strength. In the ring, he likes to work out his opponent and says no matter what their style is he can figure it out and adapt.

GARTH WOOD, 31, Petersham, Sydney. Once voted NRL’s fittest athlete during his rugby league career, Garth only turned pro two years ago – a short but impressive start with five fights and four wins under his belt.  

ISRAEL KANI, 36, Noosa Heads, Queensland. This former super middleweight champion prides himself on his fitness and training and is always ready to fight and compete, joining The Contender to get a sense of how far he can go in the sport. 

JOSH CLENSHAW, 32, Mt Druitt, NSW. He may wear his heart on his sleeve but, with 42 fights and more than 286 rounds to his name, he has been in the ring with just about everybody and has experience on his side. 

JUNIOR TALIPEAU, 25, Cronulla, NSW. Turning professional four years ago, Junior has come a long way in a short time with an impressive 14 fights and 14 wins record under his belt –  winning the vacant Australian middleweight title and making six successful defenses.

KARIZ KARIUKI, 32, Blacktown, NSW. This softly spoken fighter prefers to do the talking in the ring with an impressive record of 18 wins, 17 of them by way of knockout, and is currently ranked 10^th in the World Boxing Organisation ratings.

LES PIPER, 25 Carrara, Gold Coast. Les is the current Australian super middleweight champion and referred to as an improving fighter. He describes himself as a pressure fighter who has a high work rate and an aggressive and busy style.

 LUKE MOLONEY, 29, Reservoir, Melbourne. Often referred to as a pure boxer with great skills, Luke is currently ranked State champion and describes himself as more of a technician than a knock-out-style fighter. 

NADER HAMDAN, 35, Kingsgrove, NSW. Once a street thug and “out of control youth” who turned his life around with boxing, Nader is the only Contender to have already gone the distance with Mundine in a world title fight.  He turned pro at 20 and now at 35 he feels this is his “last shot”.

PRADEEP SINGH, 22, Boronia, Melbourne. Describing himself as “a nice man with a good heart” and priding himself on being healthy, Pradeep is religious about training for up to 17 hours a day.  

SONNI MICHAEL ANGELO, 24, Sydney. Described as one of the more outrageous personalities of Australian boxing, Sonni (“Jungle Boy”, from the Congo) has a style which has been described as explosive and unpredictable. He believes he is indestructible and someone who has defied all odds. 

VICTOR OGANOV, 32, Perth. Victor instills fear in his opponents with his professional career record of 28 wins all by way of knockout: an impressive record showing his talent and the lethal power in his hands.

 If you are reading this article through a feed on TV.com please come and join the discussion and check out the blog at www.realityravings.com

Tweet This Post

Cassi modelling for Portmans

Frockwriter  has this excellent blog on how Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson were caught out bitching about Cassi Van Den Dungen, the “bogan” who was runner-up on the latest Australia’s Next Top Model.

Apparently on Alex Perry’s Facebook page he said this amongst other things:
“YES ITS TRUE, SHE WONT SIGN ELITE CONTRACT… WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A GIRL WITH LOW INTELLIGENCE, GOING OUT WITH A MAN TEN YEARS OLDER OF A SIMILAR IQ…THE COMBINATION IS POWERFULLY STUPID … THE ICING ON THE IDIOT CAKE IS THAT SHE WANTS HIM TO BE HER MANAGER SO SHE DOESNT HAVE TO PAY AGENCY COMISSION (IM ASSUMING THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PAYING TAX!!!) BUT CONSIDERING THAT HE DOESNT WORK, AND SHE’S TO STUPID TO, EVERYTHING MUST BE PEACHY KEEN IN SUNBURY!!!”

Charlotte Dawson also wrote stuff including “too true. Enough about the bogan … she’s someone elses nightmare now.”

When the Dawson was asked by Frockwriter author Patty Huntington whether these comments were true she said:

 ”Absolutely. I could not give a rat’s ass. They’re the sort of things I would say on the show. What’s wrong with them being on a Facebook page? That’s what I’m paid to do. I’m paid to call it as I see it.

“They’re not defamatory, they’re said with humour, not vitriol, and honesty. It was a situation that I was very much involved with.

“Her boyfriend, during the live finale, was grabbing his crotch and sticking his tongue out at me. You don’t know what this girl has gone and done to evoke the ire of a lot of people.

“We don’t give a shit. We’re coming from a place of personal experience and Cassi has very much frustrated and angered and disappointed a lot of people…. She’s upset her family terribly, she’s been a real nightmare and spat in the faces of people who supported her”.

Christ if the crotch grabbing is true that Brad Saul must be a huge tool. What is the story about making his own business, he does not even have his own job! I thought the whole point of her not going overseas was because he was building his own business.

Tweet This Post

Some of the models from ANTM season five

 I found this photo on Community livejournal – ANTM  and I am presuming this is a sneak peek at some of the models in the upcoming season of Australia’s Next Top Model. Fox 8 have yet to release a start date.

However TV Week managed have a quick interview with outspoken judge Charlotte Dawson about the new host of the show Sarah Murdoch.

TV Week: Will the show feel different as a result of Sarah Murdoch replacing Jodhi Meares?

Charlotte Dawson: Having Sarah onboard as host and co-executive producer means there’s going to be a real drive to be very fashion and model focused.  We want  to look at issues facing the industry, bring the show into today and find another Alice Burdeu (cycle three winner).

TW: Do you think Sarah will be able to teach the girls things they haven’t learned in previous seasons?

CW: I remember Sarah storming down runways with the best of the best in New York. Jodhi, bless her cotton socks, is a fabulous girl in so many ways, but Sarah has lived and breathed it on an international scale. So, yes, she brings something quite unique to ANTM.

TW: Will she follow Tyra Bank’s lead by transforming her photo face with a mere lift of her eyebrow?

CD: Well, I’ll say something else about Sarah – she’s the only one on the panel who can raise an eyebrow! She’s the only natural one among us!

Tweet This Post

Link to story in The Australian.

Two Dubbo Dancer’s Are Through To the Top 100 on So You Think You Can Dance Aust
Charles Bartley and Ashleigh Tegart from Dubbo are two names of dancers who are through to the top 100 week in Sydney. Charles is currently studying at Brent St Studios, so it will be interesting how many of that alumni make it in on Season 2. Marko Panzic, Hilton Dennis and Rhiannon were three dancers from there in Season 1.

Tweet This Post

Shire uber model Cheyenne Tozzi was called in as a replacement judge for Charlotte Dawson at the Townsville casting call for Australia’s Next Top Model.

Charlotte stayed in Sydney to be near jailed boyfriend Matthew Rhodin. Matthew who is up on fraud charges, spent the weekend in jail as he had yet to post the $100,000 bail. I wonder if Charlotte will help come up with the cash?

Anyway all reports from Townsville was that Cheyenne, who is only 19, acquitted herself very well.

Full story on Daily Tele.

Tweet This Post