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Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O: Why Melburnians celebrate the failure of Sydney's ‘Vile Kyle'

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O: Why Melburnians celebrate the failure of Sydney's ‘Vile Kyle'

Sandilands ('Vile Kyle' to his detractors) and Jackie Henderson, his microphone partner, are supposed to be receiving about $10 million a year each over the next 10 years as reward for drawing in advertisers excited by smutty stunts.
A billboard in Melbourne advertising the Kyle & Jackie O show, which has failed to attract Sydney-level audience numbers. Credit: Paul Rovere
Their $200 million deal – a sum that would have left even old 'Golden Tonsils' John Laws weak at the knees – was drawn up on the presumption that their peculiar popularity in Sydney (where they get ratings of about 16 per cent) would sweep all before them as they took their breakfast show, modestly titled Hour of Power , to the other state capitals, starting in Melbourne.
Oops. The Hour of Power Sydney toilet-jokes format on KIIS caused the pair to take a colossal gutser in Melbourne from the start.
A year on, their latest rating is a measly 5.1 per cent, placing the show eighth in Melbourne's breakfast slot.
For context, number one is the familiar Ross and Russ show on 3AW, where Melbourne locals Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft hold a mighty 20.6 per cent share of the city's breakfast audience, largely by avoiding insulting listeners' intelligence.
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Radio 3AW is owned by Nine, which also owns The Age .
Meanwhile, Australian Radio Network, which owns KIIS, is taking a mighty bath. Advertisers have fled and ARN has 'let go' 200 employees, who must be deliriously happy to have sacrificed their jobs to keep Kyle and Jackie O in their multimillion-dollar Sydney trophy homes.
It's an old story.
In the late 1980s, the Fairfax media group bought Melbourne HSV7 TV station and tried to meld it into its two other channels, in Sydney and Brisbane. It failed spectacularly because Melbourne audiences saw it, quite correctly, as a Sydney try-on.
Soon after, Fairfax, having lost several millions of dollars on its Melbourne bet, sold its TV interests to dodgy Christopher Skase's Qintex Group. Skase later went bankrupt and fled Australia.
Sydney shock jocks Stan Zemanek and Alan Jones both tried and failed to transfer their loudmouthed fame to Melbourne. Southern audiences just never warmed to Jones' dreadful braying, and the late Zemanek's flashiness lasted only a year on 3AW.
Not all black and white for Paul Keating. Credit: Photographic
Paul Keating earned scorn when, trying to broaden his appeal while launching his campaign to topple Bob Hawke as PM, he flew himself and several reporters to Melbourne to barrack for Collingwood at the MCG. No one was fooled that he had any serious interest in the Australian game, let alone Collingwood.
Keating was also famed for his reported view that, 'If you're not living in Sydney, you're just camping out.'
Even he knew it wouldn't fly among southern voters, and strategically disowned the comment during a visit to Melbourne in the lead-up to the 1996 election.
Asked about the 'camping out' observation by broadcasters Dean Banks and Ross Stevenson on 3AW in October 1995, Keating declared: 'No, somebody falsely attributed those words to me. I love Melbourne, the garden city of Australia.' Six months later, Keating and his government were booted out and he retired to his beloved Sydney.
Even Sydney's criminal milieu could not cut it in Melbourne.
My colleague John Silvester relates the amusing story of Sydney crook Stan 'The Man' Smith's abortive attempt to expand his criminal pursuits into Melbourne decades ago.
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'When he arrived at Tullamarine airport, waiting police miraculously found a matchbox full of hashish in the top outside jacket pocket – usually only used to display a decorative handkerchief,' Silvester wrote.
'Smith is said to have cried out, 'I'm being fitted up', no doubt a reference to his dapper, tailor-made suit. When he returned home (after serving one year), he vowed to never return to Melbourne because 'the cops run red-hot down there'.'
The fact that Melburnians have rarely bought Sydneysiders' pretensions was long attributed to Melbourne wearing a chip on its shoulder because Sydney was the first city established in Australia, and was blessed with greater natural beauty.
A friend has a more nuanced view.
Melbourne, she proposes, has always had to try harder to build itself a beating heart because it was not blessed with Sydney's astonishing natural loveliness.
How could Melbourne and its Yarra and its tame bay compete with Sydney's glorious ocean beaches, the great sweep of its harbour, its cliffs and river gorges and the Blue Mountains hovering away to the west?
The answer, of course, was to get serious and accomplished. About food, conversation, architecture, education and sport, for starters.
Sydneysiders could afford to play in the sun and the surf and merrily flaunt their wealth.
Melburnians hunkered beneath often leaden skies and worked at building a relatively sophisticated, relatively civil society, replete with marvellous restaurants and the nation's oldest and most visited art gallery, named (immodestly) the National Gallery of Victoria.
The naked flaunting of wealth, though increasingly common, remains a bit embarrassing in Melbourne, where it is still sport to take the piss out of ourselves.
Sandilands on Sydney Harbour in a 1959 Cadillac convertible, pictured for a 2023 AFR Magazine cover story on the rise of the 'schlock jock'. Credit: Nic Walker
And when vulgarians like Kyle Sandilands try to shoulder their way in, scorning the idea of taking a ride on a tram or choosing a footy team ('we're not gonna march into town and try all this hokey local rubbish', Sandilands spat during a radio interview a couple of months ago), Melburnians turn off, knowing imported coarseness is just not worth their while.
And anyway, it's enjoyable – if a bit smug – to make a big-mouthed Sydneysider squirm.
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INXS win Hottest Aussie 100 with Never Tear Us Apart
INXS win Hottest Aussie 100 with Never Tear Us Apart

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timean hour ago

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INXS win Hottest Aussie 100 with Never Tear Us Apart

Aussie power ballad Never Tear Us Apart by 1980s rock royalty INXS has taken out the title of number one song on Triple J's special edition Hottest 100 countdown dedicated to Australian artists. Audiences have been voting for months to reveal Australia's favourite song in the annual countdown that showcases some of the nation's best homegrown music talent. Celebrating on behalf of the band, founding member and drummer Jon Farriss joined the radio station on Saturday night to reflect on the win. "We feel so blessed and we're very grateful," Farriss said. Australian hip hop royalty The Hilltop Hoods came in at number two with their 2003 hit The Nosebleed Section. Queensland pop duo The Veronicas and their 2007 hit Untouched, Missy Higgins' breakout 2004 single Scar and Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House rounded out the top five. Reflecting on their number three spot, Jess and Lisa Origliasso said for "just two girls from Brisbane", the countdown had brought them to tears. "We're on top of the world right now ... this is such a huge honour for us," Jess Origliasso said. Higgins also joined the radio station, telling presenters she couldn't believe Scar still resonated with Australian audiences more than 20 years since its debut. "I can't quite believe it - I feel like the luckiest person ever," she said moments after the song was played. The countdown is typically comprised of the best songs of the year from all over the world but the youth station hosted a special mid-year poll dedicated to Aussie artists and tracks to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gotye squeezed in to cinch the number 10 spot with his 2011 hit Somebody That I Used To Know. Other notable mentions included Australian music great John Farnham, voted in at number 15 with his 1986 hit You're the Voice. Daryl Braithwaite's The Horses came in at number 30, with Natalie Imbruglia's Torn voted in at 32. More than 2.65 million votes were tallied for the countdown, the station's fourth-largest poll, according to the broadcaster. Eight tracks in the countdown were separated by fewer than 10 votes and only 30 votes separated songs 100 and 101. The countdown kicked off at 10am AEST on Saturday and wrapped at 8pm. * HOTTEST 100 TOP TEN SONGS 1. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart (1987) 2. The Nosebleed Section - Hilltop Hoods (2003) 3. The Veronicas - Untouched (2007) 4. Missy Higgins - Scar (2004) 5. Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (1986) 6. Powderfinger - My Happiness (2000) 7. Cold Chisel - Flame Trees (1984) 8. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh (1978) 9. Paul Kelly - How to Make Gravy (1996) 10. Gotye (featuring Kimbra) - Somebody That I Used to Know (2011) Aussie power ballad Never Tear Us Apart by 1980s rock royalty INXS has taken out the title of number one song on Triple J's special edition Hottest 100 countdown dedicated to Australian artists. Audiences have been voting for months to reveal Australia's favourite song in the annual countdown that showcases some of the nation's best homegrown music talent. Celebrating on behalf of the band, founding member and drummer Jon Farriss joined the radio station on Saturday night to reflect on the win. "We feel so blessed and we're very grateful," Farriss said. Australian hip hop royalty The Hilltop Hoods came in at number two with their 2003 hit The Nosebleed Section. Queensland pop duo The Veronicas and their 2007 hit Untouched, Missy Higgins' breakout 2004 single Scar and Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House rounded out the top five. Reflecting on their number three spot, Jess and Lisa Origliasso said for "just two girls from Brisbane", the countdown had brought them to tears. "We're on top of the world right now ... this is such a huge honour for us," Jess Origliasso said. Higgins also joined the radio station, telling presenters she couldn't believe Scar still resonated with Australian audiences more than 20 years since its debut. "I can't quite believe it - I feel like the luckiest person ever," she said moments after the song was played. The countdown is typically comprised of the best songs of the year from all over the world but the youth station hosted a special mid-year poll dedicated to Aussie artists and tracks to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gotye squeezed in to cinch the number 10 spot with his 2011 hit Somebody That I Used To Know. Other notable mentions included Australian music great John Farnham, voted in at number 15 with his 1986 hit You're the Voice. Daryl Braithwaite's The Horses came in at number 30, with Natalie Imbruglia's Torn voted in at 32. More than 2.65 million votes were tallied for the countdown, the station's fourth-largest poll, according to the broadcaster. Eight tracks in the countdown were separated by fewer than 10 votes and only 30 votes separated songs 100 and 101. The countdown kicked off at 10am AEST on Saturday and wrapped at 8pm. * HOTTEST 100 TOP TEN SONGS 1. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart (1987) 2. The Nosebleed Section - Hilltop Hoods (2003) 3. The Veronicas - Untouched (2007) 4. Missy Higgins - Scar (2004) 5. Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (1986) 6. Powderfinger - My Happiness (2000) 7. Cold Chisel - Flame Trees (1984) 8. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh (1978) 9. Paul Kelly - How to Make Gravy (1996) 10. Gotye (featuring Kimbra) - Somebody That I Used to Know (2011) Aussie power ballad Never Tear Us Apart by 1980s rock royalty INXS has taken out the title of number one song on Triple J's special edition Hottest 100 countdown dedicated to Australian artists. Audiences have been voting for months to reveal Australia's favourite song in the annual countdown that showcases some of the nation's best homegrown music talent. Celebrating on behalf of the band, founding member and drummer Jon Farriss joined the radio station on Saturday night to reflect on the win. "We feel so blessed and we're very grateful," Farriss said. Australian hip hop royalty The Hilltop Hoods came in at number two with their 2003 hit The Nosebleed Section. Queensland pop duo The Veronicas and their 2007 hit Untouched, Missy Higgins' breakout 2004 single Scar and Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House rounded out the top five. Reflecting on their number three spot, Jess and Lisa Origliasso said for "just two girls from Brisbane", the countdown had brought them to tears. "We're on top of the world right now ... this is such a huge honour for us," Jess Origliasso said. Higgins also joined the radio station, telling presenters she couldn't believe Scar still resonated with Australian audiences more than 20 years since its debut. "I can't quite believe it - I feel like the luckiest person ever," she said moments after the song was played. The countdown is typically comprised of the best songs of the year from all over the world but the youth station hosted a special mid-year poll dedicated to Aussie artists and tracks to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gotye squeezed in to cinch the number 10 spot with his 2011 hit Somebody That I Used To Know. Other notable mentions included Australian music great John Farnham, voted in at number 15 with his 1986 hit You're the Voice. Daryl Braithwaite's The Horses came in at number 30, with Natalie Imbruglia's Torn voted in at 32. More than 2.65 million votes were tallied for the countdown, the station's fourth-largest poll, according to the broadcaster. Eight tracks in the countdown were separated by fewer than 10 votes and only 30 votes separated songs 100 and 101. The countdown kicked off at 10am AEST on Saturday and wrapped at 8pm. * HOTTEST 100 TOP TEN SONGS 1. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart (1987) 2. The Nosebleed Section - Hilltop Hoods (2003) 3. The Veronicas - Untouched (2007) 4. Missy Higgins - Scar (2004) 5. Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (1986) 6. Powderfinger - My Happiness (2000) 7. Cold Chisel - Flame Trees (1984) 8. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh (1978) 9. Paul Kelly - How to Make Gravy (1996) 10. Gotye (featuring Kimbra) - Somebody That I Used to Know (2011) Aussie power ballad Never Tear Us Apart by 1980s rock royalty INXS has taken out the title of number one song on Triple J's special edition Hottest 100 countdown dedicated to Australian artists. Audiences have been voting for months to reveal Australia's favourite song in the annual countdown that showcases some of the nation's best homegrown music talent. Celebrating on behalf of the band, founding member and drummer Jon Farriss joined the radio station on Saturday night to reflect on the win. "We feel so blessed and we're very grateful," Farriss said. Australian hip hop royalty The Hilltop Hoods came in at number two with their 2003 hit The Nosebleed Section. Queensland pop duo The Veronicas and their 2007 hit Untouched, Missy Higgins' breakout 2004 single Scar and Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House rounded out the top five. Reflecting on their number three spot, Jess and Lisa Origliasso said for "just two girls from Brisbane", the countdown had brought them to tears. "We're on top of the world right now ... this is such a huge honour for us," Jess Origliasso said. Higgins also joined the radio station, telling presenters she couldn't believe Scar still resonated with Australian audiences more than 20 years since its debut. "I can't quite believe it - I feel like the luckiest person ever," she said moments after the song was played. The countdown is typically comprised of the best songs of the year from all over the world but the youth station hosted a special mid-year poll dedicated to Aussie artists and tracks to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gotye squeezed in to cinch the number 10 spot with his 2011 hit Somebody That I Used To Know. Other notable mentions included Australian music great John Farnham, voted in at number 15 with his 1986 hit You're the Voice. Daryl Braithwaite's The Horses came in at number 30, with Natalie Imbruglia's Torn voted in at 32. More than 2.65 million votes were tallied for the countdown, the station's fourth-largest poll, according to the broadcaster. Eight tracks in the countdown were separated by fewer than 10 votes and only 30 votes separated songs 100 and 101. The countdown kicked off at 10am AEST on Saturday and wrapped at 8pm. * HOTTEST 100 TOP TEN SONGS 1. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart (1987) 2. The Nosebleed Section - Hilltop Hoods (2003) 3. The Veronicas - Untouched (2007) 4. Missy Higgins - Scar (2004) 5. Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (1986) 6. Powderfinger - My Happiness (2000) 7. Cold Chisel - Flame Trees (1984) 8. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh (1978) 9. Paul Kelly - How to Make Gravy (1996) 10. Gotye (featuring Kimbra) - Somebody That I Used to Know (2011)

Culture takes centre stage in this 'incredible' musical
Culture takes centre stage in this 'incredible' musical

The Advertiser

timean hour ago

  • The Advertiser

Culture takes centre stage in this 'incredible' musical

Gamilaraay performer Googoorewon Knox has music in his blood. His grandfather Roger Knox is a country music legend and on the other side of his family, his grandmother Auriel Andrew was also a respected performer. Knox made his debut in musical theatre as George Washington in the Australian return season of Hamilton in 2024. While on a slightly different path to the one set out in his family roots, it's not that much of a stretch for him. "It makes sense being a singer, being in a musical family and enjoying being an entertainer at the same time," he tells AAP. "The fact that it's happened isn't a huge surprise." Knox is returning to the stage in August to play Agwe, the god of water in the award-winning musical Once on This Island. The contemporary re-imagining of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale The Little Mermaid and the book My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy follows the story of Ti Moune, who risks everything to save a boy from the other side of the island where she lives. Beginning on Australia's own shores, the show blends Caribbean origins with the rich cultural history found closer to home. Knox says it's a freeing experience to bring himself and his heritage to the stage. "That's who I am," he said. "Hamilton was a historical piece; all the characters are real people, they're played by Black people but they weren't Black people," he said. "To be able to play Black characters as a Black person is very freeing." The show is directed by Gumbaynggirr and Turkish writer Brittanie Shipway, who says it is a celebration of storytelling, music and the rich tapestry of culture. "What better way to honour the spirit of our island home than through the voices of 12 extraordinary performers, each bringing the depth and beauty of their own cultural heritage." Ti Moune is "a dreamer, a healer and a trailblazer on a journey of love, sacrifice and self-discovery", she adds. To Knox, the story is a "representation of us" filled with the music and dances of culture, which he's looking forward to sharing with audiences. "It's going to be incredible," he said. "There's a section in the middle that's going to be mind blowing. I don't care who you are, you're going to go crazy for it." Once on This Island plays at the Hayes Theatre in association with Curveball Creative, from August 2 to 31. Gamilaraay performer Googoorewon Knox has music in his blood. His grandfather Roger Knox is a country music legend and on the other side of his family, his grandmother Auriel Andrew was also a respected performer. Knox made his debut in musical theatre as George Washington in the Australian return season of Hamilton in 2024. While on a slightly different path to the one set out in his family roots, it's not that much of a stretch for him. "It makes sense being a singer, being in a musical family and enjoying being an entertainer at the same time," he tells AAP. "The fact that it's happened isn't a huge surprise." Knox is returning to the stage in August to play Agwe, the god of water in the award-winning musical Once on This Island. The contemporary re-imagining of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale The Little Mermaid and the book My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy follows the story of Ti Moune, who risks everything to save a boy from the other side of the island where she lives. Beginning on Australia's own shores, the show blends Caribbean origins with the rich cultural history found closer to home. Knox says it's a freeing experience to bring himself and his heritage to the stage. "That's who I am," he said. "Hamilton was a historical piece; all the characters are real people, they're played by Black people but they weren't Black people," he said. "To be able to play Black characters as a Black person is very freeing." The show is directed by Gumbaynggirr and Turkish writer Brittanie Shipway, who says it is a celebration of storytelling, music and the rich tapestry of culture. "What better way to honour the spirit of our island home than through the voices of 12 extraordinary performers, each bringing the depth and beauty of their own cultural heritage." Ti Moune is "a dreamer, a healer and a trailblazer on a journey of love, sacrifice and self-discovery", she adds. To Knox, the story is a "representation of us" filled with the music and dances of culture, which he's looking forward to sharing with audiences. "It's going to be incredible," he said. "There's a section in the middle that's going to be mind blowing. I don't care who you are, you're going to go crazy for it." Once on This Island plays at the Hayes Theatre in association with Curveball Creative, from August 2 to 31. Gamilaraay performer Googoorewon Knox has music in his blood. His grandfather Roger Knox is a country music legend and on the other side of his family, his grandmother Auriel Andrew was also a respected performer. Knox made his debut in musical theatre as George Washington in the Australian return season of Hamilton in 2024. While on a slightly different path to the one set out in his family roots, it's not that much of a stretch for him. "It makes sense being a singer, being in a musical family and enjoying being an entertainer at the same time," he tells AAP. "The fact that it's happened isn't a huge surprise." Knox is returning to the stage in August to play Agwe, the god of water in the award-winning musical Once on This Island. The contemporary re-imagining of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale The Little Mermaid and the book My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy follows the story of Ti Moune, who risks everything to save a boy from the other side of the island where she lives. Beginning on Australia's own shores, the show blends Caribbean origins with the rich cultural history found closer to home. Knox says it's a freeing experience to bring himself and his heritage to the stage. "That's who I am," he said. "Hamilton was a historical piece; all the characters are real people, they're played by Black people but they weren't Black people," he said. "To be able to play Black characters as a Black person is very freeing." The show is directed by Gumbaynggirr and Turkish writer Brittanie Shipway, who says it is a celebration of storytelling, music and the rich tapestry of culture. "What better way to honour the spirit of our island home than through the voices of 12 extraordinary performers, each bringing the depth and beauty of their own cultural heritage." Ti Moune is "a dreamer, a healer and a trailblazer on a journey of love, sacrifice and self-discovery", she adds. To Knox, the story is a "representation of us" filled with the music and dances of culture, which he's looking forward to sharing with audiences. "It's going to be incredible," he said. "There's a section in the middle that's going to be mind blowing. I don't care who you are, you're going to go crazy for it." Once on This Island plays at the Hayes Theatre in association with Curveball Creative, from August 2 to 31. Gamilaraay performer Googoorewon Knox has music in his blood. His grandfather Roger Knox is a country music legend and on the other side of his family, his grandmother Auriel Andrew was also a respected performer. Knox made his debut in musical theatre as George Washington in the Australian return season of Hamilton in 2024. While on a slightly different path to the one set out in his family roots, it's not that much of a stretch for him. "It makes sense being a singer, being in a musical family and enjoying being an entertainer at the same time," he tells AAP. "The fact that it's happened isn't a huge surprise." Knox is returning to the stage in August to play Agwe, the god of water in the award-winning musical Once on This Island. The contemporary re-imagining of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale The Little Mermaid and the book My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy follows the story of Ti Moune, who risks everything to save a boy from the other side of the island where she lives. Beginning on Australia's own shores, the show blends Caribbean origins with the rich cultural history found closer to home. Knox says it's a freeing experience to bring himself and his heritage to the stage. "That's who I am," he said. "Hamilton was a historical piece; all the characters are real people, they're played by Black people but they weren't Black people," he said. "To be able to play Black characters as a Black person is very freeing." The show is directed by Gumbaynggirr and Turkish writer Brittanie Shipway, who says it is a celebration of storytelling, music and the rich tapestry of culture. "What better way to honour the spirit of our island home than through the voices of 12 extraordinary performers, each bringing the depth and beauty of their own cultural heritage." Ti Moune is "a dreamer, a healer and a trailblazer on a journey of love, sacrifice and self-discovery", she adds. To Knox, the story is a "representation of us" filled with the music and dances of culture, which he's looking forward to sharing with audiences. "It's going to be incredible," he said. "There's a section in the middle that's going to be mind blowing. I don't care who you are, you're going to go crazy for it." Once on This Island plays at the Hayes Theatre in association with Curveball Creative, from August 2 to 31.

'Sabotage': Rebel Wilson sued by production company
'Sabotage': Rebel Wilson sued by production company

The Advertiser

timean hour ago

  • The Advertiser

'Sabotage': Rebel Wilson sued by production company

Rebel Wilson is being sued by the production company behind her directorial debut. UK-based AI Film has filed the lawsuit in Australia, accusing the 44-year-old actress of deliberately sabotaging the film's release in order to devalue the movie and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company - named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit - into selling their stake to her company Camp Sugar. According to The Guardian, AI Film said in a statement: "These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it." Lead actress Charlotte MacInnes said: "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen." Wilson responded to the lawsuit with a message on Instagram Stories saying: "Apparently I'm being sued in Australia. It makes no sense. As the director, producer and co-star who nurtured a project called THE DEB for 5 years from a 3 page idea into a gorgeous feature film - I want nothing more than to have this film released and have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get this to happen. To say otherwise is complete nonsense. I'm so proud of the film! "In my opinion this is continued bullying and harassment from UK financiers of the project Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden after I exposed their dodgy behaviour. They tried to prevent the film from premiering there (they lost) and now they've tried to stop the film being released because of a baseless US lawsuit and now a further Australian one. "I've moved on, now directing my 2nd movie and loving it. But regarding THE DEB all I can literally say is 'F*** my life" with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart. Everyone who worked on the movie and who knows me KNOWS I put my blood, sweat and tears into this. Everyone knows I'm a 'truth teller' when it comes to vile people in the industry. I just want this movie to come out and for all the amazingly talented contributors to be recognised for their sensational work! (sic)." In 2024, Wilson was hit with a defamation lawsuit after accusing the producers of The Deb of stopping it from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Rebel Wilson is being sued by the production company behind her directorial debut. UK-based AI Film has filed the lawsuit in Australia, accusing the 44-year-old actress of deliberately sabotaging the film's release in order to devalue the movie and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company - named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit - into selling their stake to her company Camp Sugar. According to The Guardian, AI Film said in a statement: "These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it." Lead actress Charlotte MacInnes said: "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen." Wilson responded to the lawsuit with a message on Instagram Stories saying: "Apparently I'm being sued in Australia. It makes no sense. As the director, producer and co-star who nurtured a project called THE DEB for 5 years from a 3 page idea into a gorgeous feature film - I want nothing more than to have this film released and have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get this to happen. To say otherwise is complete nonsense. I'm so proud of the film! "In my opinion this is continued bullying and harassment from UK financiers of the project Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden after I exposed their dodgy behaviour. They tried to prevent the film from premiering there (they lost) and now they've tried to stop the film being released because of a baseless US lawsuit and now a further Australian one. "I've moved on, now directing my 2nd movie and loving it. But regarding THE DEB all I can literally say is 'F*** my life" with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart. Everyone who worked on the movie and who knows me KNOWS I put my blood, sweat and tears into this. Everyone knows I'm a 'truth teller' when it comes to vile people in the industry. I just want this movie to come out and for all the amazingly talented contributors to be recognised for their sensational work! (sic)." In 2024, Wilson was hit with a defamation lawsuit after accusing the producers of The Deb of stopping it from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Rebel Wilson is being sued by the production company behind her directorial debut. UK-based AI Film has filed the lawsuit in Australia, accusing the 44-year-old actress of deliberately sabotaging the film's release in order to devalue the movie and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company - named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit - into selling their stake to her company Camp Sugar. According to The Guardian, AI Film said in a statement: "These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it." Lead actress Charlotte MacInnes said: "I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen." Wilson responded to the lawsuit with a message on Instagram Stories saying: "Apparently I'm being sued in Australia. It makes no sense. As the director, producer and co-star who nurtured a project called THE DEB for 5 years from a 3 page idea into a gorgeous feature film - I want nothing more than to have this film released and have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get this to happen. To say otherwise is complete nonsense. I'm so proud of the film! "In my opinion this is continued bullying and harassment from UK financiers of the project Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden after I exposed their dodgy behaviour. They tried to prevent the film from premiering there (they lost) and now they've tried to stop the film being released because of a baseless US lawsuit and now a further Australian one. "I've moved on, now directing my 2nd movie and loving it. But regarding THE DEB all I can literally say is 'F*** my life" with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart. Everyone who worked on the movie and who knows me KNOWS I put my blood, sweat and tears into this. Everyone knows I'm a 'truth teller' when it comes to vile people in the industry. I just want this movie to come out and for all the amazingly talented contributors to be recognised for their sensational work! (sic)." In 2024, Wilson was hit with a defamation lawsuit after accusing the producers of The Deb of stopping it from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

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