I know, I know, I know. I ghosted you beautiful people last week and gave you ZERO anti-recommendations. I wish I could make up a good excuse - like I was too busy TPing Trump’s golden statue or I was too distracted egging Trump’s UFC arena on the White House lawn. But alas, the truth is far less cinematic. I was just busy with work. But never fear my darling readers, I am back. And I have consumed LOTSSSS and LOTSSSSS of atrocious content so you don’t have to. So sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

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Earlier this week, I worried my weekly 'anti-recs' were becoming too cynical. I thought, ‘surely this week I’ll have nothing but nice things to say.’ Then I watched the roast of Kevin Hart - and suddenly, I had a change of heart.

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This week’s anti-recommendation list is packed full of movies. You see, earlier this year, I wanted to broaden my horizons in the world of film and pledged to myself that I would watch 100 movies I’ve never seen before. I hoped this would expand my cinematic knowledge so I could proudly call myself a ‘cinephile.’ The problem? It’s May and I’ve only clocked 27 movies so far. We’re fast approaching the halfway point of 2026. I should be closing in on 50 by now!!!

If you think that’s bad, wait until you hear about my 2026 reading challenge. Optimistic ‘January 1st Demi’ decided I should read 50 books this year. I am currently sitting at seven books. According to GoodReads, that puts me ten books behind schedule.

I really need to stop making these goals. It’s okay. I’m okay. I can do this (maybe).

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Last week I turned 30, a milestone I surprisingly did not dread. In fact, I welcomed my thirties with open arms - despite not being as 'successful' as I once hoped I would be by this age.

Yes, I barely have any money in my savings. Yes, I still have credit card debt. Yes, my partner and I still can’t afford our dream wedding. Yes, I still rent. Yes, I still haven’t turned my Kaleidoscope News endeavor into a full time job.

But I am the happiest I have ever been.

I no longer have a relationship with my toxic father, or my former BFF. I no longer work a shitty job with a shitty boss. I no longer have friends that use me as their easy punchline.

I have a beautiful partner that adores me. I have three gorgeous fur babies. I have a wonderful group of friends. I have a close relationship with my mum, brother and grandmother. I have a home that isn’t the size of a shoe box. And I finally have an ADHD and autism diagnosis.

So while I’m not exactly where I first hoped to be at 30, I’m exactly where I NEED to be. And I think 20 year old Demi would be proud. While I still have so much to learn, it’s been gratifying looking at everything I’ve learnt in my twenties.

1. FOMO is the type of friction you have to make peace with. You’re not going to be able to do everything your friends, family and colleagues can afford - that’s just the way of life. Trying to keep up with every concert, outfit purchase or travel destination will only lead to financial burnout. Being in debt is not worth the FOMO.

2. If the book you’re reading is still shit after 50 pages, stop reading it. Life’s too short to read terrible books. Your growing TBR list will thank you.

3. Get a mattress topper, it will change your life. As a twenty-something year old, you cannot afford a quality mattress without maxing out your AfterPay. So in the mean time, pop into your local department store and get yourself a mattress topper. Trust me, it’ll make any mattress sleepable.

4. Make it a habit that whenever you walk away from a table/bench/counter in a public setting, always do one look over your shoulder to make sure you got everything. I’m talking the checkout counter, the public bathroom sink, the food court table - as an anxious ADHD girly that gets easily distracted, this habit has been a lifesaver for me and my precious belongings (aka my phone).

5. Wired bras suck. Your busty balloons deserve to be comfortable, not shackled with wire. There are so many brands out there that make beautiful, comfortable wire-free bras.

6. Rest is productive. As someone that tends to feel guilty whenever I’m having a rest day, I remember how refreshed and energized I feel after having a good rest.

7. Never keep your keys on the front table at your house/apartment.

8. Find a few meals you like and learn how to cook them. They don’t have to be perfect, they don’t have to be restaurant quality, just make what you like to eat and eat it.

9. Stop faking orgasms for men. They don’t deserve your A+ acting performance.

10. Find a way to move your body that suits your lifestyle and accessibility needs. If you hate the gym, don’t go to the gym. There are so many unique ways to move your body - aqua aerobics, online dance classes, using Pokémon GO on your walks, rollerskating, standup paddle-boarding, skipping - get creative with it, have fun with it.

11. Get into the habit of locking your car door as soon as you get in the car. When driving with others, get them to do the same. I still remember the fear I felt waiting in a Chemist Warehouse carpark as a man tried to get in the car while my partner was in the chemist. I’ve never been more thankful of the locked car door.

12. Stop dressing for men. There’s more important things in life than the approval of men and whether they deem you ‘fuckable.’ There is no greater feeling than finding your own style that isn’t dependent on the male gaze.

13. Cull your news feed. Why follow social media accounts that make you feel bad about yourself?

14. When dealing with trolls, critics and annoying people in general, consider this - ‘if you wouldn’t take this person’s advice why would should you listen to their criticism of you?’ - a beautiful friend of mine taught me that.

15. Reclaim the hobbies you abandoned as a kid because weren’t ‘good at them.’ Let yourself do something badly, stop gatekeeping your own joy.

    

16. It doesn’t matter what sunscreen you buy, just as long as you use it.

17. Your weight doesn’t define you. The number that appears on your scale holds no moral value.

18. Reread your favourite books. Even rereading them in different formats from physical to audio and vice versa is a beautiful experience.

19. There’s no shame in cutting off toxic people from your life. I haven’t seen my toxic, narcissistic, gambling addict father in 8+ years. At first it was hard erasing him from my life, and I do admittedly have days where I miss the relationship we never had, but most days I couldn’t be happier to no longer have him in my life.

20. If you’ve ever been curious about shaving your head, DO IT! I believe everyone should shave their head at least once in the life. It’s so freeing!

    

21. Making friends as an adult is bloody hard. Back in high school, your friendships were a byproduct of proximity. Once you hit adulthood, making friends and keeping them is like a second job.

22. You don’t need to monetize everything. Not everything needs to be a ‘side hustle.’ Your hobbies don’t need to be looked as potential revenue streams. Enjoy your hobbies and let them just be hobbies.

23. Not being interested in politics is a privilege most people can’t afford.

24. People of all sizes need to call on brands to be size inclusive.

25. If you’re someone like me that struggles to do their nightly skincare routine, just do it in bed. Who said you can’t brush your hair and soak your skin with serum while cuddled up in bed watching TikToks?

26. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you learn you know nothing. Intelligence isn’t about how much you know, it’s about knowing how much you don’t. Don’t let arrogance get in the way of your willingness to learn.

27. Stop comparing your success to others’ highlight reel. Stop analyzing others' content with a fine tooth comb and comparing the likes and comments with my own posts.

28. If experiencing writer’s block, just remember - it’s easier to edit shit than nothing at all. Dump all your raw, messy thoughts and ideas onto the page. Make it make sense later.

29. Embrace the cringe. Our constant strive for perfection has made cringe into a lost art. Be weird, be silly, be loud, try something new, be out there - don’t shrink yourself just to make others feel comfortable.

30. All in all, don’t forget how far you’ve come - past you would be so proud of where you are at right now.

Gird your loins, The Devils Wears Prada 2 is officially in cinemas. And to the surprise of absolutely no one, I have thoughts.

The movie itself was fun, nostalgic and even managed to spark genuine conversations about AI, billionaire tech bros and the shifting landscape of journalism. The character arcs for Miranda Priestly, Andy Sachs, Nigel, and Emily felt well-explored. And of course, the fashion was sublime (Simone Ashley’s wardrobe as Miranda’s new assistant, Ashley, was easily the standout).

That said, I admittedly left the cinema feeling slightly unsettled.

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** Spoiler Free Review **

Yesteryear is easily one of the most hyped book of 2026. Even before hitting the shelves, Amazon MGM Studios bought the film rights, with Anne Hathaway set to both produce and star. Having debuted as an instant Sunday Times top-ten bestseller and amassing over 30,000 Goodreads ratings in a matter of weeks, it's no wonder Yesteryear has already become a cultural phenomenon and a certified smash hit.

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** Trigger Warning - Child Sexual Abuse **

The early reviews for ‘Michael’ are in and I couldn’t be happier. The Irish Times said “this long-gestating biopic of Michael Jackson offers two solid hours of cosplay karaoke.” The Guardian described the “frustratingly shallow film” as “cruise-ship entertainment.” The Times (UK) said “the narrative is an aimless Wiki-plod through Jackson’s back catalogue.” Even Double J said the “facts-fudging” biopic had “all the nuance of a TV commercial.”

The critical backlash is honestly well-deserved. The film was always a calculated cash grab by Michael Jackson’s estate - the very people that helped him get away with years of abuse. The last thing they deserve is more money in their pockets.

In 1993 Michael Jackson was accused of sexually abusing 13 year old Jordan Chandler. Thirty children who claimed to be ‘friends’ of Michael Jackson were questioned by police, Brett Barnes. At just 11 years old he publicly stated he had shared a bedroom with Jackson but argued no sexual abuse had taken place. The lawsuit with the Chandler family was eventually settled, and Jackson’s ‘friendships’ with children continued without pushback. Yes I understand the other children denied sexual abuse, but why was it okay for a grown man to be friends with young children? Even to share share a bed with them, how was that okay?

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The upcoming biopic ‘Michael’ originally referenced Chandler’s allegations. According to Variety, the original movie started in 1993 with police raiding Michael Jackson‘s Neverland Ranch. However the footage was later scrapped after the Jackson estate realised there was a clause in Jordan Chandler’s settlement that forbade the depiction or mention of him in any movie. The Jackson estate paid around $21 million in reshoots. The movie now ended in the late 1980s and convienantly only focused on his musical legacy rather than his controversies.

While removing Chandler’s allegations makes sense from a legal standpoint, it doesn't excuse the total erasure Jackson’s disturbing behavior with children. The film could’ve done something really important here and examined the systemic failures that allowed Jackson to evade accountability. By ignoring the reality of those ‘child sleepovers’ and glossing over the reality of his behavior, this film is nothing but a fantasy.

If all goes well with ‘Michael,’ there’s a high chance we’re going to get a sequel. If the same director is involved, I fear Jackson’s image will remain polished yet untruthful. Director Antoine Fuqua does not believe the victims. As per The New Yorker, “Fuqua is not convinced that Jackson did what he is accused of doing, despite the number of accusers (five) and the fact that Jackson publicly talked about sharing his bed with boys.” Furqua remains “skeptical of some of the accusers’ parents” and claims “sometimes people do some nasty things for some money.”

This is the same man that secured the rights to produce ‘Michael’ only several months after the release of Leaving Neverland, a documentary that details two new child sexual assault allegations against Michael Jackson. He said he “envisioned a film that might have read as a provocative defense of its subject.”

How can we trust a director to fairly portray Michael Jackson if he doubts the victims? Fuqua’s admitted goal of creating a ‘provocative defense’ of Jackson shows us that this isn’t a search for the truth, but a high-budget campaign to ensure the real Michael Jackson stays buried beneath the hype.

Between the estate’s gatekeeping and a director’s refusal to actually listen to survivors, it’s no surprise that ‘Michael’ has been reduced to a hollow celebration rather than a true exploration of Jackson’s complex life. We would never tolerate a Chris Brown biopic that erased his history of violence, nor would we accept a sanitized tribute to Kevin Spacey, Bill Crosby, R.Kelly or Woody Allen. Why is the standard different here? This film doesn't deserve a sequel. It deserves to be a cautionary tale on how NOT to make a biopic. I don't just want to see it fail; I want to see this movie flop harder than Cats. Let this be the cinematic disaster it deserves to be.

After four years of waiting, Euphoria is back… and I’ve never been more disappointed, disgusted and distraught. This was once a celebrated TV show that highlighted the complexities of female friendships, substance abuse and trauma. Its early seasons were a masterclass in visual storytelling, that somehow managed to feel both hallucinogenic and brutally raw. Now it’s the show that got Zendaya to shit in a colander.

Let me explain. Here’s a quick rundown on episode one:

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Considering I’m turning 30 in a matter of weeks, lately I’ve been looking back at my twenties. For me, this past decade has definitely been a time of learning, growing, and most of all, making lots and lots of mistakes. This includes joining a fitness influencer cult.

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It’s no secret: I hate men. Not all men, of course. However, as I grow older, more of them just continue to piss me off. The Manosphere. Men in the Epstein files. World leaders casually flirting with the idea of starting WWIII. My toxic father. #DadTok. Incels. The list goes on, and my efforts in not hating ‘all’ men admittedly becomes a struggle.

One man I don’t hate is my fiancé, Dan. What might come as a surprise to some is that he probably hates men just as much as I do - some days, even more. So when I say things like, ‘ughhh, I hate your gender,’ he knowingly nods and says, ‘I know.’

Dan is the best partner I could ever ask for. Thanks to him, I know I am worth more and deserve more. He is one of the kindest, funniest, and most understanding people I’ve ever met. Not once has he tried to silence my staunch feminist beliefs or dismiss my experience as a woman.

A viral Threads post made me realize I wasn’t the only man-hating woman lucky enough to be dating a man that understands and accepts their ‘man-hating’ ways. Thousands of commenters shared their own love stories. And it’s safe to say: not only do ‘man-haters’ and their partners make the best couples, but they also make the HOTTEST couples.

So I asked my followers over at Kaleidoscope News to share their own stories, and their responses led me to this important piece of advice for everyone in the dating world: embrace the man hatred. Don’t hide away your fears, frustrations and anger towards men. Many of us are feeling it right now. The right will understand your hatred for men. Date a guy who detests privileged straight white men almost as much as you do. They exist, trust me. Don't settle for less.

“My man loves and adores my strong confidence and my conviction to fight the patriarchy, as a proud feminist himself he would be the first person to say that "men aren't shit" and he works everyday to remind me that he's worthy of my time and energy just by his continue care, compassion, and respect.” - Megan

“My white husband bitches about toxic white men more than me these days.
We have a son and he is determined to raise him right. He got a copy of ‘Our Family Pledge’ by Emmaline CS for him. He cooks my cultural food for me cause I don’t like cooking. He brings me coffee and toast every morning and has learnt dozens of strategies to support my ADHD challenges. He has mostly queer, female and or neurodivergent friends. He is actively trying to take on more of the mental load.” - Ria

“This is Jon. He was born is the 80’s raised by two women. Now, we are raising our own little man hater.” - Sarah

“He understands me better than anyone else. He recognises when I’m paralysed by indecision but always backs me when I’m taking a risk in life. He’s caring, and focuses on ensuring no matter how busy we get, we always tend to our romantic core including starting a joint love journal for us to reflect the small things we do for each other which we fill out on our weekly date nights.” - Geo

“Hes incredibly supportive by smashing gender roles, respects my boundaries, sees me as an equal in literally everything that we do (whether it’s hard decision making or day to day things) and loves me enough to make sure my happiness and success are supported/uplifted. It’s a bit long sorry but I love him, he’s amazing. I could go on and on.” - Vicky

“Married for 10 years! Has never made a misogynistic ‘joke’ and backs me up when I call out someone who does Him & his best mates tell each other that they love them with no hesitation or shame.” - Erin

“This is my partner, he fully supports and joins in my man hating ways by also equally hating on men, actively educating ( and identifying) as an intersectional feminist and listening to me vent about men. He also goes with me and enjoys + finds value in attending feminist events/ spaces!!” - Ameya

“This is me (man hater) and my husband. He supports my man hating 100%. Mostly by listening to me bitch about the patriarchy and not pretending to understand women’s challenges or defend men’s privilege. He blindly defends his mother, which while infuriating - I respect it.” - Alisha

“My man literally holds my bag and cheers me on while I call out men for their shitty behavior in public. He knows when to step in if needed, but that level of support is everything to me.” - Seraiya

“This is us xxx literally hate every man but him. He gets it because he knows men are shits!” - Sophia

Let me tell you - I was not expecting to have this items on my weekly anti-rec list. I had high hopes for them all. Oh how I was such a silly fool?!?

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There appears to be a theme for this week’s anti-recommendations - CRINGE. Everything I watched and read this week was cringey. Some even made me want to physically recoil. Whether it was cheesy dialogue or baffling character choices, the 'ick' factor was at an all-time high this week. So if you’re wanting to avoid second-hand embarrassment in your entertainment of choice this week, look no further than my weekly anti-recommendations list.

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Twelve years ago, Today show host Karl Stefanovic made international headlines after wearing the same blue suit on TV for an entire year. The stunt was in response to the ongoing criticism his co-host Lisa Wilkinson experienced, and was a form of protest against the sexist double standards women face. He was labelled a ‘feminist’ and praised for willingness to speak out against sexism.

Now Channel Nine’s ‘golden boy’ appears to have turned over a new leaf by proudly stepping into the world of anti-wokeness.

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Growing up my intelligence was often mocked. I was the ditzy one in the group. I was the ‘easy joke’ if someone needed a quick laugh. I’ll admit I even leant into the trope myself just to feel included. But that fleeting sense of belonging was never worth that hollow feeling of knowing no one took me seriously because I was the 'dumb blonde.'

I remain self-conscious about the way I articulate my thoughts. I know I often don’t come across very smart to others.

• I speak slowly to avoid using ‘like’ and ‘um’ too much.

• When writing I often leave out words as I often type faster than I think.

• I have an awful memory so back in school and uni I was terrible with exams.

• I often stumble with my wording if I feel pressured to look at people when I’m talking to them (which sadly is often in this neurotypical world).

• And I struggle to remember even the simplest of metaphors as I grew up in a household where slang terms were never used as my autistic brother took everything so literally.

Recently learning I have Autism and ADHD has helped explain the gap between my brain and my words, but the wound of feeling misunderstood hasn’t quite faded.

@attemptedsocfor the record i also get annoyed at ppl who call everything performative 😭 whole thing is just a mess #videoessay #performative #substack #audhd #medialiteracy

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So as someone that’s always been wary of their intelligence and inability to articulate their thoughts, the rise of intellectual elitism on social media has honestly been exhausting. Pretentiousness has been rebranded as 'discourse.' And talking down to people for not understanding academic jargon has been normalised. It’s one thing to call out people for posting problematic stuff online, it’s another to pick apart every single thing a person says just so you can flex your own IQ.

I’m going to be blunt here. You don’t know everything. Speaking ‘smart’ for the sake of it is just pretentious. Refusing to listen to others’ lived experiences is ignorant. And constantly tearing people down just to feel superior? That just makes you an asshole.

@jenesaisjjIntellectual elitism isn’t actually cool #learnwjj #learning #elitism #smart #dumb

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So the next time you feel the urge to leave an essay on someone’s post, ask yourself this - how necessary is my comment really? Am I informing someone their post is culturally insensitive? Is what I’m saying actually helpful to the conversation? Will others benefit from hearing what I have to say? Or am I writing this comment just to benefit myself and my need to feel smarter than everyone else?

This isn’t me asking people to make themselves smaller. I just want people to understand that not everyone has the privilege to expand their knowledge and grapple academic jargon. Many of us struggle articulating ourselves and only have a basic vocabulary. If you’re using language as a barrier instead of a tool for connection, you’re not 'educating' anyone - you’re just stroking your own ego at the expense of others.

Just remember, we all still have something to learn. The wisest of them all are those that know they don’t know everything and always have more to learn. As Socrates once said (according to a Tumblr post), “smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.”

I’m branching out my friends. Normally, I limit my grievances to the entertainment world and simply dissect uninspired reboots and lacklustre novels. But I realise now that my capacity for disappointment is far too vast to be contained by a screen. So why restrict myself? It’s time to broaden my horizons and find the 'cinematic disasters' hiding in my everyday life. It’s time to expand the hatred and continue this journey of being openly unimpressed.

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**Trigger Warning - Sexual Abuse and Gun Violence*

As a millennial woman, growing up I lived and breathed ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ Once my parents got AUSSTAR, I would spend every waking second perusing through Fox8. It had the best shows - ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Pretty Little Liars,’ ‘Vampire Diaries,’ ‘Gossip Girl’ and of course, ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ While the show brought me immense joy as a kid all the way up into my teen years, it did however coincide with my disordered eating days. It’s no surprise a show that shamed fatness and celebrated extreme thinness influenced my body dysmorphia.

Considering my toxic love/hatred for the show, I leapt at the opportunity to watch Netflix’s ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.’ Despite the online rumours, the three part docuseries wasn’t produced by Tyra Banks herself (thankfully). It was created by Everwonder Studio and Wise Child Studios - both have zero connections to Ms Banks. While this particular docuseries did cover many controversies, three episodes just wasn’t enough, that barely covered the surface.

Ken Mok Said Having Models “Throw Up” On TV Was Always The “Best News”

As someone that binged watched almost every season of ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ I wasn’t surprised to see the docuseries talk about contestants getting sick while filming. However after seeing a compilation of clips of girls getting sick, fainting, and even needing medics, as a teen it never occurred to me just how bad it was on set.

“The girls were awarded and applauded for putting their health on the back burner,” said journalist Zakiya Gibbons, “a girl inevitably gets very sick and the show just milks it for TV drama, the cameras were always rolling, the models are very unfed and they’re overworked.”

Executive producer Ken Mok reiterated this notion during an old interview with ‘The Inner View’ show, telling the interviewer he was glad to see the contestants “throw up” and “need IVs.” He said it was always the “best news.”

The Cheating Scandal From Cycle 2 Was Much Darker Than We Were Led To Believe

In Cycle 2, then-19 year old contestant Shandi Sullivan became a national news story after the show framed her sexual assault as a cheating scandal. They even dubbed the episode, ‘The Girl Who Cheated.’

“I just remember little bits and pieces,” said Sullivan, “I was blacked out for a lot of it, I didn’t even feel sex happening, I just knew it was happening…. even thinking about it now makes me want to cry, and I mean, it’s twenty years later.”

The devastating ordeal continued for Sullivan long after the assault. She was filmed sobbing to her boyfriend on the phone. She was filmed asking the man that raped her if he “used protection” and had any STDs. The following day Tyra Banks schooled her about the pain of being cheated on. Years later Banks even brought Sullivan onto her talk show for an ANTM reunion and showed her the assault footage.

“I literally told [her] behind the scenes I don’t want to see it, don’t show it,” said Sullivan, “[she] didn’t respect that at all.”

In the docuseries, executive producer Tyra Banks showed zero responsibility for what happened to Sullivan and claimed the production side of things was “not her territory.”

“I’m not the head of story that’s Ken Mok,” said Banks, “but I did become a master editor, it’s important for people to know that we didn’t put everything on TV.”

Executive producer Ken Mok claimed they “scaled back” the footage showing Sullivan’s sexual assault, but named it “one of the most memorable moments of Top Model.” He said they treated the show like a “documentary” and told the girls the cameras will be covering “the good, the bad, and everything in between.”

The Photoshoots Were Somehow More Problematic And Awful Than We Remember

Like all TV shows, there’s always pressure from the network to not only maintain viewership but continue to grow the show. This type of pressure is something all show creators face. ‘America’s Next Top Model’ executive producers Tyra Banks and Ken Mok saw this as an opportunity to push the limits of their contestants. As shown in the docuseries, contestants faced the strangest photoshoot challenges. They posed with animal carcasses, bejewelled cockroaches, wild pigeons, snakes and spiders. But more often than not, the producers took things too far.

As shown in ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,’ in Cycle 8 contestants had to be crime scene victims.

Contestant Dionne Walters said it was no coincidence she was chosen to be the model shot with gun considering the producers knew about her family’s history to gun violence.

“They knew about it from the application process,” said Walters, “but they still chose to have me do this particular photoshoot.”

Executive producer Ken Mok said he takes full responsibility for the crime scene victims photoshoot, saying “it was a mistake.”

“I look back now and I think it was a celebration of violence,” said Mok, “it was crazy, that one I look back on [and think] you were an idiot.”

And not once, but TWICE, contestants were put in Blackface for a photoshoot.

America’s Next Top Model mentor Jay Manuel said he found the race-swapping shoot “most difficult,” especially considering his parents grew up in South Africa during the apartheid. He even asked to be excused from the shoot but said that was when his role started to show its “limitations.”

Tyra Banks said at the time she didn’t find the photoshoot theme “controversial” and thought it was a great way to show the world Black and Brown people were beautiful.

“Looking at the show now through 20/20 lens, it’s an issue and I 100% understand why,” said Tyra Banks, “you guys were demanding it, the viewers wanted more and more and more, I do feel like I can feel and taste what people want to see.”

Two Contestants Were Forced To Undergo Dental Procedures On The Show

Cycle 6 winner Danielle ‘Dani’ Evans was basically forced to get her front teeth gap closed. She was told she would never get a CoverGirl contract with a gap in her mouth. They even said if she didn’t get the gap closed, she would be risking her spot on the show.

“I played the game and got my gap closed,” said Evans, “it was my life and it was toyed with.”

The docuseries noted the irony in this matter considering that only a few seasons later, another contestant was told to get her front gap teeth surgically widened.

Tyra Banks claimed she’s already apologised to Evan and that at the time she was “between a rock and hard place.”

Joanie Sprague from Cycle 6 had one of the most devastating makeovers. She had multiple teeth removed and several shaved down.

“I was young and kind of just along for the ride but I had to sign a seperate release [form] then and there,” said Sprague, “there were many orthodontic problems that were never fixed, I’ve still got a crazy bite issue, those issues will never be resolved, it was f*cked up.”

Tyra Banks Was The Biggest Hypocrite When It Came To Fat Shaming

As journalist Zakiya Gibbons perfectly put it, Tyra Banks claimed she wanted to challenge “the fashion industry’s ideals around what is beauty” yet on the show she continued to “uphold ideologies and attitudes that oppressed her.”

“Tyra has also been criticised for her body, for her weight, for her body type, being curvy,” said Gibbons in the Reality Check docuseries, “and yet she’s pepetruating this same message onto these women and fat-shaming them.”

Cycle 4 contestant Keenyah Hill was consistently picked apart by Tyra Banks and the judges for having a curvy body. Whenever she was having a meal, the camera would hone in on her eating. Whenever she was wearing little clothing, the camera would zoom in on her belly. It also was no coincidence she was both the ‘gluttony’ model during the Seven Deadly Sins photoshoot, and the ‘elephant’ during the exotic animal shoot.

Cycle 10 winner Whitney Thompson did make history as the first plus size contestant to win America’s Next Top Model, however, she too struggled with the show’s anti-fat bias. Every week during the photoshoots, the stylists and producers failed to have clothes that fit Thompson.

“I would go to set and they would have nothing that would fit me, and they would have to cut open the back and clamp it,” said Thompson, “it just makes you feel like shit to not be the right size. It was just demeaning… they could easily have gotten clothes that were my size.”

Tyra Banks yet again showed zero remorse for the show’s fatphobia, claiming “back then the beauty standards were so narrow, that’s the world that we lived in.”

SPOILER ALERT

I’ve never read ‘Wuthering Heights.’

Before walking into the cinema, I knew nothing about the beloved classic.

From what I gathered with the trailer, it is a love story about two people that wanted to be together but somehow the universe wouldn’t allow it. Well aren’t I a fool - this was nothing of the sorts. ‘Wuthering Heights’ (the film) is about two horny, self-absorbed, stubborn narcissists who are ruthlessly determined to make everyone in their orbit as miserable as they are. It’s no love story, it’s a depressing tragedy about toxic people doing toxic things. I don’t get how this was marketed as ‘the greatest love story of all time?’ That’s like saying ‘The Godfather’ was a feel good comedy about an Italian-American family living in New York.

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Care to hear something funny about the ‘Melania’ documentary?

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We’re back back BACK AGAIN with more anti-recommendations. Sorry I couldn’t be of service last week. My brain was fried, my limbs were jelly and my forehead was pounding like a steel drum. Why was I feeling this way you might ask? I was planning a house party to celebrate Triple J’s Hottest 100 Day (not Invasion Day, eww). And as an adult organising and hosting parties suck. I miss having parties as a kid. I just turned up, opened pressies, ate some cake and passed out after socialising for three hours. Now I got to rally up the crew, save money, clean my house and organise food that’s nice enough to feed people but not so expensive that I can’t afford groceries for two weeks. Ugh! Thank god Hottest 100 is only once a year. I don’t know how people do this for a fun on a regular basis (I’m talking to you Jean)?

Anyway, onto my anti-recommendations for the week.

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Since January 8th, Iran has severed all internet and mobile communications, isolating over 92 million civilians from the outside world.

Amidst this blackout, tens of thousands of citizens have been arrested and between 12,000 and 20,000 people have been killed.

This catastrophic event is the result of decades of systemic oppression, segregation, corruption, unjust sanctions and crimes against humanity.

For decades the people of Iran have continued to protest against the regime, but this year might just be Iran’s biggest and most deadliest wave of protests in the nation’s history.

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The 2025-26 protests stemmed from the country’s economic downfall.

Since the 1979 Revolution, the Iranian rial has lost nearly 20,000 times its value, plummeting to an all-time low in late December.

As the cost of living became insurmountable, shopkeepers in Tehran closed their stores and went on strike.

“Those protests were joined by people from all walks of life,” says Sara* an Iranian woman now living in Australia.

“Men, women, children, the wealthy, the poor, and students—they all joined together, chanting slogans like ‘death to the dictator’ and ‘death to the regime,” she says.

It didn’t take long for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to launch an assault on the Iranian people.

Anyone found on the streets was targeted—arrested or even killed.

Like many other Iranians around the world, Sara* hasn’t been able to contact her loved ones in Iran amidst the internet blackout.

With her dad’s side of the family “living in a big hot spot where all the [anti-regime] protests are,” Sara fears her loved ones may be dead.

“We’ve seen videos of blood on the streets literally a bloodbath in their area,” says Sara, “we don’t know where anyone is, if they’re alive and at this point in time everyone has at least one or two degrees of separation to a murdered innocent civilian.”

According to BBC Persian, citizens are even being forced to pay authorities thousands of dollars in order to collect their loved ones’ bodies.

Sara says they’re also forcing families to sign “forced confessions” that claim their dead loved ones are members of the Basij paramilitary force and were killed by protesters.

Sara emphasises the movement is rejection of the regime in its entirety.

“Iranians want a secular system,” she explains, “they don’t want to be dictated by an extremist form of religion that murders, that silences people, and tortures people.”

Considering the Iranian regime funds terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hammas, she argues freeing Iran is inextricably linked to broader regional stability.

“If you want a Free Palestine you want a Free Iran that is rid of the Islamic regime because then you can disband all of the militia groups that are funded by them,” says Sara, “the removal of the regime and the incorporation of a democratic system in Iran will bring more peace to the Middle East.”

Ultimately, Sara believes that silence is no longer an option, stating that failing to speak out is “anti-humanity.”

As the death toll rises under the cover of the blackout, she stresses that the Iranian people cannot succeed alone.

“I don’t think those who oppose international intervention realise how desperate the people are. They are unarmed and have nothing to defend themselves with. The regime will keep murdering until everyone is suppressed. What the Iranian people are wanting is intervention that will get rid of the regime and then leave the rest to the Iranian people. If you can help topple the regime, the Iranian people will do the rest, they can help create a democratic system.”

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the interviewee.