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Left-wing journalist Mike Carlton has been criticized for his “ignorance” after tweeting his low opinion that body image advocate Taryn Brumfitt was named Australian of the Year 2023.
In a tweet posted after the announcement of Ms Brumfitt as the winner of the Australia Day gong in Canberra on Wednesday night, Mr Carlton made his views of the decision known on his account with almost 194,000 followers.
‘My Australian of the year would be a doctor or nurse working nights in intensive care or the emergency department, dealing with COVID and daily death. Real compassionate work. For very little money. NOT someone who makes money by saying it’s okay to be a little fat. Good night.’
His tweet was seconded by left-wing TV reporter Paul Bongiorno, who tweeted “Certainly” below Carlton’s post.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presents the 2023 Australian of the Year award to body image activist Taryn Brumfitt at the 2023 Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra
In a tweet posted after the announcement of Ms Brumfitt as the winner of the Australia Day jackpot in Canberra on Wednesday night, veteran journalist Mike Carlton made his views of the decision known on his account with nearly 194,000 followers. .
Carlton also tweeted ‘Who? ? ?’ when news of Mrs Brumfitt’s award first broke on Wednesday night
Twitter user Sharna Bremner said Mr Carlton and fellow journalist Paul Bongiorno, who tweeted in support of him, “should be ashamed of their ignorance and s****y comments.”
Carlton also tweeted ‘Who? ? ?’ when news of Mrs Brumfitt’s award first broke on Wednesday night.
But the tweets received a fierce response from women.
Sharna Bremner, founder and director of End Rape on Campus Australia, tweeted in response: “Eating disorders are the third most common illness among young women in Australia and have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders,” she posted.
‘These two should be ashamed of their ignorance and s****y comments.’
Disgusting, ignorant old white men. F*** them,’ another person replied.
“So saddened to see this, it shows how much more education is needed on eating disorders and for men to understand the female experience of being reduced to ornamentation their entire lives,” Sonya Semmens tweeted.
The negative reaction to his tweet prompted Carlton to begin blocking those who challenged his opinion of Brumfitt’s award.
Ms. Brumfitt, 44, activist, writer, director, and public speaker on a decade-long mission to change the way we perceive ourselves.
In her award acceptance speech, Ms Brumfitt said body shaming had become a chronic national problem, with 70 per cent of schoolchildren citing it as their top concern.
He must have blocked about sixty jerks of one kind or another in the last 24 hours. But it’s a sunny day and I have better things to do,’ he posted earlier on Australia Day.
Ms. Bremner also shared a screenshot of Mr. Carlton having blocked her from her account.
Ms Brumfitt, 44, an activist, writer, director and public speaker on a decade-long mission to change the way we perceive ourselves, was crowned our Australian top in a glittering ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday for the night.
The Body Image Movement, which she founded in 2012, teaches people, particularly young women, to love and appreciate their bodies and has brought her to a global audience from her humble hometown of Adelaide.
In her award acceptance speech, Ms Brumfitt said body shaming had become a chronic national problem, with 70 per cent of schoolchildren listing it as their top concern.
“We are facing a pediatric health emergency with skyrocketing rates of suicide, depression, eating disorders, anxiety and steroid use related to body dissatisfaction,” he told the audience.
“We now know that youth with poor body image are 24 times more likely to be depressed and anxious.
‘There is so much despair in this nation for children and adults when it comes to what we think and how we feel about our bodies.
“Australia, the purpose of our life is not to be at war with our body.”