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"Proud mum": Opinions divided after mum praises teen daughter for punching bully in the face

Bianca Austin, wife of former soccer star Charlie Austin has divided the internet after posting a tweet praising her daughter, Mallayla, for punching a bully in the face. Last week, she tweeted: “After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing, today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face. "Proud mum,” she wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing,today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face👏🏻👏🏻 proud mum👏🏻 — Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635307000992260097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote> The tweet, which now has over 2 million views and 17,000 likes, generated varying responses from those who sympathise to those who believe that hitting back is unacceptable. “Probably deserved!” commented one user. Bianca replied: “I told the school how proud of her I was for standing up for herself when they rang up to tell me Mallayla would be sanctioned for retaliating violently. No child should be able to make school hell for another child day in day out”. “We all have our breaking points and can only be pushed so far. Does she feel better now she’s stood up for herself?” commented another user. “No, but she's hoping the girl will leave her alone now. X,” Bianca tweeted in response. Bianca then posted a follow up tweet expressing her dissatisfaction with the school’s response. “2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools,” she wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools... head high Mallayla🙏🏻 — Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635608089754841088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> “I get that bullying is awful and harmful but when I said that your daughter’s actions would make things worse, you can now see where I was going,” one user wrote in response. “Bullying someone “back” by hitting is also bullying,” the user added. Bianca went straight to the point with her response and asked them what their resolution would be. “School couldn't stop it, it was wrecking her mental health and affecting her GCSE studies. What is the right course of action here?! “Also she didn't "bully" back. Bullying is repeated behaviour,” she wrote, defending her daughter’s actions. Bianca also tweeted that her daughter had no malicious intent and only did it because she wanted to “be left alone to quietly enjoy school”. Image: Twitter

Family & Pets

Elvis actor reveals his shock condition after filming

Elvis star Austin Butler has revealed the toll that portraying the King of Rock and Roll took on him after he spent three years immersing himself in the life of Elvis Presley. In a new interview with <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/gq-hype-austin-butler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GQ</a>, the actor explained that the morning after shooting for the film had officially wrapped, he woke up in “excruciating” pain. “I woke up at four in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital,” he told the publication. Butler had contracted a virus which stimulated appendicitis, leaving him bedridden for a whole week. “My body just started shutting down the day after I finished Elvis,” he said. Along with the preparation and method-acting, the film’s prolonged production certainly wouldn’t have helped Butler’s case. Having been originally cast in 2019, production and filming were delayed when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. According to GQ, producers offered to send Butler home to have a break from production during the early stages of the pandemic, but he chose to stay and continue embedding himself into the role. The 30-year-old ended up turning his entire apartment into a sort of “detective scene”. “Just images of Elvis everywhere, from every time period,” Butler explained. “I think the film would have been very different if we had started shooting at that point, and I’m grateful I had the time to let myself marinate.” Buter also spoke about meeting Priscilla Presley and her and Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie, who were both involved in production. He recalled walking away from a meeting with them with “tears” in his eyes. Both <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/so-filled-with-pride-lisa-marie-presley-shares-thoughts-on-new-elvis-movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lisa Marie</a> and <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/wow-priscilla-presley-s-first-impressions-of-new-elvis-movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Priscilla</a> have shared high praise for Butler and Elvis, which is set to be released in cinemas on June 23. Image: @austinbutler (Instagram)

Movies

Grandma of child left on bus gives health update

Queensland toddler Nevaeh Austin, who was left on a Central Queensland bus for six hours, appears to be defying the 5% chance of survival she was given by doctors – and now her family want answers over the near-fatal incident. The three-year-old was left in the back of a bus on a sweltering day outside her childcare centre in Gracemere. Now breathing on her own, the family want answers. The toddler remains in intensive care in a stable condition at the Queensland Children's Hospital after she was revived on the floor of Le Smileys childcare centre Wednesday afternoon in Gracemere, south of Rockhampton. Her grandmother Ms Parker said she is angry and doesn't understand how it happened, after she was “forgotten” by staff at 9:30am. "You do not expect a phone call saying 'I'm sorry'. That doesn't cut it. It's not good enough. "This is a little girl. She's someone's daughter. She's someone's granddaughter. She's someone's sister. She's someone's best friend. It comes after police revealed Nevaeh was the only child driven on the Central Queensland childcare centre bus before she was left inside for about six hours, she was then found unconscious in 28 degree heat around 3:15pm. Ms Parker says she will fight to ensure this never happens again. "I'll make sure this never happens again. I'll die fighting for it. I will give up my life for my grandchildren. I'll give up my life for my children," she said. The toddler’s mother and father remain at her bedside at a children's hospital in Brisbane, where she was transported by air on Wednesday. Her father, Shane Austin, shared doctors are treating Nevaeh for possible kidney failure and are conducting a deep brain scan. He said his daughter was the loudest and most energetic child and at the heart of her daycare centre but remains gravely ill, adding that the family were deeply distraught. Doctors have confirmed the child is in a stable condition. Detective Inspector Shadlow did not want to speculate as to whether Nevaeh would make a full recovery. "We will leave no stone unturned in relation to the investigations," he said. "We will also have photographic and our scientific, forensic officers attending the scene [on Thursday], just so we can cover every base and get to the bottom of exactly what has happened." The team will also look at who was coming and going from the centre throughout the day. Detective Inspector Shadlow said the staff involved were "cooperating to a degree", but legal advice had been sought. <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, Arial; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, Arial; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">Images: Nine

News

First look at Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic

The first look at Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic has been released, with the first glimpse of the actor set to play the King of Rock and Roll: Elvis Presley. 30-year-old Austin Butler is stepping up as Elvis for the Warner Bros. movie, which hits theatres in June, and is seen in the trailer sporting the singer’s signature slicked back hair and leather jacket. Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, who is heard narrating the three-minute trailer, also stars in the film as his manager Colonel Tom Parker, while Olivia DeJonge stars as Presley’s wife, Priscilla. The film appears to be a love letter to the influential musician, who tragically died at age 42 from a heart attack in 1977. The trailer shows footage of young Elvis as a gospel singer, before being bullied for his unusual hair and dance moves as he tried to break into the music scene. Elvis also follows the singer’s rocket to international fame and the personal struggles he faced as a result of his superstardom. It also details how the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis jolted him back to his humble roots. Elvis is the first movie from Baz Luhrmann since his 2013 smash hit The Great Gatsby, which starred Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Macguire and Joel Edgerton, and made $353 million worldwide. Speaking with <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/upcoming-movies/trailer-drops-for-baz-luhrmanns-elvis-biopic/news-story/ceb47096f377b001b8cb20c75fc70b36" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> last year, Luhrmann said he was excited for audiences to see what Austin Butler can bring to the challenging role. “I can say that we have had to create lots of different worlds, and there was no world we were challenged in creating,” Luhrmann said. “We went to a lot of effort, but it’s all there. “The performances are remarkable. Austin Butler, I think he’s really going to surprise people. And Tom … enough said.” You can check out the trailer for Elvis below. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBDLRvjHVOY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Movies

Absolutely devastated: Man's punishment for 5-year-old turns fatal

A man has been arrested after his attempt to discipline his fiancé’s son took a turn for the worst. The soldier in the US state of Alabama was charged with reckless murder after he allegedly forced his girlfriend’s five-year-old son to get out of a car at night along a road. The young child died when he was struck by a vehicle. Army Sgt Bryan Starr, 35, went on to surrender himself to Russell County sheriffs after he was charged with 5-year-old Austin Birdseye’s death. Starr admitted to investigators that the boy began acting up in the car as they travelled on a highway near their home Sunday night. He went on to punish the boy by pulling his vehicle over into a church parking lot and making the boy stand outside in the rain. The child’s mother was not in the vehicle, he added. Starr lost sight of Austin but knew something was wrong when cars stopped in the middle of the road, as there the little boy had been struck by an oncoming Toyota Avalon. Sheriff Heath Taylor said the road was dark and the driver who struck him is not at fault, in a press conference on Monday. “We have their information and we’ve spoken to them and will speak to them again. But at this point, there’s no indication that they had any chance of not hitting the little guy,” Taylor said,<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/crime/article247505815.html" target="_blank"> as reported by the Ledger-Enquirer</a>. The child died in hospital and Starr was charged with murder because he showed reckless disregard for the child’s safety, police said. An online campaign that was created to raise funds for Austin’s death said the little boy often sang loud “at the top of his lungs” to songs but the sheriff says he still could not understand his would-have been stepfathers’ actions. “What do you say to that? What is your thought process when you tell a five-year-old to get out of the car on a rainy night, because they were being loud in the car?” he said. “It’s just heartbreaking.” The GoFundMe set up to support the family has far eclipsed its $5,000 target. “Austin was always the centre of any impromptu living room dance party, the wonderful little boy who would chat about almost anything and with anyone in the grocery store, was the one who knew all the words to every song,” the page says. “He was always loving and never let any opportunity pass him by to enjoy fun. We are absolutely devastated by Austin’s passing.”

Legal

Who is Austin Butler? The upcoming star cast in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley film

Austin Butler has been cast in a career-making film role as he’s set to play the late Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming film which will have Tom Hanks as Presley’s longtime manager. The film’s timeline will span 20 years, from Presley's rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and the loss of innocence in America”, according to <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/elvis-presley-film-release-date-austin-butler-baz-luhrmann-tom-hanks-king-of-rock-a9037716.html">The Independent</a>. The plan for filming is set to start in early 2020 to accommodate Hanks’ schedule, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2019/film/news/austin-butler-elvis-presley-biopic-2021-release-1203290408/">Variety</a>, which means that there’s a release date of October 1, 2021. Butler, 27, beat out Harry Styles, Miles Teller and Ansel Elgort for the role, but no one knows that much about him. Butler started out on networks such as Nickelodeon and Disney Channel in the early 2000s, but has recently starred alongside Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in the blockbuster Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood. It was directed by Quentin Tarantino. He is currently dating Vanessa Hudgens and has done so since 2011. <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/B0dm9eSB10g/" 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> <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/B0dm9eSB10g/" target="_blank">#onceuponatimeinhollywood Styled by @browne.andrews Photo thanks to @britishgq © David Crotty</a> <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/austinbutler/" target="_blank"> Austin Butler</a> (@austinbutler) on Jul 28, 2019 at 6:47am PDT </div> </blockquote> Butler couldn’t be more thrilled about being cast for the role. “I am just profoundly honoured that Baz has invited me on this journey with him,” Butler told <a href="https://www.etonline.com/austin-butler-says-hes-honored-to-be-playing-elvis-as-he-channels-the-king-on-the-red-carpet-129099">Entertainment Tonight</a>. “It’s an extraordinary privilege. And I just feel so blessed to be working with such singular directors like him and Quentin Tarantino.” <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/Bz8sg24Bw6y/" 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> <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/Bz8sg24Bw6y/" target="_blank">“You have made my life complete, and I love you so”</a> <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/austinbutler/" target="_blank"> Austin Butler</a> (@austinbutler) on Jul 15, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Luhrmann was quick to release a statement about Butler’s casting. “I knew I couldn't make this film if the casting wasn't absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist. “Throughout the casting process, it was an honour for me to encounter such a vast array of talent.”

Music

Baz Luhrmann is making a biopic about Elvis Presley

Baz Luhrmann has decided to create a biopic about musical legend Elvis Presley. Luhrmann is known for his stylised work on Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatbsy. Five actors battled it out to get the top spot of playing Presley, with big names such as Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Miles Teller, Austin Butler and musician slash actor Harry Styles fighting for the part. However, it has recently been announced that the man who will play the King of Rock is Austin Butler. Butler announced the news on his Instagram. <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/Bz8sg24Bw6y/" 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> <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/Bz8sg24Bw6y/" target="_blank">“You have made my life complete, and I love you so”</a> <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/austinbutler/" target="_blank"> Austin Butler</a> (@austinbutler) on Jul 15, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Tom Hanks is already on board the project as Col. Tom Parker, who is the legendary manager who controlled every aspect of Presley’s life. The film is described as focusing on the late entertainer’s rise and fall, with a major aspect of the film focusing on his relationship with Parker. As a manager, Parker helped build Presley’s career from nothing, but was also said to be extremely controlling. It was also said by <a href="https://deadline.com/2019/07/elvis-presley-movie-baz-luhrmann-ansel-elgort-miles-teller-austin-butler-harry-styles-tom-hanks-1202640766/">Deadline</a> that he took half of Presley’s earnings home for himself. Luhrmann has been developing this project with his wife Catherine Martin since finishing on The Great Gatsby in 2013. The pair are set to co-produce the biopic.

Music

Police officers act of kindness goes viral

A police officer has been praised for his act of kindness to a struggling family after he found a young boy walking alone in a busy supermarket car park. Texas cop James Riley had been working in Central West Austin, in the United States when he became aware of a young child by himself outside of a grocery store. The boy told Officer Riley he was there to buy snacks for his younger brother, the Austin Police explained in a lengthy Facebook post. “Concerned for the child's safety, Officer Riley gave him a ride home,” the post read. “Once inside the residence, he found out that the family was going through difficult financial times.” The officer cautioned the young children to not leave their home without an adult, then later returned with a full trolley full of groceries and snacks. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAustinPolice%2Fposts%2F2148457985202639%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="734" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> The items included mostly foods the young kids could snack on without having to use dangerous appliances such as a stove. “Please join us in commending Officer Riley for helping out a family in need,” the Facebook post said. Facebook users took to the comments to praise the policeman. “This officer's actions, both educational and financially helpful, were absolutely amazing,” one person wrote. “I think these kids will remember his kindness and caring for the rest of their lives and will pass that respect on to their friends. Great job Officer Riley!” Another wrote: “His parental instincts kicked in to motion … he’s a great dad and a good officer.” “Not only protecting the young citizens but serving God too. Well done Officer Riley!” another commented.

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