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"Surely this is a prank": Council slammed for ridiculous parking restriction

<p>Melbourne City Council has been slammed online for offering free parking, but only for a measly 15 minutes. </p> <p>The new initiative, which was shared in a video to the City of Melbourne Instagram account, details how parking fees will be waived for drivers needing to run a quick errand in the CBD, as long as they return to their vehicle within 15 minutes.</p> <p>Drivers can park in a “green signed” parking space such as a ‘2P Meter’, and start a 15-minute session on the Easy-Park app to claim the offer.</p> <p>The council said they introduced the initiative for those who want to “run an errand, support a local business and take in city vibes”.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0lApxrt35h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <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 style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0lApxrt35h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by City Of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The initiative, however, has been rinsed online, with many people pointing out that 15 minutes is not enough time to do anything, especially in the CBD.</p> <p>“Surely this is a prank?” one person questioned.</p> <p>“As if you can take in the vibes in 15min. And based where the carpark spots are, you’d barely make it to the shop or restaurant and back in 15,” said another.</p> <p>“15 mins? Such overwhelming generosity,” another commented. </p> <p>“How can you support any business in 15 minutes time? By sprinting to a shop and run back to the car only to find a ticket on the dashboard?,” wrote another person. </p> <p>Despite the negative feedback, City of Melbourne said more than 90,000 people had taken up the free parking offer since it was first introduced in the central city in July. </p> <p>"Drivers are embracing the flexibility of our new free 15-minute parking system, which is opening up the city by giving more drivers access to free parking outside more businesses and services,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said in a statement in November. </p> <p>“Early data shows our parking improvements are working exactly as intended – keeping spaces turning over outside city businesses, while making it easier to find a park.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Travel Trouble

"It's not the time for jokes": Bride humiliated by groom's prank at the altar

<p>A thoughtless groom has been slammed online for "humiliating" his bride with a "cheap" prank as they exchanged vows on their big day. </p> <p>A video of the painful "joke" was captured by a wedding guest and shared to TikTok, where thousands of people have flocked to the comments to condemn the groom's actions. </p> <p>The video shows a happy couple standing on the altar, as the groom is instructed to read his vows to his bride. </p> <p>He explains he has written them on a piece of paper as he reaches inside his jacket, while the bride beams with excitement. </p> <p>However, her face quickly dropped as her groom pulled out a piece of paper with the words "HELP ME!" written, in what he explained was supposed to be a joke. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7282793773845843243&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40overtime%2Fvideo%2F7282793773845843243%3Flang%3Den&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp19-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F0ba0ce284a6049d2afed7b65dd727652_1695657582%3Fx-expires%3D1696723200%26x-signature%3DHqwVuu4WyUrpOMQe8nkeppOHT7E%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>His bride was furious however, as she hit him with her flower bouquet, as the groom said, "I'm only kidding, it's a joke."</p> <p>"It's not funny," she began to respond before the video cut off.</p> <p>The woman who shared the video, a life coach named Shawnda, said she has "no respect" for the "kind of man" who would "humiliate" his bride on her special day to try to "get a cheap laugh".</p> <p>"I have no respect for the kind of man that takes that day, that opportunity, to get themselves a cheap laugh," she said. </p> <p>"It's not the time for jokes. A 'help me' sign like she's holding you hostage? The crowd was dry."</p> <p>"It wasn't even worth it, the juice wasn't even worth the squeeze. You humiliated this woman for what? So the one woman holding the camera could give a little laugh?"</p> <p>The video has been viewed over 800,000 times, with countless people flocking to the comments to slam the groom's callous actions on the couple's big day. </p> <p>One person wrote, "Her face... She was crushed," while another added, "She was so excited to hear those vows too."</p> <p>"The way the bride is genuinely excited to hear what he has to say until she realises," someone else said alongside a crying emoji. </p> <p>"I would've walked out," a fourth comment read, while a fifth added, "Why do these people beg for a girl to go out with them, cry if she tries to leave, propose to her, spend a tons of money on a wedding then do this?"</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

"That was flawless": Sunrise host falls for hilarious April Fools prank

<p dir="ltr"><em>Sunrise </em>host Monique Wright got tricked by co-host Matt Doran’s elaborate April Fools’ Day prank on Saturday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wright was convinced that she had scored an exclusive interview with US President Barack Obama, when in fact she was interviewing an impersonator called Reggie.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mr Obama, what an absolute thrill to have you in the country,” she gushed “Gosh we love you here, and it was fantastic to have you on our programme.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank you so much, safe travels home,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">To make the prank believable, the <em>Sunrise </em>team had intentionally distorted Wright’s screen so that she couldn’t recognise who she was speaking with over Zoom.</p> <p dir="ltr">Doran waited until after the interview to reveal the truth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Just before we let you go, perhaps it might be an opportune time just to let Mon know that we’re actually speaking to Reggie from LA who is the top Obama impersonator in the world,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“G’day Reggie! That was flawless.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Wright was left fuming and blamed her gullibility on bad technology.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Reggie, they’ve actually used a monitor which looks very strange, I can’t see you properly,” she said, to which Doran joked that it wasn’t a valid excuse.</p> <p dir="ltr">She then acknowledged the “extraordinary” acting abilities of the <em>Sunrise</em> team and exclaimed: “I hate you, I was so excited!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I ran down to get changed with two minutes' notice, so I would like to apologise to Chrissy the producer who saw me in my underwear,” she said, revealing how excited she was for the interview.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hate all of you but I mostly hate you!” she jokingly said to Doran.</p> <p dir="ltr">Doran then tried to make her feel better by saying that anyone would’ve fallen for the same prank.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You were given no notice, Reggie was so convincing,” he said, adding that he was terrified of what Wright might do to get him back.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wright then joked that he should be terrified after throwing everyone into a frenzy and getting the “whole building” involved in his elaborate prank.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Watch this space, stay comfortable Matt,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Channel Seven</em></p>

Protest is dangerous, but feminists have a long history of using humour, pranks and stunts to promote their message

<p>Protest was dangerous in feminism’s formative years.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/overview/startsuffragette-/">suffragettes</a> in the United Kingdom initially began by trying to persuade and educate to win women the right to vote. </p> <p>When that didn’t work they became frustrated – and, by 1903, radical.</p> <p>By the 1910s, they adopted militant tactics, with women on hunger strikes being force-fed in prison. </p> <p>It climaxed in 1913 when Emily Wilding Davidson, holding the suffragette flag, stepped in front of the horse of King George V at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qkU_imbFoE">Epsom Derby</a>. </p> <p>Her funeral, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EIFDSb7tWc">reportedly</a> watched by 50,000 people, gave a global profile to the women’s right-to-vote campaign.</p> <p>But while protest was very dangerous for first-wave feminists, subsequent Western activists often adopted pranks.</p> <p>There is an adage that feminists and women aren’t funny. However, the history of activism reveals humour as a successful strategy for change.</p> <p>Here are four great contemporary feminist pranks that demonstrate the power of humour for advocacy.</p> <h2>1. A chain reaction</h2> <p>On March 31 1965, feminist activists Rosalie Bogner and Merle Thornton walked into Brisbane’s Regatta hotel, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-08/curious-brisbane-when-was-the-ban-on-women-drinking-in-public/9518222">chaining themselves</a> to the foot rail of the front bar.</p> <p>They were protesting the exclusion of women from Queensland public bars. </p> <p>The police were called, smashed the padlock, and told them to leave. They refused.</p> <p>After some bemused and sympathetic men gave them glasses of beer, the officer gave up, telling the women to have “a good time” and “don’t drink too much”. </p> <p>They inspired women nationally to do the same. Laws had changed across Australia by the early 1970s. </p> <p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-08/curious-brisbane-when-was-the-ban-on-women-drinking-in-public/9518222">According to</a> historian Kay Saunders, it was the “beginning of second-wave feminism” in Australia.</p> <h2>2. Guerrilla Girls</h2> <p>In 1985, the New York activist group Guerrilla Girls began their quest to counter the art world’s sexism, racism and inequality. They used gorilla masks to remain anonymous and emphasise that the message was paramount, not the activist. </p> <p>Guerrilla Girls famously erected posters and placed stickers protesting the lack of women in art galleries, asking “Do women have to be naked to get into the Met Museum?”</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8uKg7hb2yoo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Humour and statistics enhanced awareness, got people involved, and illuminated issues such as how few women of colour have their work exhibited. </p> <p>Since the Guerrilla Girls began four decades ago, their messages have continued to spread and hold institutions accountable. They have expanded their mission to important causes such as poverty and war, while continuing to change the art world’s attitudes and to merging art and politics. </p> <p>But the gender imbalance in art galleries is still a global issue. This is currently being countered with initiatives such as the National Gallery of Australia’s <a href="https://nga.gov.au/knowmyname/">Know My Name</a> campaign and efforts to write women <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-21/australian-women-artists-national-gallery-of-australia/12890818">back into art history</a>.</p> <h2>3. Switcheroo</h2> <p>In 1993 the Barbie Liberation Organization <a href="https://beautifultrouble.org/">undertook</a> a Christmas prank, swapping the voice boxes of 50 Barbie and G.I. Joe dolls. </p> <p>G.I. Joe now said “I love to shop with you” or “Let’s plan our dream wedding”. Barbie hollered “Dead men tell no lies” or “Attack!”.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cxiDlJ7nfLo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>With an aim to teach children about stereotypes, the <a href="https://beautifultrouble.org/toolbox/tool/barbie-liberation-organization/">spectacle</a>made a huge media splash for the cause.</p> <p>The tactic is known as “shop-dropping”. The activist bought, altered and then dropped the dolls back on the shelves. </p> <p>The organisation arranged for children to comment to the media on gender stereotyping, and the press reported there were hundreds of dolls instead of just 50.</p> <p>Although impact is hard to measure, the prank created unprecedented media attention leading to the visibility of the organisation’s issues based video. It questioned the status quo regarding what girls can do and should think, promoting social change in exposing how toys shape ideology. </p> <p>It revealed the impact of gender stereotypes and their insidious sexism; the way war toys are role models; and the need for playthings to be more inclusive and diverse. </p> <p>Mattel, the company that makes Barbie, did not react, but later released toys indicating it had received the message. These include the <a href="https://creations.mattel.com/collections/barbie-inspiring-women-series#?page=1">Inspiring Women series</a> featuring the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Ella Fitzgerald and Jane Goodall.</p> <h2>4. Sausage fest!</h2> <p>At the 2016 Australian Film Institute’s premier event, the AACTA Awards, protesters from Women in Film and Television NSW blocked the red carpet dressed as sausages and chanting “end the sausage party”. </p> <p>The event was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=562946123902893">livestreamed on Facebook</a> after security gave them access, thinking they were part of the event.</p> <p>The women <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/07/protesters-gatecrash-aacta-awards-red-carpet-chanting-end-the-sausage-party">were protesting</a> for a quota system to improve the number of women working in the film and television industries. </p> <p><a href="https://www.wiftaustralia.org.au/nsw-advocacy">They wanted</a> to highlight a lack of feature film judging transparency, the low proportion of nominations for women, and how few films were directed and driven by female creatives. </p> <p><a href="https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/1ee452a2-3567-4398-86c3-56535f7d9827/screen-australia-proportion-of-women-in-creative-roles-all-formats-2021-2.jpg?ext=.jpg">Only 20%</a> of Australian-funded feature films have a female director. AACTA does not fund films and it is therefore the broader industry that urgently needs to lift female participation.</p> <p>Since the sausage prank, AACTA entry forms also ask about the diversity of the filmmakers, triggering producers to reflect on inclusion in their films.</p> <p>AACTA has also changed its eligibility rules, engaging with Women in Film and Television to expand eligibility beyond just films that received a theatrical release.</p> <p>This reduced barriers to entry; opportunities for women and diverse filmmakers are more frequently in independent or low-budget sectors, which don’t always attain release in commercial cinemas. This change in eligibility was <a href="https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/aacta-feature-film-eligibility-policy-changes-new-online-video-award-announced/">reported</a> as allowing greater inclusion and diversity. </p> <p>Recognition across society has come from a long line of feminist pranksters. But slow progress means there is still a long way to go to achieve equality and equity.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/protest-is-dangerous-but-feminists-have-a-long-history-of-using-humour-pranks-and-stunts-to-promote-their-message-199298" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Caring

Mum slammed for cruel cling wrap ‘prank’

<p><strong><em>Warning: This article contains disturbing content which some readers may find distressing. </em></strong></p> <p>Tiktok influencer Savannah Glembin and her husband have come under fire for their decision to wrap their distressed toddler’s entire torso in cling wrap. </p> <p>In the now deleted video, the couple can be seen taking a concerning approach to discipline with their “stubborn” child. While Enya’s ‘Only Time’ plays in the background, Savannah’s husband Hank is standing behind their son, Gunner, as the toddler perches on a bed, his arms trapped against his sides in layers of cling wrap.</p> <p>“Grumpy toddler all day?” Savannah can be heard asking her audience, while over the video the text “this is the only way” is displayed. </p> <p>The family’s dog appears, before Hank lays Gunner on the bed, facedown, and states that “he’s a worm”. Gunner, then on his back, cries as he rolls to his side, unable to move any further. </p> <p>Although Savannah removed the incident from her feed, many accounts stitched the original video (the TikTok equivalent of a repost with additional commentary) beforehand. One user, known on the app as Aunt Karen, offered a trigger warning at the beginning of hers, stating that “this feels like abuse.”</p> <div class="element-embed clear-both" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: roboto_regular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"> <blockquote id="v13272776541841646" class="tiktok-embed" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 605px; margin: 18px auto; line-height: 1.15; overflow: hidden; text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: proxima-regular, PingFangSC, sans-serif; max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@auntkaren0/video/7207105964476992811" data-video-id="7207105964476992811"><p><iframe style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: initial; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; width: 605px; height: 740px; display: block; visibility: unset; max-height: 740px; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important;" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7207105964476992811?lang=en-GB&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvanouvelles.ca%2F2023%2F03%2F07%2Fune-video-tiktok-seme-lindignation-alors-quun-bambin-est-la-proie-du-jeu-lugubre-de-son-pere" name="__tt_embed__v13272776541841646" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin"></iframe></p></blockquote> </div> <div id="magnite_outstream" class="splitbox-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: roboto_regular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"></div> <div id="fsk_splitbox_992_onscreen" class="fsk_splitbox_992_onscreen" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; color: #333333; font-family: roboto_regular, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"> <div id="fsk_splitbox_992" class=" fsk_splitbox_992" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 603px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; height: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe id="fsk_frame_splitbox" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 602.998px; height: 0px; border-width: initial; border-style: none; margin: 0px;" name="fsk_frame_splitbox" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> <p>"I don't see what's funny here,” Aunt Karen concludes. “I don't understand how putting your toddler in an uncomfortable position is funny and then posting it for views. </p> <p>“Not only did you not just do this for your own entertainment, you thought this was going to be everybody's entertainment. </p> <p>"This is why I don't like family channels like this, because they will go to any length for views."</p> <p>People from all around the world were in agreement, outraged at the treatment of the toddler. </p> <p>The uproar grew so loud that child protective services in the US - where the family reside - got involved, and Savannah was forced to post a tearful ‘apology’ to her account.</p> <p>“I made the biggest mistake of my life posting this video. Genuinely and truly he was laughing and smiling and was out of the plastic in under five minutes,” she said. Many were quick to point out that while Savannah had apologised for posting the content, she hadn’t actually owned up to what they’d done to their son. </p> <p>“Right now, we're dealing with a situation where Gunner has been taken from us until CPR can evaluate our home,” Savannah told followers in another video, “because I posted a video of my husband and son playing."</p> <p>Savannah insisted that her son was not upset, despite his distressed demeanour in the original post. </p> <p>"That video was skewed in a way [and led to] people thinking we were abusing our child,” she said. “But he was laughing and smiling and it was just a funny thing Hank did because Gunner was getting into the stove that day and tried putting a fork in a socket.</p> <p>"Hank playfully wrapped him in cling wrap, he had room to move, he looked like a little cucumber. At no point was he in distress or crying.</p> <p>"We would never hurt our son. He is the best thing that's ever happened to us.”</p> <p>Savannah noted that they hadn’t expected the response their video received, and claimed that they hadn’t realised anyone felt negatively “until yesterday when cops showed up and our door and separated us, his family.”</p> <p>"We made a mistake,” Savannah concluded, “and we don't deserve our child taken away because of it."</p> <p>Gunner has since been returned to the couple, with Savannah captioning yet another TikTok update “home where he belongs”.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

"You have got to be kidding me": Huge prank saved for Ally Langdon's last day

<p>Ally Langdon's last day on the <em>Today Show</em> has been immortalised with a series of hilarious pranks. </p> <p>After two years in the hosting chair, Friday marked Langdon's last day on the Channel Nine breakfast show before moving to her new gig as the host of <em>A Current Affair</em>. </p> <p>True to form, co-host Karl Stefanovic couldn’t resist getting in a number of last digs at the star before her exit.</p> <p>Ally was shocked as she was relentlessly tormented throughout the show, as her colleagues pranked her by having her car towed, clearing out her desk and teasing her about her alleged flatulence.</p> <p>In one brutal stunt, weatherman Tim Davies appeared in the network’s carpark with a towing company hooking Ally’s car up to vacate it’s official Today parking spot.</p> <p>"What? You have got to be kidding me,” Ally exclaimed as her vehicle was pulled away.</p> <p>“We are having an Allison Langdon fire sale – including her car,” Tim joked.</p> <p>“How much does a German junk like this get? Never looked after. A bit like Ally,” he added.</p> <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> <p>“We will shift it on out as she goes off to the bright lights of prime time and we will park it somewhere else. Wherever <em>A Current Affair</em> park.”</p> <p>Later in the show, Tim was filmed from the Channel 9 offices dumping Ally’s photos and belongings in a cardboard box.</p> <p>It was announced on Sunday night that Ally would be leaving <em>Today</em> to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/it-s-daunting-a-current-affair-and-today-show-hosts-finally-confirmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take over the spot</a> vacated by Tracy Grimshaw, who left <em>A Current Affair</em> after 17 years this week.</p> <p><em>60 Minutes</em> reporter Sarah Abo will join the network’s morning show alongside Karl, Alex Cullen, Brooke Boney and Tim Davies on January 16th, as Ally starts her role at <em>A Current Affair</em> on January 30.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Today</em></p>

“No-one is safe”: Nat Barr and Kochie jump out of their skin after spooky prank

<p dir="ltr"><em>Sunrise </em>hosts Nat Barr and David ‘Kohie’ Koch have been the latest victims of some Halloween shenanigans.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a two-part video, a Channel Seven employee can be seen donning a <em>Scream </em>mask before going around scaring people at Brekky Central, including Barr and Koch.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-05518cdc-7fff-3528-3db1-e477a6ea9870"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s Halloween time! Watch me scare the crew,” the caption of the first clip read.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkEf9ZjByde/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <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 style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkEf9ZjByde/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">After frightening two producers, the prankster crept up behind Edwina Bartholemew and Mark Beretta, who were sitting at their desks.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh s**t!” Bartholomew exclaimed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Beretta let out a small scream and wheeled his chair away, shouting, “Far out!” before bursting into laughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">Switching to a <em>Friday the 13th </em>hockey mask and a fake bloody knife, the employee went on to give <em>The Morning Show</em> hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies a fright.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sneaking up behind their chairs, the employee tapped Gillies on the shoulder, prompting her to squeal in terror and throw her papers on the floor when she saw them.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1b249727-7fff-80ef-53c7-8d5f54be4c63"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Could we get some adult diapers to studio one please?” Emdur joked, unaffected by the prank.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/edwina-scary.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Edwina Bartholemew gets the fright of her life during a Channel Seven employee’s Halloween pranks. Images: @sunriseon7 (TikTok)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">In part two of the prank, the employee went back to wearing the <em>Scream </em>mask to frighten Barr and Koch.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No one is safe 🎃🎃,” they captioned the clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">In it, the masked employee can be seen appearing behind the couch Barr and Koch are sitting on while discussing a story about Lindsay Lohan.</p> <p dir="ltr">Koch was the first to spot the figure, shouting in horror while Barr screamed and moved away.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Whoa! Oh f**k!” he shouted. “Oh f**k. Why would you do that? Oh f**k.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d9bba3f2-7fff-a35e-3c9f-12ee12d47bb2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I guess you can’t use that take,” Nat joked to the producers.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkHD89dhwda/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <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 style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkHD89dhwda/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sunrise (@sunriseon7)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In a third clip, shared on the show’s TikTok page, the scarer dons a horrifying green witch mask and enters a lift to terrify even more <em>Sunrise </em>employees.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I may not have a job after this so @MarkBeretta will take over 😂,” they captioned <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sunriseon7/video/7158370910477552897?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7112642336690570754" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the third clip</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first victim, a woman from the wardrobe department waiting to get on the lift, leaps back and lets out a small scream when she sees the masked employee, before laughing and bringing another coworker over to have a look.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m not getting in the lift!” she says, walking quickly away as the lift doors close.</p> <p dir="ltr">The next victim is one of the producers, who screams “Don’t do that!” and slaps the prankster, with a second producer putting her hands in front of herself and wheeling her chair back when she spots the employee.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trio of clips went down a treat with viewers on Instagram and TikTok, with many finding them hilarious and saying they made their day.</p> <p dir="ltr">Koch’s daughter, Georgina, commented: “I cannot stop watching this.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gotta love Halloween,” one viewer wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sorry guys, but that was so funny,” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f14146a1-7fff-df73-53f9-1439e5d94f39"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @sunriseon7 (Instagram)</em></p>

Parachutes and underwater roller coasters: Did you fall for these pranks?

<p dir="ltr">Companies have made a tradition of making bogus, out-of-this-world announcements on April Fools Day - and even days before it they really want to get the jump on people - and travel companies are no exception.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-79aac467-7fff-1897-d967-1c98a3f53d1e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">This year, Destination Gold Coast got in on the festivities with their announcement of the world’s first underwater rollercoaster.</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDestinationGoldCoast%2Fposts%2F5393004644043691&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="757" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">The tourism company revealed that the ride would be 40 metres tall, standing 20 metres above the water at full take, and would take riders on a 1-kilometre underwater journey.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though plenty were fooled by their joke, their posting of the announcement on March 31 saw them become the butt of plenty of other jokes, including some from their competitors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Maybe don’t leave the work experience kid in charge of social media, shame, would have been funny … tomorrow!” Brisbane travel agency Premium Flyer commented on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Someone better look at a calendar … 31 days in March people,” another commenter wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-cf4dfa94-7fff-3727-a11e-8ffefc018818"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/april-fools-day-2022-round-up-here-we-go-again-731149" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Webjet New Zealand</a> announced the launch of a new seating option for passengers involving parachutes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/20220224-WJNZ-BRAND-April-Fools-Day-header-banner-711-x-400.2-002-1.jpg" alt="" width="711" height="400" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Webjet NZ</em></p> <p dir="ltr">But, when you go to the <a href="https://www.webjet.co.nz/travel/outdoor-adventure/skydive-seats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> to find out more, a pop-up appears with the message, “April Fools!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We asked legal and they said we’d have a lawsuit on our hands if we pushed people out of planes,” the pop-up continues.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you’re not too upset with us and are still looking for cheap domestic flights, you can search and compare the best deals online.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-68f4bcc8-7fff-4df5-d8ee-aea4469ad7a8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Webjet NZ / Destination Gold Coast (Facebook) </em></p>

Domestic Travel

Victorian radio duo under fire for “cruel” prank on unsuspecting NSW resident

<p dir="ltr">Victorian radio duo Will and Woody, who were looking to prank Sydneysiders enjoying ‘Freedom Day’ on Monday, came unstuck after their stunt backfired.</p> <p dir="ltr">The duo had posted on social media asking listeners to ‘dob in’ friends in NSW they wanted to prank on Monday, the first day of many COVID-19 restrictions easing in NSW. They explained, “On behalf of a Victorian we are going to stitch up someone in NSW who is enjoying their freedoms”.</p> <p dir="ltr">One such Victorian was Annaleigh, who was feeling “a bit salty” that her NSW-based best friend Mia had dinner plans that evening. She explained that like many other NSW residents, Mia had recently moved her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine forward so she could take advantage of the eased restrictions on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Woody then called an unsuspecting Mia, introducing himself as “Trent Summers from the NSW Health department” and warning that he was “unfortunately not calling with great news”. He informed Mia that a number of people during her booking window had been injected with saline solution instead of the vaccine, but kindly reassured her that it wasn’t harmful, “it just means that you potentially haven’t had the second vaccination”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the only way to confirm would be to perform a blood test, and then, after asking if she had plans that evening, proceeded to suggest she wear a “hazard suit, face shield and gloves” to dinner with her friends. To this, she responded, “Oh, really? Umm, I’d probably just rather not go out.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The host continued, saying, “You’d probably also have to bring your own drinks and food. And you’d probably have to sit by yourself.” At this point, all she managed was a, “Yep,” her voice breaking – at which point Woody revealed it was a “stitch up” and let Mia know her friend was on the line. “What the hell? I’m literally tearing up in the gym. My god,” Mia said. “I was thinking, ‘I’ll have to cancel everything!’ I hate needles! That was so mean.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Listeners were quick to share their thoughts on social media, with one describing it as “not funny at all” and wondering if it was “potentially an offence”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/willandwoody?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@willandwoody</a> calling young woman - as a prank - impersonating <a href="https://twitter.com/NSWHealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NSWHealth</a>, telling woman that her second dose may have been saline, not vaxx, has to get a blood test, wear full PPE and stay away from other people when out in public. Pretty fucked up. She was distressed, crying.</p> — Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanebazzi/status/1447439206888837120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Another user pointed out that<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tga.gov.au/media-release/impersonation-commonwealth-public-officials#:~:text=Impersonating%20Commonwealth%20public%20officials%20is,that%20may%20lead%20to%20prosecution" target="_blank">impersonating Commonwealth public officials</a><span> </span>was certainly an offence under the<span> </span><em>Criminal Code Act 1995</em>, Division 148. A Melbourne man was<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/abdulfatah-awow-faces-extraordinarily-serious-allegations-for-posing-as-a-health-official-for-sex/news-story/5c28e4896baa68a06d8a05616df46f14" target="_blank">charged in August</a><span> </span>for impersonating a health worker and threatening her if she didn’t perform certain sex acts. Per the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2010-127#sec.115" target="_blank">NSW<span> </span><em>Public Health Act 2010</em></a><em>,<span> </span></em>it is an offence to impersonate an authorised officer, as well as under the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/phawa2008222/s184.html" target="_blank"><em>Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/Aaron_OBrien9/status/1447472128702369795" target="_blank">tweeted</a><span> </span>that the stunt “wasn’t remotely funny”, and that there was a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/Schmallky/status/1447507276223299589" target="_blank">time and a place</a><span> </span>for jokes, “and this ain’t it, Chief.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: KIIS FM</em></p>

Legal

Prince William reveals Prince Philip’s favourite prank

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince William has revealed his late grandfather’s favourite prank in a new documentary. According to William, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, had a go-to prank that involved a tube of mustard and a big old mess.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the documentary, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">William describes the prank thusly, “He used to take the lid off and put it in your hands… and then he’d squish your hands together to fire the mustard onto the ceiling. He used to get in a lot of trouble from my grandmother for covering most of the places we had lunch and things with mustard on the ceiling.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">William added, “He enjoyed those jokes, he enjoyed messing around the children and being a grandfather.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne, also remembered Philip’s pranks fondly: “I can’t remember exactly what he says but he ends up slamming your hands together…. It goes all over the ceiling.” Her brother Peter Phillips added: “I actually think the marks are still there.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:372.5px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844288/gettyimages-495106702.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/90327556240d4442ba24fdff0452d882" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The documentary features all four of Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s children, along with their grandchildren. It was filmed before and after Philip’s death on April 9, and was originally planned to mark his 100th birthday on June 10th.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In another clip from the documentary, William revealed that the Queen and Philip “loved” when things went wrong during public appearances. “They’ve lived a life where everything has to go right the whole time and so when things go wrong, they both chuckle an awful lot.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Everyone else gets mortally embarrassed. They love it.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Harry also features in the documentary, making it the first time he has worked on something with his family since stepping back from royal duties in January 2020. “More than anything I miss his sense of humour. But I miss him more for my grandmother because I know how incredibly strong she was with him there. I also know she will be okay without him.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the time of his death, Prince Philip had been married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years, making him the longest-serving royal consort in world history.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Images: Leon Neal-WPA Pool/Getty Images, Phil Walter/Getty Images</em></span></p>

Family & Pets

Russell Crowe remembers hilarious prank Nicole Kidman pulled on Jay Leno

<p><span>Nicole Kidman may have pulled off the greatest television prank of all time – and it’s taken years for anyone to realise.</span></p> <p><span>The Australian Oscar-winning actress known for her class and poise once tricked late night talk show host Jay Leno into using a very crude Aussie slang term countless times on his show, as he had no idea what the word meant.</span></p> <p><span>Many were surprised the term was in Kidman’s vocabulary.</span></p> <p><span>Kidman was left giggling after she had convinced the host that “crack a fat” meant something far more innocent that its true meaning (relating to male arousal).</span></p> <p><span>Leno then casually dropped the phrase every chance he got according to the star’s close friend, Russell Crowe.</span></p> <p><span>Speaking to </span><em>Vanity Fair,</em><span> Crowe recalled the hilarious incident which happened a few years ago.</span></p> <p><span>“She said it (‘crack a fat’) and Jay kept repeating it over and over again, and Nicole realised the hole she’d dug herself into,” Crowe explained.</span></p> <p><span>“Jay kept saying things like, ‘We’ll be right back after this break to crack a fat with Nicole Kidman!’ And that sent Nicole into giggles.”</span></p> <p><span>Crowe and Kidman have been close friends for years, after they met in Sydney many years ago. </span></p> <p><span>Crowe apparently did a “shoey” (the act of drinking an alcoholic beverage out of someone's shoe) at a party that Kidman had thrown.</span></p> <p><span>“It was at a house party that I threw in Darlinghurst with my then-boyfriend,” Kidman, 53, told </span><em>News Corp</em><span> in 2018 of meeting Crowe.</span></p> <p><span>She went on to say their friendship blossomed when they both began working in the US.</span></p> <p><span>“I have an enormous amount of love and affection for him because we have been friends literally our whole life. It’s an admirable thing when you forge your way through, decade after decade.”</span></p>

International Travel

“That was really cruel”: Viewers' fury over 60 Minutes Kyle Sandilands health prank

<p>In an emotionally charged<span> </span>60 Minutes<span> </span>teaser, radio powerhouses Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson were left in tears after Sandilands confessed that he was battling a serious health condition in secret.</p> <p>However, it turned out to be nothing more than a joke by Sandilands himself, which left viewers on Sunday night confused and angry.</p> <p>“There’s a condition that I’ve been diagnosed with and I haven’t spoke to anyone about,” the program teased, with both Sandilands and co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson in tears.</p> <p>“Are you joking?” Jackie asks.</p> <p>“Yeah,” Kyle responds.</p> <p>“Why would you do that? I genuinely,” Henderson says tearily.</p> <p>“You had me. You so had me. No that is emotionally mean. That was really cruel. A**hole.”</p> <p>“No, no. There’s nothing wrong with me,” Sandilands explains.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">It might seem unusual but Kyle’s obsession with his health – or lack of it – has become a regular topic of chatter on the show. But they’re still not sure whether they should be laughing or crying about it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/60Mins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#60Mins</a> <a href="https://t.co/x3nQqd03T1">pic.twitter.com/x3nQqd03T1</a></p> — 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Mins/status/1264513405647372291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The segment left viewers angry, saying that it was “off brand” for<span> </span>60 Minutes<span> </span>to use it in a promotion video all week knowing that they wouldn’t deliver.</p> <p>Derryn Hinch was less than impressed as well by the segment.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/60minutes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#60minutes</a>. Anybody who has ever been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and had to tell loved ones, would not appreciate Kyle Sandiland’s ‘joke’ tonight.</p> — Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) <a href="https://twitter.com/HumanHeadline/status/1264515590686822401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">One thing for <a href="https://twitter.com/kyleandjackieo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kyleandjackieo</a> to pull a prank about a life threatening illness. That’s on brand. Different thing for <a href="https://twitter.com/60Mins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@60Mins</a> to use it in a promo knowing they wouldn’t be delivering. That’s off brand.</p> — Peter Ford (@mrpford) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrpford/status/1264514369620066305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">so that entire Kyle and Jackie O segment was a hoax. How low of 60 Minutes to essentially use them as an Ad to hook viewers in for a "health secret" of Kyle. There was NO SECRET ISSUE. And he joked Jackie into thinking he had a health diagnosis. Appaling.</p> — Emma Hegedüs 🥀 (@EmmaH1123) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmaH1123/status/1264513926420561921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Sandilands did admit on the program that he was a “big beetroot” that was “ready to explode with high blood pressure any second”.</p> <p>He confessed that his blood pressure “was good for the first time in probably fifteen years” and was hopeful “maybe I won’t just die one day without any warning”.</p> <p>The segment continued with a check on the blood pressure machine during the interview, which revealed that the prognosis was high.</p> <p>Stefanovic called it a “grim prognosis”.</p> <p>“That means at any stage I could die. Any … at any time. Day or night,” Sandilands said.</p> <p>“Where’s my doctor? (laughs) He’ll, he’ll die when he sees that.”</p>

News

April Fools pranks amid COVID crisis could face hefty penalties

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>America is in serious trouble as coronavirus continues to ravage the country. The death toll for the country has skyrocketed past China’s official count with 3,500 deaths and counting.</p> <p>US President Donald Trump has urged people to continue to follow social-distancing measures through April to prevent the virus from spreading.</p> <p>"Every one of us has a role to play in winning this war. Every citizen, family and business can make the difference in stopping the virus," the president said, according to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/death-toll-york-state-passes-1000-live-updates-200329234257896.html" target="_blank">Al Jazeera</a></em>.</p> <p>"This is our shared patriotic duty. Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days and this is a very vital 30 days," Trump told reporters at the White House.</p> <p>The US currently has over 159,000 confirmed infections, which is more than any country in the world.</p> <p>Around the world, Italy has reported that the infection rate appears to have levelled off and new cases could start to decline, as 11,591 people have died from the virus already. The total number of infections has surged past 100,000 with a shocking 4,050 new cases reported.</p> <p>Spain is also on lockdown after surpassing China in the number of cases and quickly approaching Italy when it comes to the number of deaths. A record number of 849 people died on Tuesday, which brings the death toll to 8,189 while 85,000 people haves tested positive for the virus.</p> <p>"We say to our community not to keep looking at the figures and what's going on," said Australian expat Mandy Keillor to the<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-01/spains-coronavirus-reality-is-grim-how-did-it-start-there/12103590" target="_blank">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p>"But you can't help it, because you have to be aware of what's happening."</p> <p>Spain have introduced tough new lockdown rules in the country as all non-essential workers are banned from travelling to work. People are only allowed to go outside to get food, visit a chemist or walk a pet as well as carry documentation explaining the outing.</p> <p>Worldwide, the total number of infections since the beginning of the outbreak have reached more than 775,000. Roughly, 160,000 people have recovered globally while nearly 37,000 have died.</p> <p>Worldwide from Thailand to India, countries have told people not to make April Fools’ Day pranks related to coronavirus, with some countries threatening jail time for spreading misinformation.<br />Tech giant Google, which is famous for its annual spoofs, has cancelled the tradition because of the pandemic which has killed about 40,000 people worldwide.<br />Thailand said on Tuesday that April Fools’ Day jokes about the virus could be punished under a law carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison.<br />“It’s against the law to fake having COVID-19 this April Fools’ Day,” the government said on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">People around the world are suffering from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid19</a> outbreak, and that's reason enough why people should be more considerate and not use this as a prank or a joke. <a href="https://t.co/DvF5A1WOv6">pic.twitter.com/DvF5A1WOv6</a></p> — PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) <a href="https://twitter.com/prdthailand/status/1244917499361034240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen took to Facebook to tell people not to prank about the virus. </p> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/tsaiingwen/photos/a.390960786064/10156580820386065/?type=3&theater" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <p>大家都說4/1是愚人節，我想提前介紹 #愚人節好運貓貓，歡迎一起分享喔！　　更重要的是，愚人節這天，忍不住的人可以發揮幽默，但切記...</p> Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tsaiingwen/">蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tsaiingwen/photos/a.390960786064/10156580820386065/?type=3">Tuesday, March 31, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> <p>She introduced her followers to Good Luck Cat, but quickly explained that article 63 of the prevention of infectious diseases act, saying that spreading rumours or false information about epidemics could result in up to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to NT$3 million ($A162,800).</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

Sister’s 30-year prank war gets a helping hand from Virgin Australia

<p>Many siblings find odd ways to pass the time and for grown-up Kiwi sisters Angela and Mari, they’ve passed the time for 30 years with a prank war.</p> <p>However, as the prank war has been going on for a long time, it’s easy for ideas to quickly run out. Angela realised that her sister was going on a flight to Tonga and decided to enlist the help of Virgin Australia for the ultimate sisterly prank.</p> <p>She reached out to the airline via Facebook and they were more than happy to get involved.</p> <p>"We find the stupidest things funny, which is why this game started," Angela told the airline.</p> <p>The prank involves their dad’s 40th birthday present, which is an odd-looking miniature “The Bearded Man” toy.</p> <p>The pranks initially started off small and quickly escalated.</p> <p>"We would hide it, and the other one would find it ... [we] couriered them, posted them, [hid it] under the pillow, planted him in the [car] sun visor."</p> <p>After messaging Virgin Australia, Angela left it up to the crew to decide what happened.</p> <p>The video has a very sweet ending, with both sisters ending up surprised. Watch the video below!</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fvirginaustralia%2Fvideos%2F2589086831178008%2F&show_text=0&width=380" width="380" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>

International Travel

“Just not funny!” Carrie Bickmore erupts after being pranked on radio

<p>Carrie Bickmore was overcome with emotion after she realised she would be interviewing Elton John.</p> <p>But it didn’t take long for her happiness to switch to rage after she discovered that she was the victim of an elaborate prank by her Hit Network radio co-host, Tommy Little.</p> <p>The radio duo was visiting London where Tommy told Carrie he arranged “one last surprise” for her.</p> <p><em>The Project</em> host was told to put on a blindfold and walk into a room where a mystery guest was waiting.</p> <p>As she entered and removed her blindfold, Carrie was shocked to see Elton John sitting in a chair waiting to speak to her.</p> <p>“Oh my god! S***!” she yelped in excitement.</p> <p>But as she fought back tears, she didn’t realise that the man sitting in front of her was actually one of the world’s best Elton John impersonators.</p> <p>The journalist composed herself and began the interview.</p> <p>Then, taking her by surprise, the lookalike serenaded her with a few bars of <em>Candle in the Wind</em>, which left the radio star in tears.</p> <p>Once her session was up, Elton left and Tommy entered the room to ask Carrie what the experience was like.</p> <p>“F***ing emotional,” said Carrie as she wiped her eyes dry.</p> <p>But all hell broke loose once Tommy revealed that she had been pranked.</p> <p>“Hey, there’s someone else we want to introduce you to,” he said, as the fake Elton John walked back into the room. “This is Ray … a world renowned Elton John impersonator.”</p> <p>Feeling humiliated, Carrie screamed out, “F*** you! You are the most horrible people I have ever met! This is just not funny.”</p> <p>Watch the hilarious incident unfold below.</p> <p>[EMBED]</p>

News

“Just not funny!” Carrie Bickmore erupts after being pranked on radio

News

Woman’s hilarious prank war with her father hits new level

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">NZ Herald</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has reported that Christchurch-born actor Bridie Connell has been in an epic prank war with her father.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The prank war started 15 years ago, and it’s all based on who can wish the other a “pinch and a punch for the first of the month” before the other. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Each month, we each try to be the first to say “pinch and a punch, first day of the month, no returns.” You can do this however you like: in person, in a letter, in a song.</p> — Bridie Connell (@BridieKConnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/BridieKConnell/status/1123462898607689729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She documented the story via her Twitter and outlined just how far her father had gone in previous years.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">(My principal was very confused; apparently dad had set up the appointment to talk about my grades).</p> — Bridie Connell (@BridieKConnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/BridieKConnell/status/1123462904488058880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bridie settled into a flight as her family are based in New Zealand and she is based in Melbourne. It just so happened that the flight was on the 1</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">st</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of May and as Bridie was in the air, she was lulled into a false sense of security.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Today is the 1st of May. First of the month!I’m flying home to NZ for my cousin’s birthday. It was an early flight - too early to call dad before I took off. “It’ll have to wait,” I thought as I settled into my seat.</p> — Bridie Connell (@BridieKConnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/BridieKConnell/status/1123462915246444545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was after she had been surprisingly upgraded on her flight that she realised that she had been pranked by her father, again.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/MmQ38DLHyA">pic.twitter.com/MmQ38DLHyA</a></p> — Bridie Connell (@BridieKConnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/BridieKConnell/status/1123462954253455360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It turns out that the upgrade to premium economy was from Air New Zealand themselves as they felt guilty for helping her dad with the prank.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">UPDATE: turns out the upgrade to premium economy was from <a href="https://twitter.com/FlyAirNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FlyAirNZ</a> who felt ever so slightly guilty for helping papa prank me 🙏 I’m blessed</p> — Bridie Connell (@BridieKConnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/BridieKConnell/status/1123552007283924992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 May 2019</a></blockquote>

Travel Trouble

Girl arrested: Confesses to needles in strawberries "prank"

<p>A 12-year-old has reportedly admitted to inserting needles into strawberries in what police believe to be a copycat prank.</p> <p>New South Wales Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Stuart Smith said the child was caught in recent days but refused to release any further details.</p> <p>While the youngster was reported as a male due to Mr Smith addressing the child as a “he” at a press conference, it is now discovered that the police commissioner misspoke.</p> <p>After inserting the needles into the strawberries, the girl then showed her friends at school in the NSW Blue Mountains, reported<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a></em>. One student informed staff and the police were immediately called to the scene. They reportedly interviewed the girl at her home and she eventually confessed.</p> <p>“Obviously, in the last few days we found a young person has admitted to a prank, including putting needles in strawberries,” Mr Smith told reporters in Sydney.</p> <p>Mr Smith said the child would be dealt with under the youth cautioning system.</p> <p>He further went on to say that while some may believe the behaviour could be “called a prank”, he warned that any copycat cases would be dealt with the full extent of the law.</p> <p>“What we’ve seen in the state (of NSW) we believe is the work of copycats and pranksters, we’ve got to deal with it though, the way we deal with any crime,” he said.</p> <p>The event comes as the Attorney-General said there have now been over 100 reported cases of sabotaged fruit across the country, with the scare initially starting in Queensland then spreading to Tasmania and Western Australia.</p> <p>The most recent incident occurred at a primary school in Newcastle today, where a student discovered a needle inside the banana that they packed for lunch.</p> <p>The child, a pupil at St Paul’s Primary School, alerted teachers after biting into the banana and finding the sharp object lodged inside.</p> <p>Detectives were sent to the school to investigate the incident and have removed the banana for further tests.</p> <p>A spokesman for NSW Police said authorities will not comment on individual cases as they had a “duty of care.”</p>

Legal

“Are you serious?”: Richard Wilkins left furious after son's on-air prank

<p>Nothing is stronger than a bond between father and son, but that doesn’t mean the relationship doesn’t have its rocky moments.</p> <p>Take Christian Wilkins, for example, who played a prank on his father – Today show’s entertainment editor Richard Wilkins, making him noticeably furious.</p> <p>As part of <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.kiis1065.com.au/shows/kyle-jackie-o/richard-wilkins-gets-pranked-live-on-air" target="_blank">Kyle And Jackie O</a>’s Only Lying radio segment, the 23-year-old called his dad to tell him that he had gotten a tattoo of a stag on his chest.</p> <p>Angry and confused, Richard was at a loss for words, saying: “I thought we decided that if you ever wanted to do something like that we would discuss it first?”</p> <p>Christian tried his best to reason with his dad, explaining that “it was just in the moment” and that the ink was the size of two palms across his chest while complimenting his boyfriend's arm tattoo.</p> <p>But this only enraged Richard further, saying, “Stop it! Are you serious? Why would you do that?”</p> <p>Keeping up the act, Christian responded: “I’m going to post something on Instagram.”</p> <p>A noticeably outraged Richard responded, “Oh fantastic, tell everybody! Why do you have to post everything on Instagram anyway? … The world doesn’t need to know every single thing." </p> <p>The father of five, clearly disappointed in his son, said he had nothing else left to say and instead, chose to inform Christian of the mirror he was installing in his room.</p> <p>“I’m putting the mirror up in your bedroom, so you can look at it and look at yourself,” Richard said to his son sarcastically.</p> <p>After the prank was recorded, Christian told Kyle and Jackie O’s fill-in host Beau Ryan that he didn’t tell his father that the story was fake, just to keep him “sweating a little bit".</p> <p>Christian has expressed his admiration for his father in the past, saying that he plans to follow in his footsteps.</p> <p>“To be his son and follow in his footsteps, I think, is a huge honour and not something that I’m ashamed of,” he said.</p> <p>Have any of your children ever played a practical joke on you before? Share your story with us in the comments below. </p>

News

Don’t get fooled by this annoying airport prank

<p>Most travellers are familiar with the urgent scan in an airport for an available power outlet, so that you can charge up a dying device before boarding a flight.</p> <p>Now, airport pranksters are preying on traveller’s desperation for battery power with a new trick.</p> <p>The jokesters are placing stickers of fake power outlets at airport gates and then watching with amusement as people unknowingly attempt to plug their charger into a sticker.</p> <p>The stickers look realistic, causing even the savviest to fall victim to the stunt.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Whoever put up this fake sticker of an open outlet at the airport, you are now my enemy for life. <a href="https://t.co/TYEJKmY6Zg">pic.twitter.com/TYEJKmY6Zg</a></p> — Brandon #BeForTheGame (@Atrioc) <a href="https://twitter.com/Atrioc/status/1026327505072869376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Sadly, the prank has gained a lot of traction and has started occurring in airports all over the world.</p> <p>“Whoever put up this fake sticker of an open outlet at the airport, you are now my enemy for life,” one person said on Twitter.</p> <p>The stickers have been placed in various places around the airport, including on garbage bins.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Will the person who’s putting fake outlet stickers all over the airport please die already thanks <a href="https://t.co/zamnWgQMlh">pic.twitter.com/zamnWgQMlh</a></p> — Alish Erman (@alishisthebest) <a href="https://twitter.com/alishisthebest/status/1019787984583847936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>According to <em>The Sun</em>, the pranksters are getting their hands on these fake power point stickers by purchasing them online.</p> <p>Have you seen one of these power outlet stickers while travelling? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Travel Trouble

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April Fools pranks amid COVID crisis could face hefty penalties

Sister’s 30-year prank war gets a helping hand from Virgin Australia

“Just not funny!” Carrie Bickmore erupts after being pranked on radio

“Just not funny!” Carrie Bickmore erupts after being pranked on radio

Woman’s hilarious prank war with her father hits new level

Girl arrested: Confesses to needles in strawberries "prank"

“Are you serious?”: Richard Wilkins left furious after son's on-air prank

Don’t get fooled by this annoying airport prank

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