Footballer, Bachelor star … fantasy writer? The TikTok furore over Luke Bateman's book deal
Julia, a colleague described Luke Bateman's four years with the Raiders as the one of an 'honest toiler, who always played above his weight', and to be frank, it's a fairly apt description for the guy.
The Toowoomba countryman grew up as the typical sports-playing boy. On his now famous TikTok account, he has spoken earnestly about reading books in a toilet cubicle as a child so his peers wouldn't witness his sensitive side.
But that didn't stop him from appearing on The Bachelor's 11th season in 2023 and confessing his love to contestant Ellie Rolfe in the finale (he retired from the Raiders in 2019 after a knee injury).
Contrary tothe show's usual success rate, the pair split up months later. But he quickly found a new love to fill his life: #BookTok. He posted his first video in April, speaking passionately from inside a car about his love of books and struggle to 'share those things' as a male in 'blue collar work'.
He now has more than two dozen videos, 178,000 followers, and has landed a book deal.
Fans are following him for his book reviews, but they're also there for his rugged good looks. In one video, he joked about multiple comments claiming he looked like Shrek after the ogre became a human.
'To begin with, I was like, ah, that's a hard pill to swallow,' he said, donning a large brimmed hat. 'But then I went and Googled … and I was like, they make a good point.'
So tell me, what kind of book is he going to write? A farming manual? A sport biography? A reality TV tell-all?
You'd think so, but guess again. Bateman's first book, expected to be released in early 2027, will be an 'epic fantasy' story about a young boy battling hardships in a magical world. His contract is a two-book deal, so there's more to come.
If you follow his TikTok, this category may not come as a huge surprise. Bateman has filmed several videos about his love of fantasy fiction, including one that runs through his 'GOD TIER' fantasy reads and several dedications to giants Robin Hobb and Garth Nix.
That said, he's also delved into 'smut' books (or 'cliterature', as his followers call it), posting a detailed review of the popular Court of Thorns and Roses series.
I didn't see that one coming. Obviously he has many skills, but has he ever published anything before?
No. But he has written poetry. In one video, posted to TikTok this week, Bateman shared prose he had written while going through a breakup (we've all been there), titled 'When Magic Had a Name'.
Publishing has also been a long-held aspiration for Bateman. When announcing the surprise book-deal on social media, he described it as a 'childhood dream come true'.
'I've wanted to be an author my whole life,' he told his audience, teary with joy. 'I can't wait to write this book.'
How have people responded to the news?
It's fair to say the feedback has been mixed.
Some commenters were quick to congratulate Bateman for his Simon & Schuster deal, but others questioned how he had nabbed the deal.
In response to backlash, the publishers said they had assessed the scope of his series including its 'magic system' and the 'journey of the protagonist' as well as receiving a 10,000 word writing sample, including a synopsis.
Yet the issue has reignited debate about power and privilege in the literary industry, including the weight given to celebrity platforms over more marginalised authors.
The inaugural Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and Inclusion, published in 2022, found less than 1% of Australian publishing professionals were First Nations, 8.5% had an Asian cultural identity and about 5% identified living with a disability – well below population parity.
In Bateman's own words, speaking with the entertainment news website Chattr: 'Obviously, a lot of these conversations are very new to me … I can wholeheartedly understand how angry and resentful these things would make people.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Laura Byrne's husband Matty 'J' Johnson is called a 'loser' as he faces backlash over his comments about getting a vasectomy
The Bachelor star Laura Byrne has leaped to the defence of her husband Matty 'J' Johnson after he copped backlash for refusing to get a vasectomy. The couple have two daughters, Marlie-Mae and Lola Ellis, and are expecting their third. The pregnant reality TV star, 39, revealed on her Life Uncut podcast that Matty, 38, was being called a 'loser' and a pussy' after she asked him to get the snip and he said 'no'. 'A lot of assumptions are being made. Matt plays his part in contraception, happy to wear a condom. I am the one who would prefer he doesn't wear one. I don't want another baby nor do I want to go on contraception,' Laura said. 'If a man is happy to take responsibility for his part in contraception by wearing a condom, let's not jump to calling him a pussy, a loser because he shares reservations around getting the snip,' she said. Despite Laura's defence of Matt, listeners quickly took to social media to criticise him for not undergoing the procedure. 'I think Matt's just given me the ick... sorry Laura. It is the LEAST the man can do,' one person wrote. Laura responded and said people shouldn't be so quick to judge. 'This is a pretty harsh comment. The LEAST a man can do is wear a condom, which Matt is happy to do. He plays his part in contraception, but I'd prefer him to get the snip because I don't like condoms,' she wrote. 'I don't have to convince him, it's an open conversation in our household. In the same way Matt has never forced me into any contraception nor did he force me into having children. 'Jumping straight to shaming someone who isn't on board from the second a vasectomy is suggested. Please don't impose the opinions you hold in your relationship on mine.' In April, Laura revealed she was pregnant with her third child with Matty - and that it would be their last. She announced the exciting news on her podcast. 'It turns out, we're having baby number three!' she declared. Laura then revealed her due date: 'It is a Christmas miracle. 'I found out very early on in this pregnancy, not because I had any symptoms but because my friend made a comment that made me do a pregnancy test,' she explained. Laura explained she took a pregnancy test while Matty was filming I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in South Africa but did not tell him the news until she was two and a half months pregnant. 'I wasn't able to tell Matt for ages. The whole time he was in the jungle, I wasn't able to tell him,' she explained. Matty also made an announcement on his Two Doting Dads podcast, telling listeners: 'We were trying before I went into the jungle. The plan was, we said 2025, if we were going to have a third, this will be the year it happens.' After getting engaged in Fiji in April 2018, Laura and Matty finally tied the knot on the south coast in November 2022, five years after meeting on The Bachelor. They are one of the most successful couples to come out of the show and welcomed their daughter Marlie-Mae in 2019, followed by Lola in February 2021.
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
There's a dangerous type of narcissist you might have never heard of - but she's probably in your life
When most of us picture a narcissist, it's someone who works a room like a pro. The type of person who oozes charm, is dressed to kill, and is very good at making everything about them. Our minds may even pivot to images of slick, self-assured energy of a TV antihero or the big boss who thrives on being the centre of attention. But according to Perth-based dating and relationship expert Louanne Ward, there's another type of narcissist in our midst - and it's far harder to spot. The traits of 'vulnerable' narcissism (also known as covert narcissism), are a far cry from grand gestures, dominating conversations, and public power plays. No, this one hides behind a softer, more 'relatable' mask. 'They might seem shy, socially withdrawn, self-deprecating or even a little insecure,' Louanne told Daily Mail. 'They're the kind of person you'd never imagine could be manipulative. But underneath, the self-focus and hunger for validation is exactly the same as the classic narcissist - 'they just go about getting it differently.' Why women often display the 'quieter' form of narcissism Ward says gender norms play a big role in how narcissism shows up. 'We've been taught that being loud, cocky, or unapologetically self-promoting is unfeminine. So for some women, the drive for attention and approval gets wrapped in humility, sensitivity, or victimhood instead,' she explained. 'It's still about being noticed and valued, just in a package that aligns with what's rewarded in women.' The dating red flags you should never ignore In a partner, however, Louanne warns that vulnerable narcissists can come across as deeply sensitive. They can also trick us by seeming emotionally attuned and even fragile in the early stages of dating - which can make them hard to resist. According to Louanne, some early warning signs include fast-tracked emotional intimacy by sharing deep, vulnerable stories within days of meeting as well as the tell-tale love bombing and sharing endless praise about your soul, your energy, your 'rare' connection. She also listed 'guilt through fragility' which revolves around acting wounded or hurt if you make other plans without them. 'Subtle loyalty tests are also a way of manipulation,' said Louanne. 'They tell tales of past heartbreak and make you promise you'd never do the same.' Other traits include going cold when they don't get their way, feigning sudden 'emergencies' that derail your plans so you'll focus on them, and soft-gaslighting by using terms like: 'that's not how I remember it' or 'you misunderstood me' to make you doubt yourself. How it plays out behind closed doors Once in a relationship, Louanne says the patterns often intensify. Expect scorekeeping, stonewalling, withdrawing affection until you apologise, and rewriting history to make them the victim. Even gentle feedback can result in tearful meltdowns that flip the script and put you in the role of comforter. 'They can also create emotional dependency, convincing you they can't cope without you,' Louanne said. 'It makes you feel guilty or selfish for putting your own needs first.' The manipulation tactics to watch for One of the most common is a term called 'triangulation', which brings a third person into the mix to make you feel insecure or competitive. 'It might be a compliment about an ex, mentioning someone who flirts with them, or comparing you unfavourably to someone else,' Louanne explained. 'The goal is to make you chase their approval. Other tools in the covert narcissist's kit include guilt-tripping, playing the victim to divert attention from your concerns, and the silent treatment to force you to make amends. Why they're so hard to spot, and even harder to leave Louanne says the problem is these relationships don't start out looking toxic. 'They may appear misunderstood, unlucky in love, or just deeply sensitive. You feel needed, and that bond is intense. 'By the time you notice patterns, you've often explained them away.' And because they're often polite, shy or 'nice' in public, friends and family may struggle to believe your side of the story. Can they change? Vulnerable narcissism is often rooted in deep insecurity and shaped by early experiences of feeling unseen or unprotected. 'It's a defence system that says, 'I'll keep you close so you can't hurt me. But I'll still make sure I'm getting my needs met first,' Louanne explained. However she believes change is possible, but it is rare without genuine self-awareness and long-term therapy. 'Narcissistic traits are tied to a fragile sense of self, so feedback can feel like an attack,' she added. If you suspect you're dealing with one, Louanne's advice is clear: track the patterns, set small, firm boundaries, and reality-check your experiences with a trusted friend or therapist. 'It's not about diagnosing them, it's about protecting your emotional space and deciding what's right for you.'
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Wayne Carey reveals all about his lewd new strip club gig - as he makes a saucy joke about what he's expecting at the racy adult venue
Wayne Carey has spoken about his upcoming meet-and-greet appearance at a strip club shortly after the furore over his appearance in a viral 'toilet tryst' video forced him to flee the country. The former North Melbourne star will be holding a 'meet and greet' with patrons at the After Dark Gentlemen's Club in Geelong on Friday night. Described as a 'realm of seduction' on its website, After Dark bills itself as 'Geelong's top adult entertainment venue and strip club', with attendees able to see pole dancing and experience 'intimate controlled touching private dances'. 'It's a legal profession and I'm going to support the jobs of Geelong,' Carey said on the You Cannot Be Serious podcast. 'So I am going down there. 'And last time I went, Sam, I said I'm only going to stay for about eight hours!' Carey went on to say that the venue is 'classy' and that the women who work there are 'highly skilled'. 'This is just another way of creating jobs,' he said. 'Not everyone can be an accountant, Sam.' Later in the conversation, Newman questioned Carey about rapper Snoop Dogg headlining pre-game entertainment at this year's AFL decider. 'I like the fact that we have big acts that put us on the world stage, so I like that Snoop Dogg is coming,' he said. 'It promotes us in other parts of the world, so from that point of view it's great.' Carey outed himself as the footy star who appeared in the viral video that was the talk of Melbourne last month. The footage showed the 54-year-old emerging from the bathroom at the trendy Toorak Cellars bar shortly after Kate Aston, a Melbourne marketing and communications executive, made her exit. A female voice is heard saying 'we've got you on camera' as the woman walks past, before asking 'What's he doing in there?' and remarking, 'She looks embarrassed.' Carey and the woman depicted in the clip have lashed out over the video, with the ex-AFL star using his podcast to brand it 's**t shaming' and cyberbullying, with both parties insisting there was no 'tryst' in the toilets. Carey also said he contacted Victoria Police over the video. 'Being filmed without consent coming out of a public bathroom and then filming a complete stranger within a minute coming out of that public bathroom is NOT OK.. Then the persons who are filming adding their disgusting narrative and posting it on social media ruins lives …Enough,' he wrote on X. Carey - who was nicknamed 'Duck' during his playing days - revealed he has been called 'Toilet Duck' since the scandal broke. He also left Australia to get away from the furore, but refused to specify where he'd jetted off to, saying, 'No one knows where you are, and where I am, who I am. Just a beautiful part of the world, this is.' After Dark manager Jimmy Leschke said Carey is now back in Australia and confirmed he is still due to appear. Asked about Carey's ties to the club, Leschke told News Corp 'he was part of the opening of this place'. The two-time premiership winner remarked about the club opening on his podcast at the time, saying 'strip joints are part of a lot of towns, they employ a lot of people' and explaining he was 'going to poke my head in for about seven hours'. Carey did not hold back in his first barrage over the Toorak Cellars video when he confessed to being the man in the footage. 'Annoyed is the wrong word, I've gone through about 10 different emotions in the last three days,' he said on Sam Newman's You Cannot Be Serious podcast. 'I've gone through disbelief, sadness, I've gone through anger. 'This woman has been thrown into this just because I could kick a footy. 'And you've got two vile, disturbing, probably p**sed women who want to do this to another woman. 'That's all they were doing, they were s**t-shaming another woman. 'If two men had done that they would be raked over hot coals, it would be the biggest story going around. 'But because it's two women doing it to another woman … you don't know what's going on, this other woman has had all sorts of stuff going in her life, I've since found out. 'You talk about vile and disgusting, what they've done and who they have affected by a few sh**s and giggles drinking their chardonnay, sitting up there, doing whatever.
