BBC faces ‘more pressure' following airing of ‘repulsive' Glastonbury festival
'This is hilarious because it's the same playbook that the ABC uses here,' Mr Dean told Sky News host James Macpherson.
'They deny, first of all, there's no problem, then they sort of deflect, then they come up with other excuses.
'That character, that repulsive Bob Vylan … what an insult to the great name of Bob Dylan, that this creep tries to co-opt his name.
'This will put pressure, more pressure on people saying, we've had enough of this, we do not want to be paying our BBC license.'
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Creative Australia apologise after Khaled Sabsabi reinstatement ahead of 2026 Venice Biennale
The head of Australia's arts funding body has backtracked and issued an apology to two artists who were sacked as representatives to the Venice Biennale, before being reinstated in a major backflip. Artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were initially selected as the artistic team to represent the Australian Pavilion at the internationally-renowned 2026 arts festival held in Venice, Italy. But in February the pair were controversially dumped by Creative Australia after questions were raised in parliament about previous artworks by Mr Sabsabi. Following a review released on Thursday that found 'a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities' in the decision-making process the artist and curator were reinstated. Opposition arts spokeswoman Claire Chandler cited the artworks in parliament, and hours later the creative agency had backflipped on the pair's appointment. One of the works showed footage of the September 11 attacks spliced with a clip of George W. Bush saying 'thank you very much'. Another contained depictions of then-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Creative Australia acting chairman Wesley Enoch has since apologised to Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino for the 'hurt and pain that they've gone through in this process'. He acknowledged the 'personal cost' that Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino had paid in this saga. Mr Enoch reiterated the board had gone through a 'very rigorous process' which found reinstating the pair was 'the best option'. One former board member, sculptor Lindy Lee, quit the board at the time in protest of Mr Sabsabi and Dagostino's sacking. She told the ABC because of Mr Sabsabi's background his artwork was misinterpreted as supportive of Nasrallah. Coalition Arts spokesman Julian Leeser has been critical of the decision to reinstate Mr Sabsabi, telling RN Breakfast he thought Creative Australia had made 'the wrong decision' the reinstatement. 'The representative of Australia on the world stage should reflect our values and to reinstate this artist as our representative at the Biennale and to give them taxpayer funds I think flies in the face of those values,' he said. Mr Leeser did not make clear which values he thought Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino did not represent, however he went on to reference the artists' works as having a 'history of presenting terrorist leaders'. He cited declining social cohesion as a reason that 'particularly at this time, this is the wrong person to be representing our country'. Mr Sabsabi has consistently maintained that his works do not promote terrorism – a view that was backed by Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke following the board's about-face. 'The report has shown that these works have not been regarded in any way, as promoting those involved with terrorism – the artist has made the same thing clear. Shock move after Aussie artists sacked 'If anything, the body of evidence says that these works are the exact opposite of something that could be seen to promote terrorism. 'Bearing that in mind, it makes complete sense that Creative Australia have recommissioned Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino. Their decision has my full support.' For their part, the artist-curator pair have accepted their reinstatement and said they will 'recommit ourselves fully to this project'. Originally published as Australia's arts council issues apology, backtracks after sacked artists reinstated as Venice Biennale reps
Perth Now
3 hours ago
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Global celebrities everywhere in iconic Wimbledon photo
Olivia Rodrigo. John Cena. Dave Grohl. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. There was as much star power — or maybe even more? — in the Royal Box at Wimbledon as there was down below on the Centre Court grass on Wednesday. And that was on an afternoon that featured two-time defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz, No. 1-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka, and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain all winning matches at the grass-court grand slam tournament's main stadium to reach the third round. 'It's so special in the Royal Box to have those kind of people in there. It definitely adds a bit of pressure, I guess, if you look up and you kind of recognise (them),' Raducanu said. 'That's why I try and stay with my eyes on the court as much as possible. Only after, you kind of look up and take it all in, if they're still there.' The seats in the Royal Box behind one of the baselines are by invitation only, and there was quite a list of celebrities on hand for Day 3 of competition. 'I was trying not to look today,' Sabalenka said about the collection of boldfaced names, explaining that she might be distracted while competing. 'I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on, I'm going to open the social media (and ask), 'OK, who was there?'' Well, Aryna, here's a rundown: Rodrigo, fresh off headlining at music festival Glastonbury while on tour for her GUTS album, sat next to Cena, the professional wrestler and movie star. Olivia Rodrigo, Tom Daley and John Cena all in one photo. Credit: AAP Rodrigo chatted at one point with former England soccer coach Roy Hodgson, while the current person in that job, Thomas Tuchel, also was in attendance. Grohl, a member of the rock bands Foo Fighters and Nirvana, made an appearance, too, as did the married couple Chopra and Jonas. Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas Credit: AAP Dave Grohl and wife Jordyn enjoying the action. Credit: AAP Hollywood's Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, who also are married, were on the Royal Box list, along with actor Dominic Cooper. Others taking in a day of tennis at the most famous court in the world included British athletes from other sports, such as Olympic gold medalists Sophie Bray (field hockey) and Tom Daley (diving), and Paralympic gold medalist William Ellard (swimming). Oh, and there was actual British royalty there Wednesday: Princess Michael of Kent.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
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Hurry up! Moon man Mr Squiggle lands at National Museum
One of Australia's most beloved television characters, the pencil-nosed blue-haired puppet Mr Squiggle, is being celebrated with an exhibition at the National Museum. Mr Squiggle and Friends was the life's work of multi-talented puppeteer Norman Hetherington and was on television for four decades, with the program's final episode airing on July 9, 1999. As the voice and operator of the Mr Squiggle puppet, he completed more than 10,000 drawings during that time - many of them upside down, and with his friend Blackboard telling him to "Hurry up!". The museum acquired the Norman Hetherington collection in 2024, including more than 800 objects, such as scripts, props and production notes. About 300 of those are going on show at the museum in Canberra and, don't worry, Mr Squiggle's friends Blackboard, Rocket, Bill the Steam Shovel and Gus the Snail will be on display too. Visitors can also try an interactive squiggle drawing exercise, so those who grew up in the post-Squiggle television era can see what drawing one is like. Norman Hetherington's daughter Rebecca presented Mr Squiggle and Friends as "Miss Rebecca" during its final decade. She worked with the museum for years to help curate the collection that showcases her father's life's work. Hearing from the public over the years since the show finished has made her realise the special place Mr Squiggle has in people's hearts. "It was meaningful, and people really treasure it, which is lovely," she said. The first inkling of the television show came from the quick sketches her father would do - upside down - as part of an entertainment act while he was in the army in the 1940s. Later, he joined the ABC TV Training School, with his early puppets Nicky and Noodle appearing on the first night of ABC television on November 5, 1956. Mr Squiggle touched generations of television audiences, said museum deputy director Sophie Jensen. "You should see the level of interest, interaction, warmth, memory, and humour that we get every time we talk about this collection," Dr Jensen said. As part of the exhibition, the National Museum is re-publishing some vintage Mr Squiggle books: Mr Squiggle and the Preposterous Purple Crocodile, and a set of three colouring books. Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington opens on Friday at the National Museum in Canberra and runs until October 13 before touring nationally.
