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Sydney Morning Herald
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Michael refused to take no for an answer, and now he's in the running for a Logie
The email from the ABC publicist isn't as helpful as I'd like. 'Michael likes European, Chinese and Japanese,' it read. I'm due to have lunch with Michael Theo, the 31-year-old breakout star of reality series Love on the Spectrum and the ABC comedy Austin. But as he is still living at home ('somewhat begrudgingly') with mum Vanessa and dad Tom, in Wollongong, and doesn't know Sydney well enough to choose a lunch spot, it's up to me to pick. Which is why we end up at New Shanghai on the bottom level of Westfield Sydney. It's not flash dining, but it is delicious (the pan-fried pork buns deserve an award), the staff are always helpful and the Ashfield branch is my go-to spot for all ages and dietary requirements. The only problem? Theo doesn't eat pork, and it's quite noisy – and full-on – this Friday lunchtime. He doesn't want to make a fuss over the noise, but after a couple of goes trying to find a quieter table, we settle in and Theo, who has never had dumplings before, boldly dives in with chicken and celery dumplings and wok fried king prawns with salted egg yolk. I add in the Yangzhou fried rice and the last-meal-worthy string beans with dried shrimp and soy sauce. Neither of us drink, so it's sparkling and still water on the side. 'You can never have too much protein,' he says. 'But apparently my GP said that eggs add to cholesterol. But I find it hard to believe.' Today, Theo is wearing one of his signature brightly patterned shirts. The 31-year-old is as familiar in person as he is on screen, with wonderfully expressive eyes that pop if he's excited or surprised. He's not nervous about sitting down for an interview, either. 'Doesn't bother me in the slightest.' He has spent the past six years navigating his rise as an unlikely celebrity after he first appeared on the 2019 ABC series Love on the Spectrum, which followed young adults on the autism spectrum as they went on dates. Theo became an audience favourite, here and in the US where it streamed on Netflix, with his funny, frank and thoughtful observations, as he happily – and seriously – declared becoming a husband was his No.1 dream. Loading 'I saw it as a golden opportunity to help me find love,' he says. 'Because Wollongong is not really the place to find love. Maybe some people are lucky to meet their partner in their hometown. I wasn't.' What's so good about being a husband? 'I just love the idea of being, of being in a committed relationship and sharing my life with that person until one of us dies.' Theo didn't find love on the show (he has now, though), but he did find a vast audience who were interested in him. This was quite the revelation to Theo, who had always felt invisible. 'I was stunned,' he says about discovering he was a hit. 'Because I just couldn't understand why, I didn't see myself as anything special.' Has that changed? 'I see myself as a special person, but that doesn't make me better than others,' he says. And this girlfriend? 'I have actually been in a committed relationship for nine months,' he says. 'It makes me feel great because it feels great to be loved by a woman who is not your mother.' His girlfriend is nine years older than him and Theo happily admits he 'has a preference for older women'. 'What I'm about to say is purely my opinion and not facts,' he says. 'I have a preference for women in their 30s and 40s because they are generally more intelligent, more mature, more secure in themselves. They're more sure of themselves. They know what they want. Their taste in men is more refined. They're more content to settle down. They're smarter with money, and they don't care about frivolous things.' That sounds about right to me. 'Because I need a woman, not a girl, that can't figure out what she wants.' Theo is a natural comedian – he was non-verbal as a boy, but it was through his love of animation and comedy that he began to communicate – and now he's a natural TV star in the delightful comedy Austin. Theo plays Austin Hogan, a young man with autism who lives in Canberra with his mum Mel (Gia Carides) and granddad Bill (Roy Billing). In season one, Austin discovered his father was British children's author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller). The pair meet while Julian – who has been recently cancelled because he accidentally retweeted a neo-Nazi influencer – is on a book tour with his wife and illustrator Ingrid (Sally Phillips). 'I would say Austin is like me in terms of speaking very formally and having encyclopedic knowledge,' says Theo. Initially, Julian sees Austin could be his saving grace – what better redemption arc than reconnecting with a neurodivergent long-lost son? – but once Austin travels to Julian's home in London, the pair connect and a genuine relationship forms. What makes Austin work – and initially, I really didn't think it would – is the chemistry Theo shares with all the cast (in particular with Carides, whose character is modelled on Theo's actual mum, Vanessa). Importantly, the show doesn't coddle Theo, and the laughs never come from Austin's autism. If anyone is the punchline, it's generally his dad Julian. Loading 'I was not worried about autism being part of the show,' he says. 'It's not about autism. It just happens there's just a character that happens to be on the spectrum.' He thinks people with autism, particularly on screen, are still stereotyped, but that attitudes are 'slowly changing'. He also doesn't think he's been treated differently since becoming a public personality. 'I don't expect special treatment because I'm still just another human being at the end of the day,' he says. 'And also, I have a lot of friends who aren't in the acting world, but that doesn't bother me at all because there's a philosophy that I live by: 'Hold on to your friends.' Because you only discontinue friendships that are no longer worth your time, and if they're worth my time, I keep them.' What makes a good friend then? 'Someone that will make the time for me when they can, someone I get along with and can just enjoy my time with.' One of those good friends now is Carides, who he thinks of as his 'second mum'; he counts a photo of Carides and his mum, Vanessa, together as one of his most treasured possessions. In season two, Austin is about to become a publishing hit with his book Game of Scones: An Autistic Guide to Britain. He falls under the spell of his ambitious agent, and the trappings of his new 'neuro-spicy' fame result in some shouty bad behaviour. This was difficult for Theo, who added script consultant to his job title for season two. 'I didn't want Austin to become unlikeable.' Loading He loved filming away from home, in both Canberra and London, 'for the peace and quiet and privacy'. Doesn't get that at home? 'I get the peace and quiet, but not enough privacy.' Filming in London, where season one of Austin was praised for its portrayal of autism outside 'the usual tired trope of autistic savants', was fun, he says, but he doesn't think he could live there (despite the full-time access to his beloved Stinking Bishops cheese). 'Because everything's so expensive over there. And also the weather's not the best, and the traffic conditions aren't the greatest either.' On Sunday night, Theo will attend the Logie Awards, where he has been nominated for a Silver Logie for best lead actor for season one of Austin. He will wear his signature top hat and is most keen to meet comedian Kitty Flanagan, creator and star of the ABC comedy Fisk. 'She's the reason why I've been watching Utopia and the reason why I've been giving Fisk a second chance,' he says. He didn't like it? 'Well, I didn't like it the first time, the first season, I couldn't get one chuckle out of it, really. But I'm giving it a second chance because I bought the first two seasons on DVD. 'I'm in the same category as Kitty [at the Logies]. And at the AACTA awards earlier this year, I lost an award to her. But I don't consider that an insult because she's the epitome of brilliance, and I have something that I would really want to say to her: 'You have no idea what a privilege, what a pleasure it is, for me to lose an award to you.'' As we prepare to wrap up lunch – it's been a hit and Theo is taking home a container with scant leftovers (we made a good dent in a substantial spread) – I ask him what's next. He does seem unstoppable. Loading He would like to continue acting and work with, among others, Susie Porter, Shane Jacobson, Claudia Karvan and Justine Clarke, and do more voice work for animation. He's also a consultant for Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), for which he has been visiting schools and workplaces. 'I want to inspire these autistic students that they can accomplish their dreams and to also be determined,' he says. What drives him? 'Just my refusal to take no for an answer,' he says. 'Because I noticed years ago that a lot of people weren't taking no for an answer from me, but I took no for an answer from them. So I thought, 'Why should I do that if people aren't going to take it as an answer from me?' 'Sometimes, if you want your goals to happen, sometimes you need to take action yourself, even if others will disapprove.'
The Age
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Michael refused to take no for an answer, and now he's in the running for a Logie
The email from the ABC publicist isn't as helpful as I'd like. 'Michael likes European, Chinese and Japanese,' it read. I'm due to have lunch with Michael Theo, the 31-year-old breakout star of reality series Love on the Spectrum and the ABC comedy Austin. But as he is still living at home ('somewhat begrudgingly') with mum Vanessa and dad Tom, in Wollongong, and doesn't know Sydney well enough to choose a lunch spot, it's up to me to pick. Which is why we end up at New Shanghai on the bottom level of Westfield Sydney. It's not flash dining, but it is delicious (the pan-fried pork buns deserve an award), the staff are always helpful and the Ashfield branch is my go-to spot for all ages and dietary requirements. The only problem? Theo doesn't eat pork, and it's quite noisy – and full-on – this Friday lunchtime. He doesn't want to make a fuss over the noise, but after a couple of goes trying to find a quieter table, we settle in and Theo, who has never had dumplings before, boldly dives in with chicken and celery dumplings and wok fried king prawns with salted egg yolk. I add in the Yangzhou fried rice and the last-meal-worthy string beans with dried shrimp and soy sauce. Neither of us drink, so it's sparkling and still water on the side. 'You can never have too much protein,' he says. 'But apparently my GP said that eggs add to cholesterol. But I find it hard to believe.' Today, Theo is wearing one of his signature brightly patterned shirts. The 31-year-old is as familiar in person as he is on screen, with wonderfully expressive eyes that pop if he's excited or surprised. He's not nervous about sitting down for an interview, either. 'Doesn't bother me in the slightest.' He has spent the past six years navigating his rise as an unlikely celebrity after he first appeared on the 2019 ABC series Love on the Spectrum, which followed young adults on the autism spectrum as they went on dates. Theo became an audience favourite, here and in the US where it streamed on Netflix, with his funny, frank and thoughtful observations, as he happily – and seriously – declared becoming a husband was his No.1 dream. Loading 'I saw it as a golden opportunity to help me find love,' he says. 'Because Wollongong is not really the place to find love. Maybe some people are lucky to meet their partner in their hometown. I wasn't.' What's so good about being a husband? 'I just love the idea of being, of being in a committed relationship and sharing my life with that person until one of us dies.' Theo didn't find love on the show (he has now, though), but he did find a vast audience who were interested in him. This was quite the revelation to Theo, who had always felt invisible. 'I was stunned,' he says about discovering he was a hit. 'Because I just couldn't understand why, I didn't see myself as anything special.' Has that changed? 'I see myself as a special person, but that doesn't make me better than others,' he says. And this girlfriend? 'I have actually been in a committed relationship for nine months,' he says. 'It makes me feel great because it feels great to be loved by a woman who is not your mother.' His girlfriend is nine years older than him and Theo happily admits he 'has a preference for older women'. 'What I'm about to say is purely my opinion and not facts,' he says. 'I have a preference for women in their 30s and 40s because they are generally more intelligent, more mature, more secure in themselves. They're more sure of themselves. They know what they want. Their taste in men is more refined. They're more content to settle down. They're smarter with money, and they don't care about frivolous things.' That sounds about right to me. 'Because I need a woman, not a girl, that can't figure out what she wants.' Theo is a natural comedian – he was non-verbal as a boy, but it was through his love of animation and comedy that he began to communicate – and now he's a natural TV star in the delightful comedy Austin. Theo plays Austin Hogan, a young man with autism who lives in Canberra with his mum Mel (Gia Carides) and granddad Bill (Roy Billing). In season one, Austin discovered his father was British children's author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller). The pair meet while Julian – who has been recently cancelled because he accidentally retweeted a neo-Nazi influencer – is on a book tour with his wife and illustrator Ingrid (Sally Phillips). 'I would say Austin is like me in terms of speaking very formally and having encyclopedic knowledge,' says Theo. Initially, Julian sees Austin could be his saving grace – what better redemption arc than reconnecting with a neurodivergent long-lost son? – but once Austin travels to Julian's home in London, the pair connect and a genuine relationship forms. What makes Austin work – and initially, I really didn't think it would – is the chemistry Theo shares with all the cast (in particular with Carides, whose character is modelled on Theo's actual mum, Vanessa). Importantly, the show doesn't coddle Theo, and the laughs never come from Austin's autism. If anyone is the punchline, it's generally his dad Julian. Loading 'I was not worried about autism being part of the show,' he says. 'It's not about autism. It just happens there's just a character that happens to be on the spectrum.' He thinks people with autism, particularly on screen, are still stereotyped, but that attitudes are 'slowly changing'. He also doesn't think he's been treated differently since becoming a public personality. 'I don't expect special treatment because I'm still just another human being at the end of the day,' he says. 'And also, I have a lot of friends who aren't in the acting world, but that doesn't bother me at all because there's a philosophy that I live by: 'Hold on to your friends.' Because you only discontinue friendships that are no longer worth your time, and if they're worth my time, I keep them.' What makes a good friend then? 'Someone that will make the time for me when they can, someone I get along with and can just enjoy my time with.' One of those good friends now is Carides, who he thinks of as his 'second mum'; he counts a photo of Carides and his mum, Vanessa, together as one of his most treasured possessions. In season two, Austin is about to become a publishing hit with his book Game of Scones: An Autistic Guide to Britain. He falls under the spell of his ambitious agent, and the trappings of his new 'neuro-spicy' fame result in some shouty bad behaviour. This was difficult for Theo, who added script consultant to his job title for season two. 'I didn't want Austin to become unlikeable.' Loading He loved filming away from home, in both Canberra and London, 'for the peace and quiet and privacy'. Doesn't get that at home? 'I get the peace and quiet, but not enough privacy.' Filming in London, where season one of Austin was praised for its portrayal of autism outside 'the usual tired trope of autistic savants', was fun, he says, but he doesn't think he could live there (despite the full-time access to his beloved Stinking Bishops cheese). 'Because everything's so expensive over there. And also the weather's not the best, and the traffic conditions aren't the greatest either.' On Sunday night, Theo will attend the Logie Awards, where he has been nominated for a Silver Logie for best lead actor for season one of Austin. He will wear his signature top hat and is most keen to meet comedian Kitty Flanagan, creator and star of the ABC comedy Fisk. 'She's the reason why I've been watching Utopia and the reason why I've been giving Fisk a second chance,' he says. He didn't like it? 'Well, I didn't like it the first time, the first season, I couldn't get one chuckle out of it, really. But I'm giving it a second chance because I bought the first two seasons on DVD. 'I'm in the same category as Kitty [at the Logies]. And at the AACTA awards earlier this year, I lost an award to her. But I don't consider that an insult because she's the epitome of brilliance, and I have something that I would really want to say to her: 'You have no idea what a privilege, what a pleasure it is, for me to lose an award to you.'' As we prepare to wrap up lunch – it's been a hit and Theo is taking home a container with scant leftovers (we made a good dent in a substantial spread) – I ask him what's next. He does seem unstoppable. Loading He would like to continue acting and work with, among others, Susie Porter, Shane Jacobson, Claudia Karvan and Justine Clarke, and do more voice work for animation. He's also a consultant for Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), for which he has been visiting schools and workplaces. 'I want to inspire these autistic students that they can accomplish their dreams and to also be determined,' he says. What drives him? 'Just my refusal to take no for an answer,' he says. 'Because I noticed years ago that a lot of people weren't taking no for an answer from me, but I took no for an answer from them. So I thought, 'Why should I do that if people aren't going to take it as an answer from me?' 'Sometimes, if you want your goals to happen, sometimes you need to take action yourself, even if others will disapprove.'
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
The Block builds into an Aussie TV success story
This is one of the success stories of Australian television. It launched way back in 2003 when the only option other than the free-to-air channels was Foxtel. Now, even with all the extra digital options those free-to-air stations have on top of the plethora of streaming services, after 20 seasons The Block still manages to grab plenty of eyeballs. It's also spawned a number of adaptations in other countries, though has yet to break into the United States - the home of reality TV. As is always the case, the 21st season includes something different - all five teams are given the same house frames with the same floor plans. And as they're lined up next to each other, the only early advantage is in working out whether to choose one on either end or in the middle. The series also ramps up the product placement, in the form of shopfronts rather than just the usual shots of branded power tools or the free cars they drive. Based on this first episode the stand-out team is going to be Robby and Mat. While they have next to no reno experience, they're undoubtedly pros at entertaining for the camera. Michael Theo has come a long way in just a few years. He caught our attention in the lovely dating series Love on the Spectrum, where he was the standout. He managed to parlay that surprising rise in profile into an acting career, with an appearance in kids' TV series Hardball. What followed was a pretty big deal for any actor, let alone a new one - landing the title role in a TV series. Theo plays Austin Hogan, who lobs up on the doorstep of children's book author Julian Hartswood with news that he is Julian's son. The show was popular enough that the ABC commissioned a second season, which kicks off tonight. Theo clearly doesn't take his good fortune for granted; he more than carries his weight in the series up against some far more established actors. At first glance, this series seemed like it was going to be a whole series made up of those aerial shots that scroll through your smart TV if you leave it on for too long. And it is like that in some respects. A spin-off of a US series that ended in 2019, the cameras take to the sky (though sometimes just metres off the ground) to give us a different look at our country. This first episode focuses on the country's east coast - which it tags the Pacific Coast, despite including shots of the not-very-coastal-at-all city of Canberra. Mark Coles Smith is on hand to provide the narration, which puts some story on the bones of the show so it's not just a series of pretty pictures. This is one of the success stories of Australian television. It launched way back in 2003 when the only option other than the free-to-air channels was Foxtel. Now, even with all the extra digital options those free-to-air stations have on top of the plethora of streaming services, after 20 seasons The Block still manages to grab plenty of eyeballs. It's also spawned a number of adaptations in other countries, though has yet to break into the United States - the home of reality TV. As is always the case, the 21st season includes something different - all five teams are given the same house frames with the same floor plans. And as they're lined up next to each other, the only early advantage is in working out whether to choose one on either end or in the middle. The series also ramps up the product placement, in the form of shopfronts rather than just the usual shots of branded power tools or the free cars they drive. Based on this first episode the stand-out team is going to be Robby and Mat. While they have next to no reno experience, they're undoubtedly pros at entertaining for the camera. Michael Theo has come a long way in just a few years. He caught our attention in the lovely dating series Love on the Spectrum, where he was the standout. He managed to parlay that surprising rise in profile into an acting career, with an appearance in kids' TV series Hardball. What followed was a pretty big deal for any actor, let alone a new one - landing the title role in a TV series. Theo plays Austin Hogan, who lobs up on the doorstep of children's book author Julian Hartswood with news that he is Julian's son. The show was popular enough that the ABC commissioned a second season, which kicks off tonight. Theo clearly doesn't take his good fortune for granted; he more than carries his weight in the series up against some far more established actors. At first glance, this series seemed like it was going to be a whole series made up of those aerial shots that scroll through your smart TV if you leave it on for too long. And it is like that in some respects. A spin-off of a US series that ended in 2019, the cameras take to the sky (though sometimes just metres off the ground) to give us a different look at our country. This first episode focuses on the country's east coast - which it tags the Pacific Coast, despite including shots of the not-very-coastal-at-all city of Canberra. Mark Coles Smith is on hand to provide the narration, which puts some story on the bones of the show so it's not just a series of pretty pictures. This is one of the success stories of Australian television. It launched way back in 2003 when the only option other than the free-to-air channels was Foxtel. Now, even with all the extra digital options those free-to-air stations have on top of the plethora of streaming services, after 20 seasons The Block still manages to grab plenty of eyeballs. It's also spawned a number of adaptations in other countries, though has yet to break into the United States - the home of reality TV. As is always the case, the 21st season includes something different - all five teams are given the same house frames with the same floor plans. And as they're lined up next to each other, the only early advantage is in working out whether to choose one on either end or in the middle. The series also ramps up the product placement, in the form of shopfronts rather than just the usual shots of branded power tools or the free cars they drive. Based on this first episode the stand-out team is going to be Robby and Mat. While they have next to no reno experience, they're undoubtedly pros at entertaining for the camera. Michael Theo has come a long way in just a few years. He caught our attention in the lovely dating series Love on the Spectrum, where he was the standout. He managed to parlay that surprising rise in profile into an acting career, with an appearance in kids' TV series Hardball. What followed was a pretty big deal for any actor, let alone a new one - landing the title role in a TV series. Theo plays Austin Hogan, who lobs up on the doorstep of children's book author Julian Hartswood with news that he is Julian's son. The show was popular enough that the ABC commissioned a second season, which kicks off tonight. Theo clearly doesn't take his good fortune for granted; he more than carries his weight in the series up against some far more established actors. At first glance, this series seemed like it was going to be a whole series made up of those aerial shots that scroll through your smart TV if you leave it on for too long. And it is like that in some respects. A spin-off of a US series that ended in 2019, the cameras take to the sky (though sometimes just metres off the ground) to give us a different look at our country. This first episode focuses on the country's east coast - which it tags the Pacific Coast, despite including shots of the not-very-coastal-at-all city of Canberra. Mark Coles Smith is on hand to provide the narration, which puts some story on the bones of the show so it's not just a series of pretty pictures. This is one of the success stories of Australian television. It launched way back in 2003 when the only option other than the free-to-air channels was Foxtel. Now, even with all the extra digital options those free-to-air stations have on top of the plethora of streaming services, after 20 seasons The Block still manages to grab plenty of eyeballs. It's also spawned a number of adaptations in other countries, though has yet to break into the United States - the home of reality TV. As is always the case, the 21st season includes something different - all five teams are given the same house frames with the same floor plans. And as they're lined up next to each other, the only early advantage is in working out whether to choose one on either end or in the middle. The series also ramps up the product placement, in the form of shopfronts rather than just the usual shots of branded power tools or the free cars they drive. Based on this first episode the stand-out team is going to be Robby and Mat. While they have next to no reno experience, they're undoubtedly pros at entertaining for the camera. Michael Theo has come a long way in just a few years. He caught our attention in the lovely dating series Love on the Spectrum, where he was the standout. He managed to parlay that surprising rise in profile into an acting career, with an appearance in kids' TV series Hardball. What followed was a pretty big deal for any actor, let alone a new one - landing the title role in a TV series. Theo plays Austin Hogan, who lobs up on the doorstep of children's book author Julian Hartswood with news that he is Julian's son. The show was popular enough that the ABC commissioned a second season, which kicks off tonight. Theo clearly doesn't take his good fortune for granted; he more than carries his weight in the series up against some far more established actors. At first glance, this series seemed like it was going to be a whole series made up of those aerial shots that scroll through your smart TV if you leave it on for too long. And it is like that in some respects. A spin-off of a US series that ended in 2019, the cameras take to the sky (though sometimes just metres off the ground) to give us a different look at our country. This first episode focuses on the country's east coast - which it tags the Pacific Coast, despite including shots of the not-very-coastal-at-all city of Canberra. Mark Coles Smith is on hand to provide the narration, which puts some story on the bones of the show so it's not just a series of pretty pictures.
Newsweek
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Woman Planning Wedding—Then Car Crash Erases Her Memory in an Instant
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just hours after slipping into her wedding gown for a final fitting, Kristen, 34, was behind the wheel on a dark winter highway. A spinning car collided with hers, setting in motion a series of events that would erase her memory of one of the most important days of her life. "I remember thinking we missed the car and that everything is fine," Kristen, from Vancouver, Canada, told Newsweek. "But I looked over and the whole right side of my car was busted up and mangled." The crash left her with a traumatic brain injury that was not fully recognized until weeks later, despite clear signs of memory loss and disorientation. Kristen has since been diagnosed with a concussion, stroke, and brain atrophy—and she has no memory of her wedding day that followed the crash. A video posted to Instagram in April by Kristen and her husband Troy (@tandkaythespectrumway) showed her standing in her wedding dress at the fitting, smiling. An overlaid text on the video read: "She doesn't know it yet but after her final wedding dress fitting, a car will spin out on the highway, erasing her wedding day memories in an instant." The clip has since sparked widespread conversation and support among viewers. The couple frequently share content about their experiences as a late-diagnosed couple with ADHD and autism. Their online presence began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown into a platform focused on autism awareness, particularly within relationships. "There just wasn't really a lot out there that talked about that specific dynamic," Troy told Newsweek. Kristen recalled how watching the reality show Love on the Spectrum led to her own diagnosis. "I could totally relate to these people," she said. "And then that's kind of what started the journey of hyperfixating and discovering myself." After moving in together, she was officially diagnosed, and the couple began using their platform to help others understand what it means to be autistic in a neurodiverse partnership. Navigating the Recovery With Autism Following the crash, Kristen's symptoms were immediate, but the medical response was not. "The emergency doctor saw me and didn't take it seriously," she said. "They asked if I hit my head, and I said I didn't remember. "So they didn't check my brain," she added. Kristen was sent home after cursory checks for her neck and stomach. The next day, she went to her bachelorette party—unaware that she was concussed. From left: Troy and Kristen embrace on their wedding day; and Kristen holding her wedding bouquet of flowers. From left: Troy and Kristen embrace on their wedding day; and Kristen holding her wedding bouquet of flowers. @tandkaythespectrumway The wedding and honeymoon went ahead as scheduled, largely due to the cost—a $50,000 investment—and lack of cancellation insurance. "The morning of, there was literally no one setting up the wedding," Kristen said. "I didn't remember to get that going." Her bridal party handled the setup without her, and she got ready alone. "Everything's kind of a blur," Kristen said. "I just knew I was marrying my man that day, and that was it." Kristen's memory of the event remains fragmented. "Our videographer gave us the entire raw footage," she said. "It was the first time seeing it. "I don't remember my wedding, and that's why I post videos—just so I can try to look back on it," Kristen said. The footage, and the outpouring of support it received online, has become an important part of her recovery. "I was unmasked, but it wasn't by choice," Kristen said of how her autism and injury affected her demeanor. "I've never been more myself." The couple credits their unfiltered portrayal for being able to connect with others, especially parents of autistic children. Kristen said she shares videos of her childhood to help parents understand their own kids, and that parents of autistic children that struggle to socialize may find reassurance in seeing her within a loving and fulfilling relationship. "It really helps parents see that it's not that we're disabled, it's that we're different," Kristen said. Despite the love and support online, her road to recovery has been slow and complicated by insurance hurdles. Under British Columbia's no-fault system, Kristen said, pain and suffering are not compensated. "They pay for your treatment, but anything abnormal from standard—like a neuro—they won't cover," she said. "There has to be a point where the patient is believed." Recently, a CT scan revealed Kristen had suffered a stroke, likely as a result of her injury. "I've been gaslit by my medical team for almost a year-and-a-half," she said. She also reported ongoing physical symptoms, including weakness on her left side and persistent speech difficulties. Despite her ongoing symptoms, Kristen's concerns were often minimized or attributed to anxiety. She said this dismissal by medical professionals may be tied to her autism diagnosis. "People think that we feel things more sensitively, so it's taking longer to recover," Kristen said. "They keep trying to prove something else is going on." The couple is also navigating the emotional toll of Kristen's recovery, alongside the medical hurdles. For one, the former business owner can no longer sing—her lifelong passion—due to throat blockages from the accident. Despite this, Kristen continues creating social-media videos as a form of therapy and advocacy. Troy, reflecting on the relationship, said Kristen's acceptance of her autism diagnosis and how she has coped since the car accident have pushed him to be more emotionally open with his own feelings. "You've really challenged me to be more honest and authentic," Troy said. Though the trauma has upended the beginning of their married lives, the couple continues to lean on each other—and their audience—for strength. "Authenticity creates authenticity," Kristen said. "When I'm authentic, it gives permission for other people to feel safe being themselves as well." Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Just Kids' Review: Tender and Informative Doc Examines Impact of Gender-Affirming Care Bans Sweeping the U.S.
Just Kids, Gianna Toboni's commanding documentary, follows a handful of trans children and their families as they navigate a United States increasingly hostile to trans rights and gender-affirming care. The film, which premiered at Tribeca, is an informative and emotionally potent take on a politically salient issue. Toboni spent an early part of her career as a producer for Vice, the documentary series that ran from 2013 until 2021, and elements of Just Kids bear a resemblance to the now sunsetted program. The director's mostly fly-on-the-wall approach to filming these families (cinematography by Daniel Hollis, Love on the Spectrum) lends the doc a gritty realism and an unexpected propulsiveness. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything' Review: Hulu Doc Offers a Solid Overview, but Limited Depth, on the Television Pioneer 'Charliebird,' 'Happy Birthday,' 'Natchez' Top Tribeca Festival Award Winners 'Tow' Review: Rose Byrne's Committed Performance Grounds a Compassionate Portrait of Homelessness But these aesthetic choices never sensationalize the realities of these participants, instead underscoring the harrowing stakes of their experiences. Crucially, Just Kids has a tender core: Its heart lies not in the trauma faced by trans kids trying to get gender-affirming care, but in their resilience and the love that persists in the face of state-sanctioned antagonism. Just Kids opens with an interview with the historian Susan Stryker, one of a handful of talking heads featured in the doc, who offers an overview of the issues facing transgender people in the United States. She talks about the recent waves of gender-affirming care bans and how much information exists about trans people. The issue has become a 'low-hanging fruit' for people hoping to influence elections and drive public policy in a more conservative direction. Conversations with Stryker are stitched alongside those with Kelli Parker, a writer and advocate, to build a sturdy narrative on which the rest of the film relies. They talk about how the advances of the last 20 years — from the election of Barack Obama to the legalization of gay marriage — riled up right-wing groups in the U.S., who declared themselves marginalized as a result of losing these so-called culture wars. They took action in the form of big spending, influencing public officials through elections and think tanks like the Heritage Foundation to take more conservative positions. 'They want the government to reflect them and their ideas,' says Parker of this coalition, 'and so they are passing these laws in an effort to inch this agenda forward.' The results of this aggressive mobilization has been felt in all sectors of American life, particularly when it comes to bodily autonomy. Restrictive policies on abortions go hand-in-hand with hostile policies against trans people. In both cases, the government encroachment is deemed necessary as a way to protect the children. Just Kids asks: Which ones? A central thesis of Toboni's doc concerns how these policies decide which children deserve to exist. It's a heartbreaking point that's underscored by Rae, Alazaiah and Tristan, three trans teenagers trying to survive in conservative parts of the country (South Carolina and Texas). Toboni also interviews their family members, who are supportive of their right to be trans. These parents and siblings are a surprising group, figures subverting expectations of who supports trans rights. Eric, a veteran and second-amendment enthusiast, has a love of country that extends to protecting the rights of his trans son, Rae. Just Kids is filled with scenes of Eric and his wife, Jessica, traveling to different state legislature hearings and testifying against proposed gender-affirming care bans. Zach and Raymond, Alazaiah's brothers, took her in after the death of the 17-year-old's mother so she didn't end up homeless. Together, their testimonies form an inspiring portrait of strength. Toboni complements interviews with these family members with footage of the trans children just living their lives — from Alazaiah excitedly posting to her followers on her TikTok feed and thrifting for new clothes (pink is a requirement) to Rae getting a haircut that makes him feel confident. But the stories also highlight the challenges these families and teens face in accessing state resources and medical care in parts of the country that criminalize their support. For these sections, Toboni talks to Andrea Jenkins, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, and Dr. Elizabeth Mack, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, to explore how trans kids face a disproportionate risk of homelessness as well as how many people fundamentally do not understand what constitutes gender-affirming care. Mack's interviews are particularly clarifying because she defines this particular care as any change that makes trans kids feel more like themselves. That explanation hopefully clarifies the fact that all of us affirm our gender every day, from our clothes and haircuts to pills we take to correct hormonal imbalances. In one disheartening scene, Tristan and her mother, Crystal, listen as their doctor tells them that recent laws have forced her to leave Texas and she can no longer provide medical care. Although she was able to write a year-long prescription for estrogen before departing, the abrupt termination leaves Tristan and her mother in a vulnerable situation. They must now consider whether or not to relocate. But the decision is marred by financial precarity: At the moment, Crystal doesn't have enough money to move to a state with more amenable laws. Their story underscores how not everybody can just find a new place to live when facing dehumanizing legislation. Just Kids falls in the category of recent docs like Preconceived and Zurawski v Texas, which premiered at Telluride, that survey how the right has effectively mobilized to dismantle the civil rights progress of the last 50 years. Like these other films, Toboni's feature takes a straightforward approach to uncovering details that will be illuminating for many viewers. One only hopes that it gets in front of the audiences who need to hear its message the most. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
