Latest news with #Western-themed
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Milkybar Kid star unrecognisable with jaw-dropping job after bullying hell
While Milkybar Kid Conrad Coleby enjoyed fame advertising the white chocolate treat in the 1990s, he also endured a difficult time at school and now has an amazing career For many youngsters, the allure of fame or a spot on telly is the ultimate dream. While snagging Oscar and Golden Globe nods before you're even a teen is a rarity reserved for a select few, plenty of actors have climbed their way to the top by kicking off their careers in the world of adverts. Yet, for some child stars, choosing a life out of the spotlight becomes the more appealing path after experiencing intense fame at such a tender age. Conrad Coleby is one such star, who found fame in the 1990s advertising Nestle's Milkybars. Known as the Milkybar Kid, he starred in one of the firm's Western-themed adverts, riding into town on a horse like a cowboy, only to utter the immortal line, "The Milkybars are on me!" Son of British actor Robert Coleby, 45 year old Conrad shot to stardom early on but later spoke of the dark side of the business. "As the Milkybar Kid in my younger days, I copped quite a bit of bullying for being one of the only kids in my neighbourhood to be on TV," he confessed. "I obviously enjoyed being teased so much that I decided to give everyone more ammunition and become a professional actor later on!" Fittingly, Conrad has gone on to great success. Since his Milkybar days, he made a name for himself in Australia, with roles in Home and Away – as Roman Harris – and Disney's Sabrina Down Under. He also landed a part in Sea Patrol playing the dashing Dylan 'Dutchy' Mulholland and shared screen space with Hugh Jackman in Wolverine, playing Red Beard. However, in 2016, he switched up his career to a move behind the camera and works as a photographer focusing on portraits, property and sporting events. His pictures have featured in multiple exhibitions and publications including the work Home, which was an awards finalist. That didn't stop him returning to acting in 2019, playing a guest role as Vance Abernethy in another popular Aussie soap, Neighbours. Vance arrived in Erinsborough to meet up with his girlfriend Roxy Willis, who revealed to Leo Tanaka that her share of the money used to purchase half of a popular bar came from Vance, making him Leo's new partner. Conrad has just over 600 followers on his Instagram account, where he describes himself as "an Australian actor, voice artist and photographer." With blond hair and a goatee, he now looks very different from his MilkyBar kid days. In one picture, taken way back in September 2020, he is wearing sunglasses and a black beanie hat paired with a black T-shirt and smiles at the camera with a cup of takeaway coffee in front of him. He captioned the image: "Spring us outta the cooooooovid winner blues thank ya lor jeezus." In another picture, captioned simply: "Red leather, yellow leather" he is covering one eye with a visitor pass, as someone comments: "It's always cool seeing the many facets of your career." Back in 2012, Nestle's first-ever Milkybar Kid revealed that eating the bars while making the firm's commercials put him off chocolate for life. Terry Brooks, then 59, said: "When I started doing the ads in 1961 I couldn't stop eating them. But I've not had a single bar since my last ad."
Epoch Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Untamed': Murder, Mayhem, and More at Yosemite
TV-MA | 6 episodes | Drama, Action, Crime, Mystery, Thriller | 2025 Co-created and co-written by Mark L. Smith and his daughter Lauren Elle Smith, 'Untamed' is the latest premium cable Western-themed TV series, and proves the once close-to-extinct genre to be far more resilient than many may have thought.
Ottawa Citizen
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Showdown with Jed: Mechanical bull heightens Bluesfest experience
Not many people spend their Thursday evening getting thrown around by a red-eyed beast named Jed. Article content But that was what Quinn Meeker and Jaden Scott-Lucas lined up to do first thing on Bluesfest's opening night. Article content Article content While the couple were initially there to greet friends who work at the saloon and to see headliner Lainey Wilson and the Red Clay Strays, they were quickly drawn to Jed the mechanical bull. With two massive horns and a large saddle, Jed was hard to miss. Article content Article content 'It's always fun to ride the bull,' Meeker said. 'I've ridden dozens of mechanical bulls. They're so much fun.' Article content Article content But it was the first time for Scott-Lucas. She said she had been to the Crazy Horse saloon in Kanata several times, but had never mustered up the courage to ride the bull. Article content 'It's less crowded at a place like this early on than it is at Crazy Horse,' she said. 'I've always been too scared to get on the bull.' Article content Scott-Lucas said the large tent behind Bluesfest's RBC stage made it feel just like the bar in Kanata. The tent was decorated with wooden barrels, loud country music and a Western-themed bar. The couple wore their cowboy hats and boots to stick to the theme for the show. Article content Article content Article content Since Crazy Horse opened in 2009, Kyle Louvelle has operated the bull every Wednesday night to provide entertainment for the crowd it brings in. 'There's a lot of excitement (riders) get right away,' he said. 'It's a unique experience.' Article content Article content For first-time riders, Louvelle tends to start off slow and ensure they can adapt to the bull's movements before turning it into a real show. The mechanical bull is also surrounded by a soft inflatable cushion, so riders can fall off safely. Article content 'As the night progresses, if they're really good, I crank (Jed) up and turn it into a real bull,' he said. 'It's nothing but enjoyment for them. All together, it's a brand-new experience.' Article content Mike Labreche, one of Crazy Horse's owners, said the Bluesfest set-up provided great exposure for the business, which was back at the event for the second year in a row after a 'phenomenal' run in 2024.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Kristi Noem faces social media backlash for portrait post amid Texas flood tragedy: ‘Who cares??'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drew fierce criticism online after she asked her Instagram followers to help choose a Western-themed portrait of herself to be displayed in the South Dakota State Capitol — just as devastating floods in Texas were claiming lives. 'Which one do you like for the official Governor's portrait to hang in the South Dakota State Capitol? Thank you David Uhl!' Noem asked in a Monday post, sharing three paintings of herself on horseback by artist David Uhl. But the timing of the post — during a national disaster response that many say she delayed — sparked immediate and intense backlash. 'You really posting portraits... while little girls died?' Critics accused Noem of vanity and negligence as floodwaters surged in Texas, killing nearly 120 people and leaving over 160 missing. 'Maybe the one with the flood, and you doing nothing about it, and maybe a kid floating by?' one Instagram user wrote. 'You really posting portraits of yourself on the day Texas flooded and little girls died!!!' another added. Others mocked the tone-deaf nature of the post given Noem's role overseeing FEMA: 'You got one with 80 drowned dead camp girls Miss HOMELAND SECURITY?' 'Who cares?? There are more pressing things to think about!' Beyond political criticism, Noem's Instagram followers took aim at the portraits themselves, calling them inauthentic or overly staged. 'All 3 are you pretending to be something you're not,' one user commented. Another scoffed: 'None of them even look like you. Omg.' The criticism is rooted in reporting by CNN, which revealed that a rule enacted by Kristi Noem now requires her personal approval for any FEMA contract or grant over $100,000. FEMA officials said this policy delayed the deployment of search and rescue teams by over 72 hours — a critical window that may have cost lives. Internal FEMA data reviewed by CNN showed only 86 FEMA staffers had been deployed by Monday night — far below the norm for a disaster of this magnitude. The death toll has climbed to nearly 120, with more than 160 still missing. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin defended the response, telling CNN that other DHS assets were used initially and that Noem's approvals were granted when needed. Noem and President Trump have both pushed for states to take primary responsibility in disasters, with Noem calling on Wednesday for FEMA to be dismantled and remade. Texas, which has one of the most robust state-level emergency systems, managed the early hours of the disaster largely on its own, deploying more than 2,100 personnel from 20 state agencies, Governor Greg Abbott's office said.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kristi Noem trolled brutally for asking fans to choose her official portrait while Texas kids drown in flood
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing massive backlash on social media after she asked her followers to pick which portrait of her on horseback they prefer. Noem called on her social media followers to help choose a Western-themed portrait of her that will be on display in South Dakota's state Capitol building. 'Which one do you like for the official Governor's portrait to hang in the South Dakota State Capitol?' Noem asked her nearly 500,000 Instagram followers in a Monday post. This outraged social media users as they accused her of horsing around on Instagram amid a disaster in Texas. Kristi Noem slammed online Known as 'ICE Barbie' for her role in the federal government, Kristi Noem was slammed online after asking her Instagram followers for help choosing her official portrait while Texas children drowned in intense and deadly flash flooding over the weekend. 'Which one do you like for the official Governor's portrait to hang in the South Dakota State Capitol?' she posted on Instagram Monday. 'Thank you David Uhl!' Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 무릎이 붓고 아프신 분들만 읽으세요. 큰딸민지 더 알아보기 Undo ALSO READ: Video: House carried away by devastating flash floods in New Mexico, gets destroyed in seconds Each portrait showed different variations of Noem on horseback, wearing a Western-style get-up complete with a cowboy first image features Noem, dressed in a collared white shirt and matching white pants, looking pensively to the side as she poses on horseback. Live Events The second shows Noem dramatically riding in full stride in white fringe pants and a gray zip hoodie with a furry hood, her silver earring blown by the breeze. The third captures Noem with her hands crossed atop her dark jeans as her gaze focuses on something off to the side. Each image captures her long locks flowing under a beige cowboy hat. Many on social media took this as an opportunity to criticize the head of the Department of Homeland Security for posting on Instagram amid the deadly floods that have devastated parts of Texas. Noem visited the disaster-struck state over the weekend. The DHS oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which helps in disaster response. At the time she posted the photo, dozens had died as a result of the floods; that number has since climbed to more than 100 people. ALSO READ: Christian Horner's career with Red Bull comes to sudden halt after 20 years "I'm not kidding; amid deporting children and doing nothing to help Texas, Kristi Noem asked her Instagram followers to help choose her Official South Dakota Governor's Portrait," an X user wrote, attaching a picture of the choices Noem presented to her followers. '70+ dead, many of [them] children…and others still missing AND THIS IS WHAT THE PUPPY SHOOTER IS POSTING RIGHT NOW?' one user asked. Yet another suggested: 'Maybe the one with the flood, and you doing nothing about it.' Noem has been criticized for 'glamorizing' a very serious job. "The options all look like covers of romance novels with a heroine named Moron Marlboro," the X user continued. But the comments on the Instagram post itself were much more scathing. "Maybe the one with the flood, and you doing nothing about it, and maybe a kid floating by?" one angry Instagram user penned. They were referring to the flash flooding in Texas that killed over 100 individuals, including dozens of children, including several at a summer camp that was destroyed by the immense amounts of water that raced through the region over the Fourth of July weekend. ALSO READ: 'No water, mosquitoes like elephants': Alligator Alcatraz's detainees detail horrifying inhumane conditions Texas flooding Massive flash floods hit Texas over the July 4 weekend in which dozens of young girls from Camp Mystic are still reportedly unaccounted for, and dozens have been confirmed dead. At least 10 inches of rain fell in some areas of the Southwestern state, which is more than those regions typically get over the course of an entire summer. Harrowing videos from inside the camp showed the children singing campfire and worship songs as they rode emergency vehicles and buses during a hasty, last-minute evacuation. Many can be heard crying. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Noem spoke to reporters and briefed the president on her response to the crisis, detailing her visit to Texas. She spoke about the families she met, but said her only course of action was to hug those affected by the tragedy and provide a shoulder for them to cry on as they mourned the loss of their daughters and daughters' friends. ALSO READ: 'Horrific': Houston pediatrician fired over vile post suggesting Texas flood victims were Trump supporters She also faced criticism for stating that the federal government doesn't manage or work to mitigate the disasters, that it's entirely up to the states to handle them. "We, as a federal government, don't manage these disasters — the state does," she could be heard saying in the livestream of the event. "We come in and support them," she added. "And that's exactly what we did here in this situation — FEMA went to an enhanced level, immediately, but as soon as you signed the major disaster declaration, we were able to get them resources and dollars right away, just like you envisioned through state block grants to help them with cleanup." She was addressing President Donald Trump as she spoke. "FEMA has been deployed, and we're cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA, streamlining it much like your vision of how FEMA should operate, and it's been a much better response to help these families get through this terrible situation," she said. ALSO READ: Tesla's turmoil: Is Elon Musk's love-hate relationship with Trump derailing the EV empire? But the response, many said, was too little, too late, and others slammed the Trump administration's gutting of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which many say is underfunded and understaffed, which made it difficult to step in and assist with the Texas flooding over the weekend. Trump nevertheless claimed that the death rate in Texas would be much higher had he and the federal government not "stepped in." "This is ridiculous," one wrote. Another slammed her border policies and called out her "vanity." They wrote, "México president sent aid and troops to help the red state of Texas. While you are asking for opinions to satiate your vanity."
