A-list Confidential: Gretel Killeen ‘grieving’ over generation of sexual harassment and discrimination
Gretel Killeen has added her voice to the push for change in the treatment of women, saying her generation is now “grieving” the normalised discrimination they endured in their daily lives
U on Sunday
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Gretel Killeen says her generation of women is “grieving” the harassment and abuse they suffered in their lifetimes as they watch the women’s empowerment movement sweeping through Parliament House.
The commentator, comedian and author – the only solo, female presenter on prime-time television when she hosted Big Brother in 2001 – said gender discrimination and harassment was normalised as she grew up and entered her career.
“I think a lot of women my age are really grieving for everything that we put up with, because it was so normalised. It was just so normal that you didn’t question it,” Killeen, 58, told Confidential, referencing the exposure this week of the harassment taking place in Canberra, inspiring similar revelations around Australia.
“Now that thankfully people have put the spotlight on it we’ve realised, ‘God that was so much unnecessary pain and suffering’. It affected everything in our lives … whether it was still at school and catching trains, it was everywhere. It was the colour hue of our lives.”
“So I think every generation is having a different reaction to this. My generation I feel is outraged, grieving and inspired to make sure that this is a step towards change.”
She said she was hopeful for the next generation of women, saying “when women fully realise their power, give themselves that permission and when society gives them permission, my God this country is going to be astounding.”
Killeen was in Brisbane on Thursday speaking at Westfield Carindale about her new book, My Daughter’s Wedding, which delves into three generations of mother-daughter relationships.
“My daughter got married and my mum is increasingly older and I just was looking at mother-daughter love from both angles – as a mum and as a daughter and how complex the relationship is,” Killeen said.
“I really wanted to look at older age and increasing dementia because what that does in the book is increase the intensity of it.”
“The mother in this she’s disappearing, she’s fading away so there’s that time element in that anything that needs to be resolved needs to be done very quickly.”
THE FINAL HURDLE
Gold Coast friends Ashleigh Lawrence and Amanda Blanks are hoping to continue breaking down stereotypes all the way to $250,000.
The pair will compete in the finale of The Amazing Race tonight for the grand prize, which Blanks would put towards her COVID-delayed wedding and Lawrence would use to open her own women’s strength and conditioning gym on the Gold Coast.
“To do it for the girls and show how strong women are and break down those stereotypes has made me really proud … to show girls can get in there and do it without whining and complaining,” Blanks said.
The friends went to extreme lengths to prepare for the show during COVID-19 lockdown last year, taking dance classes, learning how to tie complex knots – which paid off during one leg of the show – and even perfecting magic tricks.
“We were like ‘What are we going to do if we don’t have money?’ so we were learning magic tricks so we had something to busk with,” Blanks said.
And while they never had to use their magic skills during the race, Lawrence said “I can do a pretty nifty card trick that all the other contestants were very impressed with”.
The pair have come a long way since the first day on the show when, during the bus ride from Port Douglas, the nerves got the best of Lawrence.
“Ash started vomiting on the bus. As a good friend I didn’t want her to vomit on herself so I gave her my breakfast bag. I didn’t have any breakfast that morning,” Blanks laughed.
“I think it was a mix of nerves and the winding roads. Sorry Amanda,” Lawrence replied.
The Amazing Race finale airs tonight at 7:30pm on Channel 10.
GOING PRO
At the very least, Christian Hull knows how to cover his own backside.
The Brisbane-based social media star formerly worked as a digital producer on national drive shows in Melbourne, where his first task on the job didn’t quite go to plan.
“The first thing I had to do as a digital producer in radio was organise an entire film shoot in a limo with Ed Sheeran which was terrifying because there was so much pressure,” Hull told Confidential.
“Two Go Pro cameras didn’t record any of the footage, but I pretended like they had and the footage was just not a great angle.”
“But it was amazing because he was so lovely.”
When Kim Kardashian came in for her interview, Hull said her entourage pointed to each camera and she perfectly positioned her body for the shot, doing his job for him.
“She was the best,” he said.
Hull’s memoir, Leave Me Alone, which he spent four years writing, hits shelves on Tuesday, featuring his celebrity tales and Grindr dating sexscapades.
The “sealed section” includes a concerning revelation for the relatives who slept in his spare bedroom, a man who looked him up and down and left on sight, a date who used a profile photo from 1978, and an unfortunate foreskin injury.
“I’m really excited to have it out,” Hull said. “I failed English at school. I think there are going to be a lot of teachers who are going to be like, ‘What? He wrote a book?’.”
“A lot of people are sort of like, ‘What is even in there?” I’m like, ‘Oh, I just have a disaster of a life and it’s just all about my disasters’.”
Read more about Hull’s comedy journey in next week’s Qweekend.
A SAFE HAVEN
Emilee Hembrow has revealed she turned to therapy to overcome the trauma of losing her stillborn son.
The Gold Coast influencer and co-owner of skin clinic Sskin lost her unborn son Jamal at 30 weeks last July.
After sharing her grief on social media, Havening practitioner Elle Louise McBride reached out to her a few months later and Hembrow began the therapy, which is based on the science of brain chemistry and uses senses such as touch to alter the response of the part of the brain that stores the trauma.
“Elle ran through a couple of sessions with me of havening, it’s a technique that can help with trauma, anxiety and other mental health issues. It was very interesting and not what I expected,” Hembrow told Confidential, having invited McBride to speak at Sskin’s bubbles & beauty event on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night.
“The sessions helped me feel less overwhelmed when talking about the topic, allowing me to share my experience with others.”
She added: “I’m doing great, my life experiences is what makes me who I am today. I’m so grateful for everything in life and I want to help others who go through something similar know they will get through it and to stay strong.”
DREAMBOAT
National boating start-up Flotespace has launched into Queensland – and what better way to do it than packing a yacht with reality stars and influencers.
The business, billed as the Airbnb for boat and yacht hire, threw an exclusive boat party on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
Guests included Love Island’s Teddy Briggs and The Bachelorette’s Jamie Doran and Bill Goldsmith – both of whom have relocated to Queensland since appearing on the reality TV show.
They sailed to Wave Break Island on the Serrano catamaran, owned by GC Sailing Charters, and then enjoyed a sunset cruise.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
It was a high-flying affair when Virgin Australia launched their new Business Class menu on Thursday night. Hosted by chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka, the airline put on an exclusive dinner for guests in the Virgin Australia hangar at Brisbane Airport, flying in Dannii Minogue, Erin Holland and surprise performer Anthony Callea for the occasion.
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