Olivia Newton-John dead: Daniel Andrews’ ‘embarrassing’ ONJ gaffe
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is under fire after a tweet for Olivia Newton-John went awry and the star’s “magical” friendship with John Travolta is revealed.
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Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has made an “absolutely embarrassing” gaffe while posting a tweet announcing a state memorial service for Olivia Newton-John that misspelled her name.
The iconic Australian singer, who starred in the hit musical Grease, died aged 73 at her home in Southern California on Monday, after a long battle with breast cancer.
Newton-John’s death prompted an extraordinary outpouring of grief from celebrities and fans all over the world and prompted Mr Andrews to offer the Aussie legend’s family a state memorial service for the star.
“It’s Newton NOT Newtown. With the amount we pay for your PR team they could get the spelling right,” one person wrote.
“Her name was Olivia NEWTON John. You’re absolutely embarrassing,” another posted.
Several Twitter users said that the error was “disrespectful” because it lacked attention to detail.
“At least have the respect to spell her name correctly,” one wrote.
“Olivia Newton-John. With respect Premier, please be mindful of the correct spelling,” another said.
And: “You can’t even get her name right. So much for respect.”
Earlier, Mr Andrews said he spoke to Ms Newton-John’s niece, Tottie Goldsmith, to discuss plans for the service.
“I can update that I’ve spoken with Tottie Goldsmith this morning and she, on behalf of the family, have accepted my offer of a state service,” he said.
“This will be much more of a concert than a funeral, I think it will be a celebration of such a rich and generous life.
OLIVIA AND JOHN’S ‘MAGICAL’ FRIENDSHIP
Olivia Newton-John detailed her intense attraction to Grease co-star John Travolta in her 2019 book Don’t Stop Believin’ and clarified why they didn’t ever get together.
In extracts unearthed from the 2019 book, Newton-John claims that loyalty to their partners at the time meant they could never be together.
She also detailed how Travolta had recommended her for the role of Sandy in Grease and Newton-John said that when they met on the set at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, the chemistry was palpable.
“John came out to meet me. Our eyes met. When we walked inside the room together, it was magic, and everyone saw it. They couldn’t deny this kind of chemistry,” Newton-John said.
She also revealed just how protective Travolta was of her.
During the filming of one scene in Grease, he deliberately mucked it up, so she could do better.
“Sorry I messed up. Liv, I did that on purpose because I don’t want them to use that take. I know you can do better.
“I had great love and support from him and the feeling was mutual. I would be forever grateful for his concern.”
In the book, Newton-John said she was keen to set the record straight about whether or not she ever went out with Travolta.
“On the Grease set, he would tell me. ‘Liv, it’s every guy’s dream to have you as his girlfriend.’
“Yes, we really liked each other and there was an attraction, but we would never date because we were both involved with other people at the time and both of us have a loyalty streak that runs deep.”
The Aussie star added that things ‘never went beyond friendship with the American superstar.
“It almost happened between us a few times , but it didn’t,” Travolta added. “Sometimes life just offers you the wrong timing. We had to leave it as dear friends.”
OLIVIA’S HUSBAND PAYS TRIBUTE TO STAR
It comes as Newton-John’s husband paid tribute to the Aussie icon, who died after a long battle with breast cancer during which the beloved entertainer became a champion for cancer therapies and treatment.
Using his wife’s Instagram account, Newton-John’s husband John Easterling wrote: “Our love for each other transcends our understanding. Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural.
“We never had to ‘work’ on it. We were in awe of this great mystery and accepted the experience of our love as past, present and forever.
“At Olivia’s deepest essence she was a healer using her mediums of song, of words, of touch. She was the most courageous woman I’ve ever known.
“Her bandwidth for genuinely caring for people, for nature and all creatures almost eclipses what is humanely possible. It is only the grace of God that has allowed me to share the depth and passion of her being for so long.
“In her most difficult times she always had the spirit, the humor, and the will power to move things into the light.
“Even now as her soul soars, the pain and holes in my heart are healed with the joy of her love and the light that shines forward.
“Our family deeply appreciates the vast ocean of love and support that has come our way.”
It comes as close friend of Newton-John’s revealed the star “wasn’t afraid” before her death earlier this week after living with cancer for 30 years.
CALL FOR PLAQUE AT ONJ’S LONDON HOME
A group of London residents are calling for a plaque where Newton-John bought her first home.
Neighbours of the humble one-bedroom terrace in West Hampstead said the property was a stop for walking tours.
“I popped outside and asked them (a walking tour) why they were there,” the resident said, “and they told me Olivia Newton-John used to live there. I went back and looked at the property deeds, and there was her name, barely legible.
“I think there should be a blue plaque marking this as the first flat she owned in London, which I’m sure it must be,” the resident said, according to the Daily Mail, which has seen a copy of the deeds.
The deeds show that on March 19, 1973, Newton-John, then aged just 24, spent £19,500 ($A33,600) on the second-floor flat with its own roof terrace, the outlet reports. The flat, now a rental, is today worth around £600,000 ($1.03m).
BEEGEE FRONTMAN:’ YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY SISTER’
One of Newton-John’s closest musical brothers Barry Gibb was “devastated” by the loss of his “dearest friend”.
Like the Newton-John family, the Gibbs had immigrated to Australia
“We lived through the same journey growing up in Australia and relishing every moment of it. We knew time was short and that time spent together was priceless. Olivia, you will always be my sister and we will meet again. Love and light, Barry.”
The pair reunited in the studio in 2020 to re-record Rest Your Love On Me for Gibb’s chart-topping Greenfields album, a compilation reimaging some of his compositions in a countrified style.
Newton-John had first recorded the song as a duet with Andy Gibb in 1980.
ONJ RESEARCH INSTITUTE ‘SHOCKED’
The cancer and research wellness centre that takes it’s name from the beloved artist has paid tribute to their champion.
In a statement, the Olivia Newton John’s Research Institute expressed they were “deeply saddened”.
“Olivia’s determination to find new and better ways to beat cancer will continue to inspire the researchers at the Institute,” the institute’s chair Richard Balderstone said.
Director Professor Matthias Ernst said everybody at the institute is in “shock”
“We send our profound condolences to Olivia’s family. Olivia was focused on finding kinder and more effective treatments for cancer and we remain steadfast in continuing this important work in the memory of Olivia and everyone who has been affected by cancer,” Prof Ernst said.
See their statement in full here.
JANE SEYMOUR ‘DEVASTATED’; ‘OLIVIA NOT AFRAID’
Actress Jane Seymour said she was “devastated” by the loss of her friend of 50 years, telling Fox News she knew that the Australian star had been “in decline for some time,” but found solace remembering her Newton-John’s “extraordinary” spirit.
Seymour said that her emotions had “ebbed and flowed like the tides in Malibu” where the friends had watched countless sunsets together while raising their children and maintaining careers in front of the camera.
Seymour said she had spent the last few days “crying my eyes out” as “all the memories came rushing back” from the last 50 years of their friendship.
“I realised that she was a unique friend. I have friends, but not like her in my life,” Seymour said.
“I just remember so clearly our conversations and the smile on her face. And then the fact that she wasn’t afraid, I don’t think, to pass. She just didn’t want to miss out on life.”
Seymour had a few opportunities to visit Newton-John before she died.
There had been confusion with days and places, but Newton-John had assistance getting ready during one visit in February and “she really should have just stayed in bed,” but she made a “huge effort” to see Seymour and her sisters.
“I remember looking at her and just thinking this could easily be the last time I see her,” she said.
“But I felt that before … several years before when she was incredibly frail and on a lot of pain meds and I just thought, oh my gosh, she, she was barely eating. She looked so frail. “We were all surprised. She pulled it all back together again and had a quality of life again. It was amazing. She defied all the odds, really.”
Seymour first met Newton-John when she moved to Los Angeles from the UK to follow an acting career.
“I lived with [Newton-John’s] sister Rona back then,” Seymour told Good Morning Britain, “and that’s how I met Olivia. I was stunned by her – she was the most beautiful person.
“She was really, very full on busy and always lovely, but I remember one day when I had my first child Katie, which would’ve been, almost 41 years ago,” Seymour said. “She was living in Malibu at the time, and she asked us to come out and visit. I gave her my baby to hold, and she just held Katie in her arms and looked at me and said, ‘How do you do it all? How do you do this?’”
She gave her friend the honest answer, “I don’t really know Livvy, but you know, I’m doing it. And I’m so glad. This is the greatest moment of my life, and I’m just in love with this little creature.”
Soon after, Newton-John became pregnant with her daughter, Chloe, who then “became really good friends” with Seymour’s son Sean. Sean and Chloe ended up collaborating as adults on one of Chloe’s music videos, which Seymour remembered was “really cute” for Newton-John and Seymour seeing their children “working together as professionals” after all the years.
“We trusted one another implicitly, and we were very similar kind of people,” she said. “We both liked to work hard, but we also knew family was everything. We had a lot in common.”
‘DISTRAUGHT’ CLIFF REMEMBERS ‘SOULMATE’ OLIVIA
Cliff Richard says he has been left “distraught” by the death of his “soulmate” Olivia Newton-John as he paid tribute to the iconic Aussie star.
The 81-year-old British singer, who was close friends with Newton-John for more than 50 years, said he is devastated by her death.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: “I find myself at a loss as to what to say. Death … well, he is a vicious enemy and all of us will be taken by him. But all of us are not taken by him at the same time and so while Olivia remains in our minds and memories, she remains very much alive!
“I’m just one of an army of lucky people who knew and loved her. How could we not love her? She was gorgeous, gifted and had a heart of gold. Also, a bunch of records that were Gold, but her golden heart is her legacy to us.
“When she was first diagnosed with cancer Livvy put her career on hold for years. Why? Because she wanted to inspire other sufferers to do as she did … fight the ugly disease, although she said in one interview that she wasn’t in a battle with cancer just that she had something that she simply wanted to get rid of!
“From now on I will only believe that our gorgeous Olivia simply stopped living. I will miss her. The world will miss her, so let’s all keep her alive in our hearts and memories. God bless you Livvy. Rest In Peace ... Cliff xxx.”
Richard also revealed in the post that he had spoken to Newton-John just three weeks ago.
“Olivia always had an up-beat approach to life. I was on the phone to her, and she was her bright positive self and I never thought for one moment of that call that I would be writing this and acknowledging her death. I hate that word!”
Newton-John’s career received a boost in the UK in the early 1970s when Richard invited her to perform on his variety TV show where she performed a cover of Bob Dylan’s If Not For You, which became a huge hit.
Richard and Newton-John also performed together on multiple occasions. The two would later sing a duet on Suddenly, which became a massive hit.
In his autobiography, The Dreamer, Richard recalled “falling in love” with the Australian.
“We hit it off straight away. She was the sort of soulmate that you meet and you know is a friend for life. When I and many of us were in love with Olivia she was engaged to someone else. I’m afraid I lost the chance.”
CHLOE PAYS TRIBUTE TO ‘MAMA’
Meanwhile, Chloe Lattanzi has broken her silence following the death of her mother, Dame Olivia Newton-John.
The 36-year-old took to Instagram to share her heartbreak at losing her “mama”.
“You are my lighthouse mama. My safe place. My heart space. It has been my honour and continues to be my honour to be your baby and best friend. You are an angel on earth and everyone touched by you has been blessed. I love you forever my life giver, my teacher, my mama,” Ms Lattanzi said.
She also rang Richard Wilkins leaving him a message to offer words of comfort and thanks.
“My darling friend. I watched your tribute to my beautiful mama and my heart broke,” Ms Lattanzi said in the message shared by Wilkins.
“I wanted to hold you and comfort you and tell you how much mama loved you and how much I love you. Thank you for always being such a warm kind true friend to our family.”
Ms Lattanzi shared a series of photos but no words on Tuesday after news of her mother’s death was made public.
FAMILY TO ACCEPT STATE MEMORIAL
A state memorial for Newton-John is set to be held after her family indicated they would accept an offer by the Victorian government.
Her niece Tottie Goldsmith revealed the family would accept a memorial in Victoria but Newton-John would be laid to rest at her ranch.
“She will be on the ranch. She will be (with) her horses and her dogs and her chickens and her daughter and her husband. So, we’ll be doing a state memorial,” she told the Today Show on Wednesday morning.
She indicated she and her brother Brett would be meeting with Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday.
Ms Goldsmith said she is in constant touch with Newton-John’s daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.
“She’s been, you know, lying in bed next to Liv. Oh. It’s just … You know. It’s … You can’t put words to this experience. Chloe has been amazing and really strong and so in our heart. Area. I’m just really happy that Liv made it home to be able to depart,” she said.
Ms Goldsmith said she can “feel her peace,” adding, “I can feel it. She is … She’s out of pain which is a massive relief for those who loved her so much, immediate family and close friends that are family.”
She said she Facetimed with Newton-John just before she passed away but it was “one-sided”.
“She was on her way out. So, it was me speaking to her and I asked John if I could put the phone to her ear. He face timed, which was bittersweet, because it was very hard seeing her that way but it was a gift. Because, um, her … Her mouth moved and so I think she was telling me that she could hear me.”
CAUSE OF OLIVIA’S DEATH REVEALED
Goldsmith last night revealed a secondary infection led to Newton-John’s worsening condition, adding that the icon remained so optimistic in her final days the family partly believed she “could suddenly come back”.
“But it wasn’t just the cancer that got her, it was other complications. Being in a hospital with a very susceptible immune system, she got a secondary infection,” Goldsmith told A Current Affair on Monday night.
As Melbourne landmarks, including Flinders Street Station, lit up in Pink to pay tribute to the Grease star last night, Goldsmith told ACA host Tracy Grimshaw “Australia needs” a public celebration to remember the beloved entertainer.
“She’s so loved and I think our country needs it so we’re going to accept it,” Goldsmith said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews earlier said he would speak with Newton-John’s family before making an official announcement of a state funeral.
“As for celebrating her life and her music and film and all the other amazing contributions that she made, we would, of course, want to speak to the family and be as respectful as we can,” he said.
Ms Goldsmith told ACA they’d accept the offer “on behalf of not just our family, but I think Australia needs it”.
"I think Australia needs it."
— A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) August 9, 2022
Olivia Newton-John's niece, Tottie Goldsmith, has revealed her family will accept the offer of a state funeral, which has been made by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Watch the full EXCLUSIVE interview: https://t.co/VCpvnWpifM#9ACApic.twitter.com/MsbLr4jzGJ
Breaking down in tears, Ms Goldsmith told how she was able to say goodbye to her aunt in her final days.
“It’s not a shock, we’ve known how sick she’s been and especially the last five days,” Ms Goldsmith explained.
“I managed to see her, and told her all the things I needed to say and wanted to say,” she added.
The 59-year-old spoke on behalf of Newton-John’s nieces and nephews to tell Newton-John she was more than a mother to them, and was an “incredible part of their lives.”
“She was leaving us, but I could feel that she got it, and that it landed, so that really helped,” Ms Goldsmith said.
“She’s really tough, for the tenderness of her and the upbeat and the optimism of her she’s really struggled with a lot of pain and it’s been a tough road,” she added.
Ms Goldsmith said Newton-John was unrecognisable during one of her final visits to her hospital, The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, in Victoria.
“She was really skinny and really unwell, and I said to her, ‘are you afraid of dying’?” Ms Goldsmith said.
Newton-John replied: “I’m not, I’m not afraid, I’ve done more in my life than I’ve ever imagined”.
“It was her sense of purpose is what made her live this long,” Ms Goldsmith added. “Unfortunately, the cancer spread badly. I love that she kept going because you can’t sit down and wait for illness to take you … That’s not who is, and she led by example.”
WORLD MOURNS
Grease star Didi Conn, who played Frenchy, revealed the emotional chats she had with Newton-John in the final weeks before her passing.
During an appearance on Good Morning America, Conn revealed Olivia had opened up to her about her ailing health.
“She told me that her health was, you know, she wasn’t walking anymore and she had full-time care but her husband John and her daughter Chloe were there all the time, and she told me that they were just so hopelessly devoted,” she said on the morning show.
Tributes have poured in from around the world for the much-loved star including from her leading man in Grease, John Travolta.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much,” he wrote on Instagram.
“We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”.
Aussie-American rocker Rick Springfield recalled the last time he saw his close friend.
“The last time I saw her actually was some parade – I don’t know where it was – it was some parade through some American city. And we were just … You know, two celebs up there waving to the people. Kind of laughing at how silly it was. She looked fabulous and she was just always so beautiful and warm and it’s just – the world is truly out of whack when we lose somebody like this. Especially so young,” he told the Today show on Wednesday.
Dolly Parton has joined a growing list of celebrities to pay tribute to Newton-John.
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— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 9, 2022
Leeza Gibbons posted her farewell to Newton-John on Instagram.
“I think in the end, she got everything she wanted. Yes, she is an iconic legend, a Dame, a beloved star who won every award imaginable,” she wrote.
Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi.
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