NewsBite

Lana Del Rey proves you can be successful in your career and shame your ex at the same time

All the news that's fit to mint.

Jenna ClarkeEditorial Director
8 min read
3:23PMDecember 21, 2022.
Updated 1:42PMDecember 22, 2022
The Oz

All the news that's fit to mint.

What's happening in (The) Oz:

✝️ Bob Katter recreates Christmas, casts himself as Jesus

🗳 Ten million voted Elon Musk out of the Twitter villa, now we wait for his 'foolish' replacement

💔 Thousands turn out to farewell heroic Queensland police officers

👋🏻 Prince Andrew loses another perk for being mates with a paedophile

😬 Jacinda Ardern knows what side her Commonwealth bread is buttered on

🍆 Liz Hurley forced to defend her honour amidst rumours she claimed Prince Harry's

👏🏼 Lana Del Rey finds a new, inspirational level of petty 

😍 Science figures out who the most romantic men and women are

Hello dear Thursday.

It's Christmas Eve eve, eve and people are not coping now the finish line for 2022 is in sight.

Like this guy who ordered nothing from McDonald's to prove a point about capitalism.

He ended up spending more than $20, amassed a senseless waste of paper and plastic, and made morons (me) who read his entire Twitter thread lose brain cells. 

Meanwhile, this flirty exchange between Aubrey Plaza and Drew Barrymore is an entree for how some of us heading back to our small home towns will act upon seeing our high school crushes.

The chemistry here could fix the government's renewable/coal/gas issues by lighting houses and cigarettes simultaneously. Powerfully smouldering and awkward all at the same time - just like year 12 formal. 

Liz Hurley didn't sleep with Harry

Liz Hurley has been forced to come out clarify rumours that she'll cop a cameo in Prince Harry's upcoming memoir, Spare.

The whisper being reported in the UK is the two had a "fling" when he was younger and lost his virginity "to a beautiful older woman in the countryside".

Speaking to the Sunday Times, the 57-year-old actress shut down speculation he is referring to her due to the fact she had lived in Gloucestershire, which is where a number of royals own property.

"Not me. Not guilty. No. Not me. Absolutely not," she said.

In the same interview she also touched on her former fiance, Shane Warne, and how she is still in mourning.

"It was very hard and it still is very hard," she said.

"Losing Shane was terrible. It's taken a long time to sink in. I honestly kept thinking he'd call and it would turn out to be some big Aussie joke' she added. 

Bob Katter recreates Christmas, casts himself as Jesus

The Father of the House has had it up to here with our rampant consumerism and "how much ham can I eat in a weekend" challenges and is reclaiming December 25.

The Queensland MP debuted his handcrafted nativity scene on his farm on Wednesday to remind us of the "true meaning of Christmas".

Katter, who is the longest continuously serving MP in the House of Representatives in Canberra, worked together with his neighbours and local artist Midge Read to build the installation.

READ MORE: Bob Katter thinks he is a failure

He said he was motivated to complete the project because he "felt the message of giving had been lost".

"You switch the TV on and you see all these advertisements and it's people making money out of the birth of Jesus," Katter said, slamming "Christmas profiteering".

"This is just so wrong. The message of Christmas is the complete opposite message: not to make money for yourself but to go around (and) give."

Let a thousand blossoms - and one nativity scene- bloom.
Let a thousand blossoms - and one nativity scene- bloom.

Katter said the nativity scene had been a plan of his for some years, but was made in a week.

It features a bower shed, which he said represents the stable Jesus was born in.

"Working on cattle farms, we had to build and sleep in bower sheds all the time," he said.

The nativity scene was officially blessed and opened by Townsville priest Father Rod Ward.

@theoz.com.au

🥭 #bobkatter #auspol #australia

♬ original sound - The Oz

Amen.

Elon reads the room (and his poll results)

Elon Musk has broken his silence after more than 10 million users voted for him to step down, confirming that he intends to resign as Twitter's CEO.

Last weekend Musk asked Twitter users whether he should step down as head of the hellscape, which he has led for about seven weeks.

By Wednesday, 57.5% of users said he should.

“The question is not finding a CEO, the question is finding a CEO who can keep Twitter alive,” he wrote, amid claims from the 'chief Twit' that Twitter is losing about $6 million a day.

Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold farewelled 

Police gathered in Queensland on Wednesday to farewell constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold - the two young police who were ambushed and killed in Wieambilla last week.

Thousands of their colleagues formed a sombre guard of honour the pair who were remembered as bright, adored and courageous young people who ran towards danger to protect the community.

Nearly 8000 people – including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – packed the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the memorial service, with full police honours, before an honour guard stretching more than 1km lined the streets outside.

This from The Australian's Queensland bureau:

Rachel McCrow’s mother Judy, her sister Samantha, and her beloved cattle dog Archibald sat in the front row of the memorial, as she was remembered as a superstar schoolgirl swimmer – who wanted a waterproof cast when she broke her arm as a teenager so she could keep training – and a loyal friend who loved a prank and a meme.

Matthew Arnold’s parents, Sue and Terry, and his siblings – he was the oldest by minutes in a closeknit set of triplets – James and Hayley listened as Matthew was described as a charismatic and charming leader with a fabulous smile, who was a big brother to all who knew him.

The families will hold private funerals after the public memorial.

At Wednesday’s moving service, Constable Arnold was remembered as a “big man, with an even bigger heart.”

Close family friend Senior Sergeant Laura Harriss, delivered a eulogy on behalf of Constable Arnold’s parents, telling mourner that “police were a second family to Matt”.

Jacinda Ardern didn't know what Harry and Meghan were up to

The NZ Prime Minister is set to appear in the Sussexes next Netflix project - Live to Lead - that drops on December 31.

READ MORE: Harry and Meghan are coming back to Netflix

But despite appearing in the trailer which was released this week, Ardern had no idea what her interview would be used for.

Ardern is featured in the clip saying: "As leaders we have the keys to create a sense of security and a sense of hope."

She said when she recorded the interview, she had no idea Harry and Meghan would use the clip.

"The Mandela Foundation has kept the office up to date with what they have intended to do with interviews, but I have not stayed close to that, so I became aware of what was happening with it yesterday," Ardern told reporters on Wednesday.

“Roughly three years ago I undertook an interview with the Mandela Foundation. They were producing resources for future leaders, with a focus on young leaders,” she said.

“As is common practice, the Mandela Foundation hold the rights to do what they will with that interview. I continue to stand by that. This is now their footage, their transcript and it is ultimately a matter for them what they choose to do with it.

“I have not been involved in the decision-making around what happens next, nor have I had direct contact with the Sussexes over what is happening next.”

The NZ Herald reported Ardern’s inclusion in Harry and Meghan's new project might have sparked a constitutional crisis, with a sitting prime minister appearing to side with Prince Harry against his father King Charles III.

READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should have taken this to TikTok

Ardern said she stood by the interview, but dodged questions when asked if she would have gone ahead with it if she had known it would end up in the Sussexes documentary.

“I gave over those rights for that interview, which is not uncommon practice. I stand by doing that. It is ultimately for (the Mandela Foundation) to decide,” she said.

Another Prince cops it

Prince Andrew is on the hunt for some new protection.

The disgraced royal has had his taxpayer-funded official protection unit stripped and will now have to engage private bodyguards to look out for him.

To give you an idea of how that'll  land - it's the security equivalent of going from vintage Champagne and switching it out for warm piccolos of Pink.

His armed royal protection cops will be replaced by private security officers who are only allowed to carry tasers.

It comes after The Sun on Sunday in the UK revealed the 62-year-old Duke of York complained to the government that he was set to lose his taxpayer-funded police gun cops and he wanted the cash-strapped public office to foot his near $6 million annual bill.

That is despite him no longer having a public role and in spite of rolling strikes through the UK health and transport systems by front line workers who just want better pay and conditions.

Last year the Duke was stripped of all royal roles and public duties in disgrace by the Queen due to his Virginia Giuffre mess and alleged sex abuse case settlement whilst denying liability.

Prince Harry is also in a huff and is suing the British Home Office saying it was “unfair” and “illegal” to remove his armed guards when he and Meghan quit royal duty to live in the USA.

When do we erect a statue of Lana Del Rey?

The singer is officially an icon for those of us with the temerity and the patience to play the long game.

The Norman F..king Rockwell star - and pin up for beautiful, smart, sad girls everywhere - is getting ready to release her highly-anticipated new album, Did You Know There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.

Instead of a big marketing campaign she has staged the ultimate revenge on her ex. A former cop and actor called Sean "Sticks" Larkin.

Lana and Sean went out for just 6-months in 2020.
Lana and Sean went out for just 6-months in 2020.

Del Rey took to her (not so) private Instagram to share a photo of a billboard, captioning the post, “There’s only one and it’s in Tulsa.”

While the minimal approach to the album campaign doesn't come as too much of a surprise for the singer-songwriter, fans were quick to note the location which is curious and rather deliberate given the fact that specific city in Oklahoma happens to be the hometown of her ex-boyfriend.

And just in case there was any doubt, she made sure to clarify the placement was 100% intentional, writing “It’s. Personal.” in the comments.

Shot
Shot
Chaser
Chaser

The cherry on top? It's Christmas and holiday season when we all (usually) flock back to our home town nests. 

Can someone please capture Old Mate's reaction when he clocks it please?

Men named Jake, Ben and Jack are the most romantic

And women called Kate, Lisa and Julie are the too. That is according to Christmas movies.

The study was conducted by Australian adult story Lovehoney and involved watching a lot of the Christmance genre. 

READ MORE: The new Lindsay Lohan movie is bad... so what?

According to the research it you want more romance, do less and just drop a few letters from your name.

The "study" quoted behavioural psychologist and dating coach Jo Hemmings who said: “People with abbreviated names appear more approachable and friendlier; less intimidating. A diminutive name gives a sense of warmth and informality.” 

By analysing the most common names in a number of popular romantic Christmas films, Lovehoney found the most romantic names include Ben, Jack, Julie and Kate, based on being the top choice of moniker for romantic leads in our favourite cheesy flicks.

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/the-oz/news/lana-del-ray-proves-you-can-be-successful-in-your-career-and-shame-your-ex-at-the-same-time/news-story/3302e08512a89b84977eb8b1c3686af5