Placeholder Content Image

Baby Reindeer's "real life stalker" breaks silence

<p>The woman believed to be the inspiration for the stalker "Martha" in Richard Gadd's Netflix hit <em>Baby Reindeer</em> has denied the allegations that she stalked the show's creator. </p> <p>The show depicts an aspiring comedian - Donny Dunn, played by Gadd himself - who meets a woman at a bar and she quickly develops an unhealthy obsession with him. </p> <p>Fiona Harvey, 58, the person believed to be "real life Martha", spoke to Piers Morgan on his<em> Uncensored</em> YouTube show on Thursday and said that she was planning to take legal action against both Netflix and Gadd for the attention the semi-autobiographical show got her. </p> <p>“You’re 100 per cent it’s not you?” Morgan asked. </p> <p>"Yes,” she replied.</p> <p>Harvey reportedly received death threats after internet sleuths tracked her down within hours of the show's premiere. </p> <p>She also said that she only met a him a few times, and that the show's portrayal of events - including the one where they first met - were completely fictionalised. </p> <p>“He didn’t offer me a cup of tea. No one gets anything free from the Hawley Arms,” she told Morgan, referencing the real-life pub Gadd worked at. </p> <p>“He interrupted a conversation with another barman he said, ‘Oh, you’re Scottish,’ and basically commandeered the conversation.</p> <p>“You know, I was talking to somebody. It’s pretty rich. So he seemed to be obsessed with me from that moment onwards.”</p> <p>In the show, Gadd also claimed that he had received 41,071 emails, 744 tweets, 106 pages of letters and 350 hours of voicemail from the woman who Martha is based off, and Harvey denied this, although she did send him a few emails. </p> <p>“There may have been a couple of emails exchanged. Just some jokey banter,” she said. </p> <p>“I have no idea (where the other emails and communications came from). I think it’s probably made up himself.</p> <p>“I don’t see how anyone could do 41,000 emails.”</p> <p>When asked to put a number on the emails she had sent, she replied: “A handful, 10? Not 41,000”. </p> <p>“Even if the email thing was true, the rest is not,” she added and said that “I wouldn’t be suing if there were 41,000 emails out there." </p> <p>She also said that she never sexually assaulted him, contacted his parents or attacked his girlfriend and was never charged – let alone convicted – of any offence, another claim that the show made. </p> <p>When asked by Morgan if she thought Gadd was “mentally unwell,” she replied "yes". </p> <p>”I think he always was. Whether that rape was real or conceived in his mind. He's completely off his head,” she said. </p> <p> “He’s crazy and wants to make this up," she added. </p> <p>“My mind is made up – he is a lair”.</p> <p>Morgan then asked her if she had a message for Gadd, and she went straight to the point: “Leave me alone please. Get a life. Get a proper job. I am horrified at what you’ve done”.</p> <p><em>Image: Piers Morgan / Netflix</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

"Leave the icebergs alone!": Absurd response to innocent Martha Stewart post

<p>It just goes to show that you literally cannot post anything these days without someone, somewhere, finding a reason to be outraged.</p> <p>Martha Stewart, the domestic diva who's known for her knack at turning the mundane into the majestic, took her talents to the high seas recently on a luxury cruise to Greenland. And boy, did she leave a wake of icy commotion.</p> <p>At the ripe age of 82, Martha decided to shake things up (literally) by embarking on a nautical adventure that had some of her fans doing double takes into their morning coffee.</p> <p>Martha's Instagram carousel began innocently enough, with Martha gleefully showcasing her maritime escapade. There she was, drink held high, posing with the glacial wonders of the frozen north. But the pièce de résistance was the snapshot of her 'boozy iceberg' – the crucial ingredient in her icy concoctions, plucked straight from the chilly embrace of Greenland's waters.</p> <p>Sure enough, the comment section of her post became hotter than a sauna at a polar bear convention. Martha's loyal 1.9 million followers swiftly chimed in, and boy, was the temperature rising. Concerns over climate change flooded the scene, with plenty of followers quick to label Martha "tone deaf", wondering if the cocktails were chilled with obliviousness rather than glacier fragments.</p> <p>Martha's post read, "End of the first zodiac cruise from @swanhelleniccruises into a very beautiful fjord on the east coast of Greenland. We actually captured a small iceberg for our cocktails tonight."</p> <p>Oblivious to the fact that this is a completely standard part of such tours – and that the tiny "iceberg" fragments in question are plucked innocently from the ocean, the negative responses came crashing in.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"Martha, leave the icebergs alone!" wrote one follower.</span></p> <p>"Martha the ice caps are melting don't put them in your drink," another "fan" chimed in.</p> <p>"I generally love Martha and the excesses of her life because [she's] about beautiful gardens, homes, food, but wealthy white people drinking their iceberg cocktails while the planet is in flames in a bit tone deaf," added another.</p> <p>"Global warming and melting ice caps but we need glacier ice for cocktails? Talk about tone def (sic). Been a fan for years but I've seen enough caviar lately as I struggle to buy groceries I'm out," another wrote.</p> <p>Talk about a tempest in a teacup – or perhaps, in this case, a tumbler. Martha's icy escapade melted some hearts and raised some temperatures, proving that even the most seasoned party thrower can stir up quite the social media storm. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Martha Stewart becomes oldest ever Sports Illustrated covergirl

<p>Martha Stewart has cemented her place in <em>Sports Illustrated Swimsuit </em>magazine’s history, becoming the oldest cover star in the history of the publication at 81 years old. </p> <p>The celebrity chef’s photoshoot was revealed during her appearance on the US breakfast show <em>Today</em>, with her cover - Martha in a plunging white swimsuit with a billowing orange shirt - on full display, according to the New York Post. </p> <p>“I like that picture,” Stewart admitted on the show, before noting that she was “sort of shaking”. </p> <p>She went on to share that it had been “odd” to be snapped in her swimming costume “in front of all those people”, but that things had gone okay. </p> <p>The photographer behind the shoot was Ruven Afanador, and it took place in the Dominican Republic, with Stewart donning no less than 10 swimsuits.</p> <p>“When I heard that I was going to be on the cover of <em>Sports Illustrated Swimsuit</em>, I thought, ‘oh, that’s pretty good, I’m going to be the oldest person I think ever on a cover of <em>Sports Illustrated’</em>,” Stewart told the magazine. “And I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic.</p> <p>“Age is not the determining factor in terms of friendship or in terms of success, but what people do, how people think, how people act, that’s what’s important and not your age.”</p> <p>Fans were delighted, both with the photoshoot and with her take, and raced to social media to share their enthusiasm when the cover was revealed across <em>Sports Illustrated</em>’s various accounts - as well as Martha’s own. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thrilled to be on cover of the <a href="https://twitter.com/SI_Swimsuit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SI_Swimsuit</a> issue! I hope this cover inspires you to challenge yourself to try new things. Pick up on newsstands May 18th! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SISwimsuit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SISwimsuit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SISwim23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SISwim23</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ruvenafanador?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ruvenafanador</a> <a href="https://t.co/DsRgLr6crK">pic.twitter.com/DsRgLr6crK</a></p> <p>— Martha Stewart (@MarthaStewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaStewart/status/1658195286571753478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Martha Stewart being the cover model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit was not on my 2023 bingo card but here we are!” one wrote. “She looks amazing!”</p> <p>“You look gorgeous, as always, Martha! Love you and the cover!!” another gushed. </p> <p>“Spectacular! Congratulations! So gorgeous and strong!” came one round of praise. “A true role model for women”.</p> <p>“Congrats queen! I had no idea you were 81,” someone confessed, “because your energy is so youthful!”</p> <p>Meanwhile, another had similar thoughts to share, noting that “now this is representative of what 'old age' looks like in reality - diverse, modern, bold, stylish and sexy. A rethink is needed! </p> <p>“A woman is beautiful at any age.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Twitter </em></p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Martha Kalifatidis’ mum reveals sad truth behind dramatic transformation

<p><em>Big Brother</em> star Mary Kalifatidis, and mum to former <em>Married At First Sight</em> bride Martha, has shared the heartbreaking truth behind her recent makeover.</p> <p>The 56-year-old took to social media on Monday to unveil her dental transformation, revealing she can now feel confident after a lifetime of feeling ashamed about her teeth.</p> <p>Mary posted a beautiful snap with her daughter, looking happy and smiley in their new chic outfits.</p> <p>Mary explained the photo was taken earlier in the year, as she looks to celebrate her “smiling journey”.</p> <p>She also went on to reveal she was always assumed to be very “unhappy” as she would purposefully refuse to smile – even on her wedding day.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841846/martha-mum-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8b6d95ab4dd340e4add68def75aecf80" /></p> <p>"This photo was taken about 2 months ago," she began.</p> <p>"And the reason I am sharing it with you, is it is the beginning of my smiling journey.</p> <p>"All my life I would keep my mouth closed when I would smile. In every photo I have, my mouth is closed, even in my wedding, birthday, engagement photos."</p> <p>Mary admitted that she still struggles to smile after a lifetime of hiding her beautiful teeth.</p> <p>"Even in that photo I struggle to smile, because all my life I have never smiled," she said.</p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Martha Stewart receives 14 proposals after sultry snap

<p>Martha Stewart has sent fans into a frenzy with a recent pool selfie, taken just over a week before her 79th birthday.</p> <p>So much so, 14 men have slid into her DMs with “proposals”, she revealed this week.</p> <p>The US lifestyle guru shared the sultry snap as she enjoyed a sunny day in her East Hampton pool, pouting to the camera with her garden on display in the background.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CC7Jt__gG4P/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CC7Jt__gG4P/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Change of plans: From now on you can find us at @marthastewart48’s pool with a Martha-rita in hand. 🍹 #regram via @marthastewart48 . Pomegranate Martha-ritas - serves 4 large drinks 2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice 2 cups tequila blanco 1/2 cup triple sec 1/2 cup pomegranate concentrate Add ice cubes and blend! . 📺 Watch Martha make the recipe on our IGTV tab</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/marthastewart/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Martha Stewart</a> (@marthastewart) on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:28pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Speaking to<span> </span><em>E! Online’s</em><span> </span>podcast<span> </span><em>Daily Pop</em><span> </span>this week, the 78-year-old said it attracted quite a bit of attention.</p> <p>“I’ve had 14 proposals, I don’t know what for, but they’re proposals,” Martha told E!’ s Morgan Stewart. ”I haven’t checked lately, that was the first day.”</p> <p>The star is set to celebrate her 79th birthday in a few short days.</p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Heartbreaking news for Martha Stewart

<p>Television legend and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart has been dealt a tragic blow after news of her younger brother’s death at the age of just 65. George Christiansen, who once appeared on Martha’s show to make a blueberry pie, passed away on Monday from a <a href="http://pagesix.com/2017/03/20/martha-stewart-mourns-brothers-death/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">suspected heart attack</span></strong></a>.</p> <p><img width="499" height="415" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34533/image__499x415.jpg" alt="martha stewart brother" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“Martha lost her youngest brother, George, suddenly and unexpectedly earlier this week,” a spokesperson said on behalf of the family. “The family requests that you respect their privacy during this time of sorrow.” George leaves behind wife Margaret, son Kirk and daughter Kristina.</p> <p>The contractor, who ran a remodelling company, was very close to his sister, now 75, and reflected on their childhood years in the book Being Martha: The Inside Story of Martha Stewart and her Amazing Life.</p> <p>“We used to have the greatest evenings with a bunch of hospitable people. Martha would make pies and other things for the occasions,” he said. “It was all about going and finding a piece of land and living off of it, learning how to get back to nature. Listening to banjos, listening to folk music, discovering Leadbelly and the Mamas and the Papas.”</p> <p>Our thoughts are with Martha and George’s family at this incredibly difficult time.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Tonia Todman: From TV personality to Australia’s version of Martha Stewart

<p>Affectionately referred to as Australia’s Martha Stewart, spanning 20 years Tonia Todman graced us with her presence (and extensive craft know-how) as a TV personality when she appeared on many popular shows including, <em>Healthy Wealthy and Wise</em>, <em>Good Morning Australia</em> and <em>Rove Live</em>.</p><p>Recognised as an authority on cooking, craft, home decorating and DIY, Tonia also spent 10 years with Australian<em> Vogue</em>, where she was involved with designing, marketing, product development, teaching, plus photographic styling for fashion, craft and home interiors.</p><p>Now 66 years young and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, these days, however, if Tonia isn’t raising awareness for one of the many issues close to her – like in her role as ambassador for Connect Hearing – you'll likely find Tonia on her property, The Stables at Highbank in Kyneton. Set in a tastefully restored, 160-year-old bluestone Clydesdale stables and blacksmiths, as well as making for lovely accommodation, it’s also a school for cooking, interior design, gardening and craft. As Over60 sit down with Tonia we ask her about this amazing place and why she decided to take it on – her reply is very candid. “My life had reached a real crossroad,” she reveals. “TV had ended abruptly, it always does. Twenty years of successful national television evaporated brutishly in five minutes around the boardroom table of Channel Ten. The wash-up from a disastrous very brief second marriage was nearly over and I found myself needing to re-think my life,” Tonia adds.</p><p>As a true Australian woman with spirit and gusto, Tonia mustered the strength to carry on and what happened next is the stuff worthy of a movie script. “My lovely Michael, whom I'd met when I was 18, came back into my life,” she smiles, continuing, “and it seemed the perfect opportunity was being handed to me to realise some long-held dreams.”</p><p>After seeing Highbank advertised one Saturday in <em>The Age,</em> Tonia and Michael promptly inspected the property that day and bought it on the Monday. “It was a large derelict bluestone dating back to 1848, with good bones, an historic garden and enough surrounding fields in which to sow with some sort of crop, probably roses – so I could continue to work as a florist, especially for weddings,” she explains.</p><p>The stables and the tack room are today used as the B&amp;B and a part of the house was turned into a big kitchen so Tonia could conduct cooking classes. “Its been an amazing journey,” Tonia beams, adding, “and its all happened at the right time in my life.”&nbsp;</p><p>But when it comes to what she is most proud of achieving, Tonia is quick to say, “I'm proud I've been able to work with what are, apparently, my God given talents – and that through those, I've been able to support myself, and, at times my family. Add to this the important bonus of teaching people skills they would never have otherwise had.”</p><p>Proving – like many other Australian seniors nowadays – that age is but a number, Tonia’s zeal for life and the energy she’s put into her new project are palpable. The key to success as you age, she says, is having a desire. “Nothing in life is successful unless you are passionate about it. Age really doesn't matter, providing you have the energy, focus and attitude to carry a project through,” she enthuses. “I'd say to anyone that is contemplating a fresh start – go for it!” After all, with years comes wisdom, right? Well that’s exactly what Tonia loves about being over 60. “Your accumulated wisdom is available to be shared with others, you are wise about the situations of others – you've probably been there already, you are experienced in all that life has to throw at you, people know that you have a generally practical outlook on life, you are focused on tasks and always in possession of lots of common sense.&nbsp; In other words, you have to be this old to be this good!!” she tells Over60.</p><p>So with Christmas not far away, will Tonia take a well-deserved break? Unfortunately, not quite. “I'm looking forward to spending time with my beautiful granddaughter Poppy – who is turning two at Christmas,” she smiles. But while Tonia plans to spend time with family and friends and take a rest where she can, no holiday as such is possible. “We are too busy,” Tonia explains, adding “and it's always difficult to get away from a farm and business such as ours.”</p><p>As the year draws to a close, although Tonia might have a busy silly season ahead of her, hopefully 2015 will bring some rest once the restoration of Highbank is complete. “I can see some time becoming available for both of us,” she says. “Michael may go back and complete his PHD in criminology, and I'd like to return to studying horticulture, or start a new range of dresses for little girls. Perhaps I'll do both!” The perfect attitude, and New Year’s resolution, that is no doubt the basis for why Tonia has realised success after success in her life all while maintaining her effervescent spirit for life.</p>

Hearing

Our Partners