Veteran media commentator and former reporter Mike Carlton has been slammed on-line after he criticised Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt, saying she had made “a buck out of saying it’s OK to be a bit fat”.
Ms Brumfitt, who received the title at a ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday, went viral after releasing a twist on the “before and after” picture.
The influencer confirmed a earlier than {photograph} of her throughout her bodybuilding days, subsequent to a more moderen {photograph} by which she was carrying extra weight however extra comfy in her personal pores and skin.
But Carlton final night time criticised Ms Brumfitt’s alternative as Australian of the Year, saying he would have most popular it go to a well being skilled.
“My Australian of the Year would be a doctor or nurse working nights in intensive care or the ED, dealing with COVID and daily death. Real, compassionate work. For very little money,” he stated.
“NOT someone who makes a buck out of saying it’s OK to be a bit fat.”
Carlton’s followers have been fast to react, with one pointing to the “huge and underreported” problem of consuming issues whereas one other urged the commentator had “clearly never dealt with body image issues that are debilitating for so many”.
Some followers agreed together with his name, with one calling the well being employee angle a great level, however saying “body image is an important issue as well”.
After she acquired the Australian of the Year award, she referred to as for ladies to reframe the dialog about physique picture, and to make an effort to incorporate males.
“This has been a space that’s been dominated by women for a really long time, (but) it’s for everybody,” she stated in a radio interview.
“I’ve met many men who have had a lot of stories about men’s body image; they’re just not talking about it.”