We’re two days out from Halloween, which means Heidi Klum may have already spent several hours/days in hair and makeup, cooking up another extreme and uncalled-for spooky szn lewk. We shall discuss next week.

In other news, Paramount+ has announced a new limited series called Mushroom Murders, coming in 2027, starring Emmy-nominated Kiwi actor Melanie Lynskey as convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson. “This is an ambitious series that brings a gripping real-life story, that captivated Australia and the world, to the screen,” Paramount Australia Head of Streaming Beverley McGarvey said.

“I’ve been persuasive, seductive, begging and flirting, and dedicated a lot of my life to what seems now beyond reckless philandering, and idiocy… Regrettably I’ve had a lot of consensual sex, which I see has caused harm.”
Russell Brand has told a London court he never engaged in any non-consensual sexual activity despite being “extremely promiscuous”. The British comedian and actor is on trial for rape, sexual assault and attempted indecent assault, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

26 years.
The age of Aussie fashion brand Shona Joy, which this week told staff it is shutting down in January 2027. Founder Shona Thatcher said she wanted to prioritise spending time with her young family.

You’re looking at British singer Raye’s reaction to winning the prestigious Mercury Prize for her album This Music May Contain Hope, beating out fellow nominees Paul McCartney, Jade, Olivia Dean and Florence + the Machine. The album saw a 275% increase in chart sales (including streams and physical album purchases) after the ceremony, organisers said.

The ABC has told One Nation to immediately remove a cartoon depicting children’s TV character Bluey running over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks raised the issue at Senate estimates on Tuesday, questioning the legality and ethics of the video.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson denies claims the videos breach intellectual property (IP) laws, saying the cartoons “will not be going anywhere”.

The public broadcaster has said it is considering legal action.

Here’s what you need to know.

Bluey is a children’s TV show created by Queensland-based Ludo Studio, which owns the intellectual property.

BBC Studios distributes the program overseas and the ABC licenses it for Australian audiences.

‘Please Explain’ is a satirical cartoon series published by One Nation. Bluey appears in at least two episodes from 2024. In one of them, the cartoon dog runs over Albanese and Andrews.

The ABC has asked One Nation to take down the video, which resurfaced last week after independent MP Helen Haines was rammed by a car outside her electorate office.

“In my view, it is an infringement of the [IP]… but it’s also a shocking use of Australia’s most loved character… I can’t substantiate it either legally or on the basis of its usage,” Marks told Senate estimates.

Hanson defended the cartoons as “free speech” and “satire”.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said the ABC is within its rights to be concerned, calling Bluey one of Australia’s “most loved, most well-known exports”.

Separately, the creator of the ‘Please Explain’ series has refused to apologise to Senator Jacqui Lambie over a recent video mocking her vaginal prolapse.

This week, reports emerged about a kids’ colouring book, handed out at a One Nation booth in South Australia, that shows Bluey and Robert Irwin being held up at knifepoint by a crocodile.

Hanson avoided direct questions about the book, saying it was “to do with the party and with the executive”.

Reporting by Elliot Lawry.

A good water bottle should survive more than a few bag drops.

Hero, the toughest bottle frank green has ever made, is built for exactly that. Part of the new Edition II collection, it pairs a chip-proof finish with a secure locking lid and four-wall copper insulation for longer-lasting temperature control.

It's built to be put through its paces.

After years of pay disputes, one of which was a featured storyline in the popular Netflix docuseries ‘America’s Sweethearts’, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) have officially unionised.

Here’s what to know.

The DCC perform at home games for NFL team the Dallas Cowboys.

This year, Forbes named the Dallas Cowboys the most valuable NFL franchise for a 20th consecutive year. The Cowboys are worth an estimated $AU24 billion, up 31% from 2025.

Their cheerleading team, first formed in 1961, is a highly recognisable part of the Cowboys’ brand, with its signature blue-and-white uniforms and dance routines.

The cheerleaders’ cultural reach extends beyond the field. They have performed with musicians including Dua Lipa, Kacey Musgraves, and Dolly Parton, and appeared in TV and film.

Two TV series have documented the process of building the cheerleading team each season, the most recent being the Netflix documentary series ‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’. After debuting in 2024, it was recently renewed for a fourth season.

The DCC squad are required to attend several hours of training sessions each week, plus games, appearances and off-season commitments.

Despite their fame and the demands of the gig, the DCC squad typically hold other jobs.

Season 2 of ‘America’s Sweethearts’ highlighted their financial struggles and ended with the announcement of a roughly 400% pay rise for the 2025 season.

There is a history of legal challenges over U.S. cheerleaders’ wages and working conditions.

In 2014, Buffalo Bills cheerleaders (the Jills) sued the team over alleged wage violations. The case settled in 2022 for $US3.5 million ($AU4.98 million).

In 2018, former DCC Erica Wilkins filed a lawsuit alleging she was paid less than the team’s male mascot. The case settled in 2019, with the cheerleaders’ game-day pay doubling to $US400 ($AU568).

Unions represent workers in workplace disputes and negotiations, advocating for their interests. They can negotiate pay and conditions on workers’ behalf, raise concerns, or investigate suspected breaches of workplace laws.

In 1995, the Jills became the first NFL cheerleaders to unionise.

Sociologist Victor Chen told The Associated Press the DCC’s high profile and Netflix series likely helped their unionisation.

A joint statement from the Cowboys and the new union, called the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association, said the “cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys organisation” who are “deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit”.

It added: “They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide.”

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.