Australian journalist and former media commentator, Mike Carlton, has come under fire online, after criticising body image campaigner Taryn Brumfitt on her 2023 Australian of the Year win, saying she had made “a buck out of saying it’s OK to be a bit fat.”
Brumfitt, who was a former bodybuilder turned bestselling writer and director, was named Australian of the Year for her work promoting body positivity; a campaign which started from simply posting a “before and after” image on social media. The latter image showed her post-bodybuilding, after she dumped her strict regime. The post quickly went viral for promoting comfortability and security in one’s body.
Her post, then later her documentary titled ‘Embrace’, allowed Brumfitt to reach more than 200 million people and inspired an entire body image movement, which ultimately named her Australian of the Year. While many recognised her achievement, Carlton took to twitter with his unfiltered critique of the decision.
He first tweeted “who?” alongside a Sydney Morning Herald article headlining Brumfitt’s win. About an hour later, he followed up with another tweet saying, “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. NOT someone who makes a buck out of saying it’s ok to be a bit fat. Good night.”
Who ? ? ?https://t.co/tVm3V8LzsY
— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) January 25, 2023
His tweets sparked major outrage, with one person responding with, “Wow. You have clearly never dealt with body image issues that are debilitating for so many. Enormous industries built up on making people feel shit about themselves, destroying themselves in pursuit of an impossible ideal. She speaks truth to a different power”.
Journalist and author Kate Emery also posted, “Give me a f*cking break. Eating disorders kill people, whether this grumbling dude knows it or not,” to which Carlton responded with, “Meanwhile in Ukraine”.
Despite the backlash, other followers echoed his reaction. One twitter user responded, “Aussie of the year all about body image. Very important issue in third world countries. Great leadership from Australia. Next year it’ll go to – idk – Casey Whittlebottom for owning an air fryer.”
Upon her win, Brumfitt noted in her speech, “’We now know that young people with poor body image are 24 times more likely to be depressed and suffer from anxiety.
There is so much despair in this nation for children and adults when it comes to what we think and how we feel about our bodies.”