When you think of Australia, what do you think of? Beaches? Crocodiles? Angry drunken red-faced men in vests and hats with corks hanging off them? Violent transvestites?
That last one might be the new Australian stereotype after yesterday's events. A photographer is claiming that Barry Humphries, the man most famous for playing Dame Edna Everage for the last million years, smacked him in the face outside a restaurant. At this point, we'd usually try to incorporate one of Dame Edna's catchphrases into a wry comment on events. But we can't really remember any, because she hasn't been famous for a long time.
Never annoy an Australian, that's the golden rule. At best, you'll be called a "flaming gullah" and told to "rack off" – but at worst, a rage-filled Australian will throw a hotel telephone into your face and then do some unconvincing karate moves until you get bored and wander off.
So, knowing that an Australian is prone to wanton violence, the last thing you'd want to do is provoke one – even if it's a 72-year-old Australian man that dresses up as an old lady with purple hair for a living. That's a rule that Malcolm Ladd would do well to jot down. According to reports, Malcolm Ladd was trying to take a picture of Barry Humphries – that's Dame Edna Everage to you – outside a restaurant in Sydney when Humphries bopped him in the face. And Suzie Howie, the publicist of Barry Humphries, is happy to go along with things:
"I can confirm to you that Barry did hit him. He was obviously very upset. But at least he didn't throw a phone."
New South Wales police haven't received a complaint about the punching incident, but Malcolm Ladd – in an interview with News Corp – said that he was weighing up what he should do:
"It knocked my glasses off. It was a good punch it still hurts… It's the first time I've been attacked and I've photographed just about everyone before."
Wait. Hello Possums. That was one of Dame Edna's catchphrases, wasn't it? Oh, never mind.
Read more:
Photographer Says Dame Edna Punched Him – ABC
[story by Stuart Heritage]