Latest Stories from Flo
Opinion – Clarence Thomas proves Roe v Wade impacts everyone
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas’ comments on LGBTQ+ rights suggest a war on civil liberty is just beginning in America. In the next 30 days, 13 states will ban abortion in the US. Since the Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn Roe v Wade – the 1973 ruling that made abortion legal nationwide – Missouri has already made...
Rebel Wilson’s coming out tainted by Hollywood homophobia
Actor Rebel Wilson recently came out on Instagram, announcing her relationship with Ramona Agruma. But what should have been a joyful milestone was tainted by threats and pressure from the media. The Sydney Morning Herald has faced backlash for its handling of Rebel Wilson’s relationship news. After sharing a sweet photo with her girlfriend, Ramona Agruma, on Instagram, it was revealed the actor had been pressured to announce the news...
British tourist is arrested for stealing historic Iraqi artifacts
A retired geologist from Bath, UK, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to steal historic artifacts whilst on a trip to Iraq. Jim Fitton, 66, claims he didn’t know he was breaking Iraqi law when he picked up shards of ancient pottery and placed them in his backpack. At the time, Fitton was on an archaeological and geological tour of Iraq. He also took 12 stones from...
Opinion – TikTok has made a joke of Depp and Heard’s sexual assault case
By making light of Amber Heard’s sexual assault allegations, viral app TikTok has shown its dark side. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial has captured the attention of press, fans, and the wider public over the past few weeks. The court case involves Depp’s attempt to sue his ex-wife for £38.7 million over a 2018 article she wrote for the Washington Post, in which she claimed Depp had been...
1 in 5 UK women can’t afford period products
The extent of period poverty in the UK has been highlighted in recent reports by WaterAid and Plan International. Everyone’s been feeling the squeeze lately. Gas and electric bills are through the roof, food prices (and shortages) are increasing, and the countdown to pay-day seems to stretch on for months. People with periods have felt this cost-of-living crisis in uniquely painful ways. New research from WaterAid has found that almost...
Mattel introduces the first Transgender Barbie Doll
The new Barbie is modelled after actress and trans activist Laverne Cox, and is available for online purchase to mark her 50th birthday. Barbie has been a symbol of beauty, controversy, and femininity since Mattel launched the doll in 1956. First came ‘Barbie’ as many of us know her today – with flowing blonde hair, heavy makeup, and an impossibly small waist atop impossibly long, slender legs. In the 63...
What’s wrong with the commercialisation of Juneteenth?
You can already celebrate Juneteenth – a federal holiday marking the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans – with paper plates and party hats, thanks to a swathe of US supermarkets. It’s commercialisation reflects the sanitised version of America’s history that the holiday sought to re-write. Many were elated when Juneteenth was named a federal holiday on June 19th 2021. Like most Black American history, the day that enslaved African-American’s were emancipated...
Love Island is coupling up with second-hand fashion
Love Island – which has faced backlash for promoting fast fashion brands – has collaborated with eBay to dress this year's contestants in an entirely pre-loved wardrobe. Since it exploded onto our TV screens in 2015, reality hit ‘Love Island’ has drawn as much attention as it has criticism. The show has been sponsored by fast fashion brand ‘I Saw It First’ since 2019, but it’s been known for catapulting...
Balenciaga’s Paris sneaker and the problem with the ‘poor aesthetic’
Balenciaga’s latest creation is the stuff of nightmares – a £1,290 shoe that looks like it crawled straight out of a Wes Craven movie. But perhaps the scariest thing about these trainers is that Balenciaga thought it reasonable to launch them at all, co-opting a controversial ‘poverty aesthetic’ to sell overpriced products to wealthy people. No, you’re not seeing things. Those, muddied, shredded, just-been-mauled-by-a-dog-looking sneakers are Balenciaga’s latest footwear launch,...
How reading can improve our mental health
Warmer weather and longer evenings are finally here. A welcome respite from endless winter days, summer is often seen as a chance to get outside and focus on our mental health. And while it may not involve much physical activity, reading a book in the sun may be just the brain food you need. With the change in the seasons comes a change in priorities. Today this is largely driven by...
