Latest Stories from Flo
Where do we draw the line on celebrity coverage?
Exploiting vulnerable individuals is not entertainment. No matter how famous they are. Hayden Panettiere, known for her role in Nashville and more recently, for her public struggles with addiction, found herself the unwitting centre of attention this week, but not for reasons she – or anyone with a functioning moral compass – cared for. People Magazine published a video interview with the actress that quickly drew backlash from viewers, many of whom expressed concerns that...
Amber Thurman’s death has become a US presidential pawn
The 28 year old mother from Georgia died when she couldn’t access safe abortion care. But her story has been weaponised ahead of November’s Presidential election. Amber Thurman never set out to become a political symbol, but death has a way of making martyrs out of human tragedies. The 28-year-old mother from rural Georgia died in late August 2022 of sepsis complications, a condition that could have been prevented had she...
Opinion – we have a lot to learn about identity from Lady Gaga
The pop icon has demonstrated what it really means to be a trans ally. When Lady Gaga first rose to fame in the early 2000s, a persistent rumour began making the rounds: that the ‘Born This Way’ singer was secretly a man. Or a hermaphrodite, depending on who you asked at the time. Like so many baseless whispers circling in the pop-culture industry, it refused to die down, lingering in tabloids...
Sweden says children under 2 should have zero screen time
Swedish health authorities have issued new recommendations to restrict screen time for young people. Sweden has made a firm statement in the ongoing debate over children and screens: for kids under two, there should be no screen time. At all. Health authorities have issued new recommendations for parents regarding screen time for young people. For ages two to five, it’s limited to an hour a day, and for children six to...
Diversity at the Emmys calls for bigger change in Hollywood
This year’s awards were marked by diversity, inclusion, and displays of queer joy. It’s a standard the industry would do well to uphold. At the 76th Emmy Awards on Sunday, actor John Leguizamo gave Hollywood a much-needed reminder: diversity doesn’t just happen by accident. The actor and long-time advocate for Latinx representation took the stage at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater and delivered a speech that managed to be both impassioned...
England & Wales to enforce ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics
The decision aims to tackle cases of harassment outside clinics across the country. For years, anti-abortion protesters in England and Wales have employed tactics ranging from the passive-aggressive to the blatantly invasive in an effort to sway women from terminating pregnancies. Come the end of October, however, this may no longer be the case. The government has announced plans to introduce 150-metre buffer zones around abortion clinics, marking a watershed moment for...
Opinion – early release for UK prisoners is the start of another sentence
Labour’s decision to release thousands of prisoners early is in the government's best interest, leaving inmates as vulnerable as ever. In the midst of a rising crisis in the UK’s prison system, the Labour government has rolled out a plan that is, in their words, both pragmatic and necessary. Short-term, the solution involves releasing eligible prisoners on licence after serving just 40% of their sentence. Long-term, it’s about building...
Facebook algorithm under fire for blocking wildfire posts
The platform has faced criticism for blocking multiple emergency posts relating to United States wildfires. Facebook has recently found itself in the line of fire – and not for spreading misinformation or political propaganda, but for blocking emergency warnings. As wildfires spread across Northern California this month, individuals took to social media to share updates and concerned messages with friends and family. This kind of digital hand holding has become a common...
Are ticket sales facing their biggest reckoning?
Poor organisation and dynamic pricing have placed global ticket retailers in the hot seat. News of an Oasis reunion sent the UK into a frenzy of nostalgia that’s defined much of the past few weeks. But when tickets finally went on sale last Saturday, fans were faced with a throwback they hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t a surprise album or an on-stage brawl from the Gallagher brothers, but an old-fashioned struggle with...
Paralympians were finally allowed Olympic ring tattoos
The IOC had previously placed a ban on the symbol in favour of the Paralympic Agitos logo. For the last few decades, one rite of passage has continued to unite the world’s best athletes, and it isn’t medals. The Olympic rings tattoo has become a tell-tale sign of a top-tier sportsperson, signifying their place at the prestigious games and etching it permanently into their professional journey. Alongside individuals like Tom Daley and...
