An author's obituary which opens by describing her as "plain" and "overweight" has triggered a social media backlash.
Bestselling Australian writer Colleen McCullough died yesterday from apparent kidney failure after suffering a series of strokes. She was 77.
But controversy followed quick on the heels of her death, with Murdoch-owned broadsheet The Australian publishing an obituary described as sexist and offensive.
It begins: "Colleen McCullough, Australia’s best selling author, was a charmer. Plain of feature, and certainly overweight, she was, nevertheless, a woman of wit and warmth."
Twitter users were quick to express their anger at its tone.
Jade St Clair wrote: "Are We Really Fat Shaming Colleen McCullough The Day After She Died? Really guys??"
Adam Spencer tweeted: Disgraceful effort by @australian; farewell to a genius Colleen McCullough."
Neil Gaiman said: "It may be possible for this obituary in The Australian to have a more offensive opening & tone. I can't imagine how."
Lauren DeStefano added: "Bet you didn't think an obituary could be sexist. Well, time to lower your faith in humanity."
Later a hashtag parodying the obituary was spawned.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">' Despite having an arse the size of Yorkshire, and a surfeit of hair, he still managed to type things.' <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/myozobituary?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-106356-https://twitter.com/hashtag/myozobituary?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#myozobituary</a>— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/jayrayner1/status/561127649381474305" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-106356-https://twitter.com/jayrayner1/status/561127649381474305" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 30, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/myozobituary?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-106356-https://twitter.com/hashtag/myozobituary?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#myozobituary</a> would be “Although she grew a disappointing arse, she nonetheless got laid & won awards."— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/caitlinmoran/status/561112113327124480" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-106356-https://twitter.com/caitlinmoran/status/561112113327124480" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 30, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">"Lame of leg, he nonetheless used it for laughs. Over, and over, and over" <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/myozobituary?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-106356-https://twitter.com/hashtag/myozobituary?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#myozobituary</a>— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/adamhillscomedy/status/561093325743484928" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-106356-https://twitter.com/adamhillscomedy/status/561093325743484928" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 30, 2015</a>
McCullough wrote several books, including the Masters of Rome series and the acclaimed The Thorn Birds, which was turned into a successful TV series.
The Australian was contacted for comment. A night desk reporter told the Standard he was unable to provide any comment.
