Friday Headlines:

• US Senate committee votes to hold Dr Fauci in contempt of Congress
• 15-year-old charged with manslaughter over death of Melbourne shopkeeper
• Alan Jones’ alleged victim denies making up sex abuse claims for money
• ABC Apologises to Gina Rinehart over ‘violent’ skit  
• Millions of Aussies told to brace for icy temps
• Brisbane’s Ekka kicks off tomorrow

Deep Dive: Discussion around Ariana Grande’s weight reached a fever pitch this week. 

Photos from her tour, press appearances, and her new music video for Petal, show her shrinking frame, prompting fans to worry over what is going on behind the scenes. 

The public discourse hasn’t gone unnoticed. Also this week, Ariana announced that she will be taking a break from public life at the end of her album tour in September. Her representative told People Magazine that this decision came after “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.  

Do we have a responsibility to raise concerns over Ariana’s weight loss? Editor of Mediaweek Natasha Lee says yes. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Natasha sits down with Justine Landis-Hanley to discuss her article in Mediaweek, in which she shares her experience dealing with an eating disorder while working on Australian television, and argues that we’ve been scared into silence. 

Link to the article: https://www.mediaweek.com.au/silence-isnt-always-kindness-ariana-grande-debate 

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