Australian newspaper criticised for 'sexist' obituary of celebrated author

The Australian was slammed for referring to Colleen McCullough as 'fat and plain' in the opening paragraph of her obituary.

An obituary of a beloved author that appeared in an Australian newspaper has been widely slated online for being patronising and sexist.

Bestselling Australian writer Colleen McCullough passed away on Thursday, January 29 on Norfolk Island. She was best known for writing The Thorn Birds – which sold 30m copies worldwide.

In Friday’s edition of the Australian, she is described as “plain of feature, and certainly overweight, she was, nevertheless a woman of wit and warmth”.

And that’s in the opening paragraph. How wonderful for her that she didn’t let her so-called 'ugly and fat' appearance stand in the way of having a good personality.

As well as writing 25 novels, McCullough was also a researcher at Yale medical school in the US for ten years and established the neurophysiology department at the Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney.

It may be possible for this obituary in The Australian to have a more offensive opening & tone. I can't imagine how. http://t.co/61XWHTiCa1

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 30, 2015

Disgraceful effort by @australian; farewell to a genius "Colleen McCullough ... " http://t.co/PRfqeyRSiL @DailyLifeAU pic.twitter.com/czrdnkyylb

— The Spence (@adambspencer) January 30, 2015

The first paragraph in The Australian’s obituary also included a quote from Colleen McCullough: “I’ve never been into clothes or figure and the interesting thing is I never had any trouble attracting men.”

It is understood the obituary was prepared before McCullough’s death with Australian media reporting that the writer of the obituary has himself died.

The choice of words has been widely criticised on Twitter with many mocking The Australian by posting their own mocking versions in the same style.

Although his beard looked like someone had glued it on & his hair would have been unconvincing as a wig, he married a rockstar #MyOzObituary

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 30, 2015

With a face for radio and a voice for print, she worked hard to forge her own career only to always be compared to her mother #myozobituary

— Katie Bradford (@katieabradford) January 30, 2015

Small of breast and certainly chubby of thigh she was, nevertheless, capable of reading out loud. #myozobituary

— Hilary Barry (@Hilary_Barry) January 30, 2015

Although a shouty malodorous vulgarian he nevertheless enjoyed most episodes of house hunters international. #MyOzObituary

— Craig Ferguson (@CraigyFerg) January 30, 2015

The Australian has yet to comment.