What women are talking about today, Friday February 11.

Robert Pattinson is GQ’s latest cover star and we’re sure his PR team are shaking in their boots thanks to his history of giving quite chaotic interviews. He was on his best behaviour this time around, but a few strange moments still managed to creep in.

And following the news that Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster-Blake would be starring on Celebrity Gogglebox Australia, Foxtel has now released the full cast lineup and there are some pretty fancy names in there.

And it’s Weekend Watch time! Today we have a new physiological thriller and a salacious new true-crime drama to recommend to you.

Listen to Mamamia's daily entertainment podcast, The Spill, right here: 

A dozen current and former employees of the Dr Phil Show have spoken out about an alleged 'toxic workplace' that fosters fear, intimidation, and racism.

Speaking to BuzzFeed News this week, some workers described the environment as a "war zone".

“Everyone was just pretty miserable. You would walk into the building and there was just a palpable dread and anxiety,” one former employee said. 

“Dr. Phil — the show about mental health where everybody who works on it has terrible mental health because our work conditions were really bad.”

While none of the employees reported abusive behaviour from the host, Phil McGraw, all 12 employees said it was common to be screamed at and berated by executive producer Carla Pennington and other senior-level staff members.

“It was traumatising,” a former employee said. “There was full-blown yelling, calling people idiots and slamming doors, and it would not be acceptable in any other job in any other business. Then, after, everybody’s upset and everybody’s crying.”

One current worker added: “I’ve worked jobs where people get angry, but this is a whole other level of just strange, neurotic behaviour, and it’s just unceasing, it’s just constant. There is no relief.”

Image: Getty.

“I would have nightmares. I would literally be working in my sleep and have nightmares about something being wrong or not turning in something the right way,” a former employee said of their time on the show. “Even when I quit, I had to go to therapy for it, which is crazy because you’re working for a therapist.”

“If you complain to HR, you might as well expect to be fired,” another former employee told BuzzFeed. “They will do anything and everything they can to keep anything under wraps.”

Attorneys for McGraw and Pennington have denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

“From the beginning, show executives have strived to create a collaborative, safe, and open environment for Dr. Phil McGraw and all staff and guests,” a spokesperson said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. 

"We are grateful for the overwhelming number of proud, dedicated colleagues who have helped achieve our sustained success through 20 seasons of the program with many more to come."

McGraw's attorney added that McGraw “supports and believes in Carla Pennington and her team of Supervising Producers and Co-Executive Producers."

“Carla does not behave inappropriately. She has the complete confidence of Dr. McGraw. She is beloved by her staff personally and respected professionally. The allegations against her are absurd and demonstrably false. It is indeed rare for an Executive Producer to be in that position for 20+ years and she has been with CBS for almost 35 years," they added. 

This week headlines about the religious discrimination bill have dominated the news. 

There's been plenty of heartwarming stories, like the love shown between Labor MP Stephen Jones as he defended his 14-year-old son's right to be who he is. (Watch below)

I spoke on the Morrison Government's religious discrimination bill and the message we want to send our kids. (1/2) #auspol pic.twitter.com/7FOW2XEJKj

— Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) February 8, 2022

But the reason Stephen had to give that speech in the first place, is because this week we watched the Morrison government and commentators across the country reveal how little they care about the lives and realities of the Trans community. 

Deni Todorovič wrote about the week that was for Mamamia, as they grapple with the fact that, ""As a gay/trans Victorian, imagine my immense heartbreak to witness quite literally, ‘the clock’ be turned back four decades. The plight, the protest and the progress made as a result of the work put in by the elders of my community, long before I was even born. In what ‘fair country’ does its leader wind back the hands of time and usher a community of people back into the dark closets that once stifled them?"

Read/share/digest their words below.

"This week, our government made it very clear how they feel about the trans community." https://t.co/wPN5cKu1wO

— Mamamia (@Mamamia) February 11, 2022

Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will be joining telecommunications operator, Optus, in an executive role. 

The newly created role of Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional aims to “lift [Optus'] focus on unlocking a greater share of the multi-billion-dollar enterprise, business, and institutional markets”.

In a statement to 7NEWS, Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said she was "thrilled" to announce Berejiklian's appointment.

“Gladys is a proven leader who demonstrated her renowned strength, leadership, discipline, and composure in successfully guiding Australia’s largest state through one of the biggest challenges in its history while earning the support and gratitude of the community for her tireless contribution,

“She also builds and fosters loyal and dedicated teams who really go above and beyond for her.

“I believe she will be a game-changer for Optus.”

Berejiklian resigned as NSW Premier in October after the state's anti-corruption watchdog announced it would investigate her over her relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire.

ICAC is still investigating whether the former Premier breached public trust, though Berejiklian denies any wrongdoing.

In her new role, commencing on February 28, Optus hopes she will "deliver superior customer outcomes in market segments".

"I am excited and proud to join an organisation that impacts the lives of millions of Australians every day and prides itself in providing outstanding customer service," Berejiklian said in a statement. 

Earlier this week, Mamamia's Pop Culture Editor Keryn Donnelly and I went along to see JLo and Owen Wilson's new romantic comedy, Marry Me. It was cheesy, charming, and we bloody loved it.

It's about time the rom-com genre had a revival, don't ya reckon? And who better to bring it back to life than JLo?

Marry Me is in cinemas now and if you're partial to a bit of cheese, I highly recommend you check it out. You can read Keryn's full review below.

Watching Marry Me is like returning to a new and improved 2006. And that's exactly what we need right now. https://t.co/amrkqhZTzi

— Mamamia (@Mamamia) February 10, 2022

If you're not keen to put on proper pants and head outside your house, there's plenty you can enjoy at home too.

Tonight, Netflix finally releases miniseries Inventing Anna. It's based on the real story of Anna Sorokin, a Russian woman who posed as a German heiress in New York City for four years and I have not been so excited for a new show in ages. I'll be tuning in as soon as it drops, and I hope it lives up to the hype!

Over on Amazon Prime Video, original movie I Want You Back also comes out tonight. It stars Charlie Day and Jenny Slate as strangers who bond over their respective exes unexpectedly dumping them and then moving on really quickly with others. There is scheming, rage and The Good Place's Manny Jacinto, so naturally, I'm onboard. 



Oh, and I'm probably going to squeeze in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air binge in anticipation of Stan's Bel-Air - a dramatic reboot of Will Smith's move from West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air - on Monday.

Phew. I better go buy some snacks.

Happy viewing!

Good morning and welcome to Friday Feb 11!

Woah. What a week in politics we've had. Between the religious discrimination debate, and Grace and Brittany's history-making speeches at the National Press Club, it's been a huge first sitting week for 2022.

Keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks, it's only a matter of time before we get an election date. Scott Morrison has to give us 33 days notice, and the voting day can be no later than May 21. It's going to be a big year!

Ok, enough of that. Let's wrap up the five biggest stories of the morning.

1. Religious discrimination bill shelved as govt breaks election promise.

It was an election promise, but the Morrison government is highly unlikely to get the contentious religious discrimination laws through the Senate before the election with only two sitting days left.

Debate on the package was expected to be held on Thursday after it passed the lower house at 5am. But a motion required to give approval for the bill to be debated so soon after they being introduced for consideration, failed to go through the Senate. 

The Prime Minister has been dealt a major blow on the first week back at Parliament for the year as the government shelves the contentious religious discrimination bill. #9Today pic.twitter.com/W3pGRrROZ6

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) February 10, 2022

It means that for now, the bill is shelved. It's expected to be sent to another inquiry that will investigate the consequences of the amendments decided on.

Five Liberal MPs crossed the floor to vote against the controversial bill, which has been described as discriminatory against trans children.

2. Applause as Vic sex work law reforms pass. 

The Victorian parliament has passed laws to decriminalise sex work, joining two other Australian jurisdictions, to the applause of MPs and advocates.

Following hours of debate on Thursday, the upper house voted 24 to 10 in favour of a bill to repeal offences and criminal penalties for consensual sex work between adults.

The opposition voted against the bill.

The Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2021 will partially abolish street-based sex work offences and associated public health offences, remove a licensing system and regulate the industry through existing agencies.

Today is a HUGE day for sex workers in VIC!! Vixen and @scarletalliance welcome the passage of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021, but commit to continue to advocate for further reforms!
Full statement at https://t.co/T2kMnxs8pp and https://t.co/N7nR9BCyxh#springst pic.twitter.com/UmFHDnjZ0k

— Vixen Collective (@VixenCollective) February 10, 2022

The proposed reforms also strengthen anti-discrimination protections, making it unlawful to deny sex workers accommodation.

Victoria is the third jurisdiction in the country to decriminalise sex work after New South Wales in 1995 and the Northern Territory in 2019.

3. Third doses to be mandated for aged care.

Australians will need a COVID-19 booster to be considered "up to date" as the federal government moves to mandate third doses for aged care workers.

But it will otherwise be up to states and territories to mandate boosters amid tensions over vaccine requirements for international tourists. (Victoria is already looking to implement third dose mandates).

Under new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, people aged 16 and older who have received a booster will be considered "up to date" with their vaccines.

Those who got a second dose more than six months ago will be "overdue" under the updated definition to kick in by the end of March.

Boosters are recommended three months after a second vaccine.

Children under the age of 16 not yet eligible for boosters will still be considered up to date with two vaccine doses.

4. Leigh Sales leaving 7:30 after a decade.

Last night, Leigh Sales announced she would step down from her role as host of ABC’s 7:30.

"Anchoring a nightly news show has been a marathon... and it has been a daily sprint," she told viewers. "There's nothing wrong, other than I just feel it being the time to pass on the baton to the next runner in the race."

"I've always approached this job with one goal: to ask frank questions of people in power without fear or favour. I've tried to shut down wafflers, call out bulls**t, hold powerful people to account, expose lies, incompetence and exaggeration. I have truly tried my absolute hardest. It has been the most amazing job."

She said she will continue her post until after the election, but noted that she is looking forward to being home with her sons, aged eight and 10. "They want me home before 8:30pm," she said.

You can see her full statement from the 7.30 Report, right here:

An announcement from @leighsales. #abc730 pic.twitter.com/hy01mUsYyD

— abc730 (@abc730) February 10, 2022

5. Men twice as likely higher paid than women.

Sigh. The gap between what men and women earn has narrowed but persists. 

New research shows men are twice as likely to earn more than $120,000 a year than women.

Data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency released on Friday shows women typically earned about $25,000 less than men.

The overall gender pay gap continued its downward trend for the 2020/21 financial year, pegged at 22.8 per cent, meaning that for every $10 a man earned a woman would make about $7.72.

The pay gap includes super, bonuses and additional payments, but excludes salaries for CEOs and heads of business, 81 per cent of whom are men.

Great... still a long way to go ladies! Which is why speeches and moments like what we witnessed on Tuesday matter. You can read my thoughts on Brittany and Grace's speeches here.

And you're up to date!

We'll be back to update you with more of the biggest stories women are talking about throughout the day. 

- With AAP.

We all know that feeling, when you or someone you're with hasn't eaten for hours, and stress and anger starts to take over and you become irrationally enraged with everything and everyone... until you eat.

But is being 'hangry' a real emotion, or just an excuse for bad behaviour?

The Quicky speaks to an expert in human science, and a celebrity who recently walked off a show for being hangry to find out what is happening in our brains when our stomach is empty.

READ: 

• What women were talking about on Thursday
• What women were talking about on Wednesday.
• What women were talking about on Tuesday.
• What women were talking about on Monday.

Feature image:  Sam Mooy/Getty/ABC/Twitter @VixenCollective.