Palmer fat shamed in Wikipedia prank
CLIVE Palmer has been fatshamed in a Wikipedia page sabotage by an employee of the law firm representing liquidators in his dispute with Queensland Nickel.
A News Corp Australia investigation revealed an employee of HWL Ebsworth changed the Gold Coast United FC Wikipedia page on Monday.
The law firm, which has offices across the country, yesterday admitted one of its employees had changed the Wikipedia page. The unnamed employee altered a sentence that originally read: “The club was owned by Clive Palmer, the wealthiest man in Queensland”, to “Clive Palmer, the fattest man in Queensland”.
The law firm confirmed it had found the culprit and made them change the reference back to “wealthiest”.
HWL Ebsworth national marketing manager Russell Mailler said the employee would face internal disciplinary action. According to its website, HWL Ebsworth “continues to represent the General Purpose Liquidators of Queensland Nickel”.
An incensed Mr Palmer said yesterday he would refer the comments to his solicitor.
“I’ll refer it (the Wikipedia page sabotage) to my solicitor, but what it indicates more seriously is the law firm acting for the other side is not impartial,” Mr Palmer said.
“What this indicates is this law firm has crossed a line and the law firm is not impartial and they should resign … they shouldn’t be attacking people personally that they are in litigation with.
“It’s a bad thing for a law firm to do that’s involved in litigation against us, to try to undermine us on a Wikipedia site. It’s a breach of professional conduct. A law firm is supposed to have a professional level of conduct and it doesn’t go well for their legal firm or the people responsible.”
Mr Palmer said it was another example of how people were trying to keep him out of politics. “It seems to be the case (that they’re out to get me) … it’s just part of the overall conspiracy,’’ he said.
Mr Palmer said although he had thick skin, people should not judge or shame people for their appearance.
“It’s disappointing that people are judging others by how fat they are,” he said.
“It (weight) is a constant battle for a lot of people, it shouldn’t be used to diminish people’s character because of their physical appearance, whether they’re too skinny, too fat, or ugly or beautiful.
“It doesn’t worry me so much, I’ve got thick skin, but there are a lot of people who are very sensitive about their weight and it’s not good to see this sort of thing.”
Mr Palmer’s Queensland Nickel collapsed in 2016 with debts of $300 million.
More than 800 people were put out of work. Federal Government-appointed liquidators were brought in to try to recover the money, with a trial expected to begin in April.