Australian paper mocked for calling ‘The Thorn Birds’ author plain and overweight in obituary

SYDNEY – Australia’s largest newspaper is facing sharp criticism over its obituary of the nation’s most famous author, whom it described as plain and overweight.

The Australian newspaper’s obituary of Colleen McCullough, whose novel “The Thorn Birds” sold 30 million copies worldwide and who died on Thursday at age 77 after a long illness, opened not with a list of her myriad accomplishments, but with a description of her appearance.

Soon, the hastag #myozobituary was trending on Twitter, as people across the world mocked the publication for what many viewed as a blatantly sexist treatment of a lauded literary figure.

The Australian declined to comment on Saturday.