Beyoncé unveiled the cover of her highly anticipated country album Cowboy Carter during a speech the backlash she received for entering the genre.

“Today marks the 10-day countdown to the release of Act II,” the Grammy winner began. ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the supporters of [the album’s singles] TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARS.’

She continued, “I am honored to be the first Black woman to have the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That wouldn’t have happened without the outpouring of support from all of you.”

The Texas-born 42-year-old added: “My hope is that years from now, when it comes to releasing music genres, mentioning an artist’s race will no longer be relevant.”

Her album cover depicts Beyoncé on horseback, waving an American flag while wearing a red, white and blue leather outfit with a silver Stetson.

She has a huge silver wig blowing in the wind, and a sash with the name of the album draped across her front.

‘This album has been more than five years in the making. It stemmed from an experience I had years ago where I didn’t feel welcome… and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” Beyoncé wrote in the caption.

“But that experience made me delve deeper into the history of country music and study our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some people who have dedicated so much of their lives to teaching our music history.”

She added, “The criticism I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to go beyond the limitations placed on me. act ii is the result of challenging myself and taking the time to bend and fuse genres to create this body of work.”

Beyoncé teased: “I have a few surprises on the album and have collaborated with some brilliant artists that I deeply respect. I hope you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion I put into every detail and sound.”

She explained: ‘I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating a new journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.’

Finally, she wrote, “This is not a country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I’m proud to share it with you!’

Beyoncé, who grew up in Houston, made her first foray into the genre with a country-tinged song called Daddy Issues on her 2016 album Lemonade.

She delivered a controversial performance of the song at that year’s Country Music Association Awards, taking the stage with the girl group then known as The Dixie Chicks and since renamed The Chicks.

When the CMAs posted footage of the performance to their official social media channels, the comments included attacks like, “Beyoncé overrated racist n****rb***h,” to the point where the videos were eventually removed.

Fans demanded that the videos be reinstated, but when the videos were reposted on Facebook, they received another round of racist comments.

Beyoncé announced her new country project last month and released two singles during the Super Bowl, 16 Carriages and Texas Hold ‘Em.

Both songs were hits, with Texas Hold ‘Em debuting at the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

The commercial success of Texas Hold ‘Em made Beyoncé the first black woman ever to have a country song reach number one on the Billboard charts.

Texas Hold ‘Em gave Beyonce the opportunity to provide a platform for black folk musician Rhiannon Giddens, who plays the banjo on the track.

However, reactions to the singles were not uniformly positive, as Beyoncé was also strongly denounced by rapper Azealia Banks.

“Yes, black girls can make country music… but you just really don’t push the button… Beyoncé, please stop the madness,” Banks wrote on Instagram.

“The gay bossing, the overtly narcissistic attempts to lazily infringe on a genre where you think your popularity will win you praise in… You look like a food sister,” added Banks, who has built a reputation as scathing outspokenness.

Shortly afterwards, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively that Beyoncé had been bracing herself for the possibility of a backlash over her country album.

“She knows there will be resistance from those who want her to stay on a narrow street, but she doesn’t care,” the insider said, explaining that Beyoncé hoped to offer a “spotlight” to “the contributions that Afro -Americans have contributed to the genre.’

Beyoncé got “the motivation to make a country record after seeing how many of her fans loved her single Daddy Lessons and her performance at the CMAs.”

Smiling and walking with her husband, a new image of the Princess of Wales will reassure fans that she is recovering well from her abdominal surgery.

The photo taken by a member of the public on Saturday shows William, 41, and Kate, 42, visiting the Windsor Farm Shop, a short drive from their home in Berkshire.

The princess looks healthy, happy and relaxed, carrying her own shopping bag and smilingly talking to her husband as the couple leaves the store and returns to their car, according to the image published by The sun.

They were not accompanied by their three children: Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis.

The couple have been deeply saddened in recent weeks by wild speculation and gossip on social media about Kate’s health and whereabouts.

This has since been reported in publications ranging from the New York Times to British Vogue – and has even become the subject of cruel mockery on US prime-time television.

Global superstars such as Kim Kardashian have added fuel to the fire with messages about Kate’s ‘disappearance’ to their millions of fans.

The debacle over the princess’s well-meaning Mother’s Day photo, which she later admitted she had tried to edit, only fueled more speculation.

This was preceded by William’s sudden announcement that he was withdrawing from his godfather’s memorial service last month due to what was only described as a “personal matter”, just 45 minutes before he was due to give a talk.

Set against the backdrop of the king’s cancer diagnosis, the drama has created a feverish atmosphere of gossip and conjecture around the royal family.

Sources close to Wales told the Mail they found the speculation hugely hurtful and difficult to deal with, but were determined to focus on what was important to them: their family and the Princess’s recovery.

The new images and video, which show the couple going about their normal lives, are expected to help calm many of the wilder rumors gripping people around the world.

The video was taken at 12.43pm on Saturday by a member of the public who was also at the farm shop, just a mile’s drive from the Adelaide Cottage home in Wales, on their Apple iPhone 12 Pro phone.

The person involved said they were visiting the store to ‘kill time’ as they met someone on the way to buy an item from Facebook, when they recognized William and Kate and noticed how ‘happy’ they looked.

They saw the couple again in the parking lot and decided to make a video to share with their own delighted family.

“When I went in, I looked around and saw them. They all looked happy,” said the person, who wished to remain anonymous.

“To be honest, I don’t follow this kind of news, but I shared the video with my family. They said, ‘Oh, she’s alive!’ ‘

The prince and princess are both dressed casually and each carry a white shopping bag in their left hand.

Kate wears black leggings, tucked into socks and sneakers, with a zip-up top and wears her hair down.

William is wearing jeans, sneakers and a jacket with a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead.

As they chatted, the couple – who will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary in April – couldn’t look happier.

And the fact that the princess seems to be walking so easily suggests that she is very much on the mend.

On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had been admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, the day before for a “planned abdominal operation.”

It was said that the operation had been successful but would result in a two-week stay in hospital before a period of lengthy recovery at home.

Her spokesperson added that, based on current medical advice, it is unlikely she will resume her public duties until after Easter.

That advice has not changed.

A spokesperson said it was the princess’s personal wish to keep her medical information private and said she would only provide an update if there was “significant new information to share.”

However, their clear statement did not stop social media and foreign publications, websites and television from speculating wildly about the whereabouts of the princess and what might have happened to her. The hashtag #whereiskate started trending.

Even the BBC website covered the issue, highlighting the bizarre speculation under the headline: ‘A royal dilemma as public curiosity about Kate’s health grows.’

Some of it was farcical, including the oft-repeated rumor that she is recovering from a “Brazilian butt lift” or hiding out after a bad haircut.

However, other claims have been downright insulting, including one by a journalist on Spanish television that she has been in a coma which has received enormous international attention and had to be openly denied by Kensington Palace.

However, trolls and conspiracy theorists have continued to this day to use her absence and the lawlessness of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly defamatory claims.

A spokesperson recently reiterated their previous advice that they would not provide a “running commentary” on the princess’ health.

“From our perspective, we were very clear from our statement at the start of this in January that the Princess of Wales intended to remain out of public action until after Easter and that has not changed,” they said.

A PLUS SIZE woman has been told to have some class and cover her chest.

But she thinks she’s classy – make that world-class.

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She’s proud of her natural girls, and the nasty Karens can take a walk.

Olivia’s World (@oliviasworld95_) thinks they are only jealous of her God-given possessions.

Olivia is used to keyboard warriors taking the occasional shot.

But this time she ignores the demands to cover up.

This lady from Toronto is a ‘model, YouTuber and villain’.

She has enough fans to drown out the body shamers.

More than 600,000 follow her on TikTok.

In her aftershe shuffles onto the screen in a body sculpting dress, while a message from a viewer splashes across the screen.

“Bah, take some lessons and cover your chest,” they said.

But her response was to show off her natural features even more.

“My chest is nothing to be ashamed of,” she said.

“I’m proud of my natural girls,” she added.

One of her followers observed the behavior of the body shamers.

“There are so many haters, but they still follow you,” they said.

“They’re secretly fans,” said a super-confident Olivia.

Commenters on her video could only gush.

“You don’t hide works of art,” said one.

“Yes exactly, show them,” said a second person.

“Ha ha, I like your expression. No f**ks given,” a third wrote.

‘I like your confidence. I wish I could be more like you,” a fourth person wrote.

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DREAM TEAM managers should be aware that Gameweek 28 only features four Premier League matches.

However, six top clubs will take part in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend, with players scoring points as normal.

This means that six teams will not miss a single match in the coming Gameweek: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United.

With this in mind, let’s think about possible Booster strategies and captaincy options.

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PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR FOR THIS WEEKEND’S PROMOTION – SOMEONE SHOULD WIN A £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

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It’s probably wise to keep Park the Bus and Max Captain in the holster, as both Boosters are best deployed in a double Gameweek, like Gameweek 29 for example.

The same goes for 12th Man, although this Booster could also serve another function for blunders left wanting by this weekend’s blunders.

Some of Mikel Arteta’s favorites are among the most popular players in the game, so it is likely that many bosses will not be able to field a full XI in Gameweek 28, even after their transfers.

Players such as Pervis Estupinan (£2.7m), Lewis Dunk (£3.1m), Jordan Pickford (£2.7m), Dominic Solanke (£3.8m) and Eberechi Eze (£4m) will also twiddling their thumbs this weekend.

Most gaffers should be able to tolerate one or two inactive players, but those missing half their lineup may feel like they need to activate their 12th Man Booster to bolster their ranks.

Erling Haaland (£7.9m), Mohamed Salah (£6.5m), Darwin Nunez (£4.8m) and Son Heung-min (£4.6m) are all exceptional candidates.

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And it is exactly the same names that lead the conversation about the captaincy.

It’s been months since the classic pitch between Haaland and Salah, but that’s exactly how many blunders it will see this week.

Manchester City host Newcastle, while Liverpool travel to Manchester United for their respective FA Cup quarter-finals.

Neither initially looks like a particularly favorable match, but the Magpies have conceded 16 goals in their last seven games as they drop to 10th in the Premier League.

Current form suggests Eddie Howe’s side are not adequately prepared to withstand an Etihad attack.

Likewise, Erik ten Hag will privately fear a grenade on Sunday, given the nature of his injury-affected defense.

The Red Devils beat Everton last weekend but they gave away plenty of chances and with Liverpool having scored 25 goals in their last eight games, things could get messy for the hosts at Old Trafford.

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Of course, there’s always a chance that the key players will be rested in the FA Cup, but with a place in the semi-finals at stake and an international break to follow, it would be a surprise to see Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp field a weakened line . upwards.

Salah was on his worst form against Sparta Prague on Thursday evening, ending Gameweek 27 with 22 points to his total, but Haaland has the best points per game this season (9.5).

Both are fantastic options, but perhaps the home advantage goes to the Norwegian poacher after all?

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Elsewhere, Son is probably the most attractive alternative.

The Tottenham captain played superbly against Aston Villa last weekend for his 16 points in what was a statement win in a difficult stadium to attend.

The South Korean superstar has averaged a goal or an assist every 90.8 minutes this season and will be keen to improve his numbers against Fulham on Saturday.

Those unsure about the FA Cup line-up should note that Spurs’ visit to Craven Cottage is a Premier League match.

The deadline for Gameweek 28 is Saturday 11:15am – good luck!

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Commuters in New York City took cover after an “aggressive” passenger was shot in the head on a subway during rush hour on Thursday.

The shooting occurred on a northbound A train in Brooklyn shortly after 4:45 p.m., when a verbal dispute between two strangers escalated into a fight.

A 32-year-old man boarded the train at the Nostrand Avenue stop and was approached by a 36-year-old man who, according to witnesses, appeared “aggressive and provocative.”

As the train started moving, the 36-year-old flashed a sharp object believed to be a knife or razor blade, Transit Police Chief Michael Kemper said at a news conference.

At one point, he pulled a gun from his jacket and walked toward the 32-year-old as the verbal dispute escalated into a physical fight.

The shooting on the nation’s busiest public transit system came less than a week after New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 750 National Guard members in an effort to stop rampant subway violence.

Social media users shared a clip of the fight that led to the shooting, showing the 36-year-old, who is wearing a black hoodie, punching the other man several times.

The 36-year-old also punched a woman, who appeared to have stabbed him in the back several times as he repeatedly shouted: “Did you stab me?”

Blood visibly seeped through the man’s black hooded shirt as the two men struggled, with the 36-year-old man eventually sitting on top of the 32-year-old.

At some point, the hooded man took off his jacket, revealing the gun and proceeded to load it.

Passengers can be heard desperately shouting, “Get me out, get me out,” before the car doors were opened.

The video does not capture the moment the 32-year-old took the gun from the aggressive attacker, but several shots can be heard in the background.

A video from ABC reporter Joyce Philippe captures the chaos after gunfire rang out, as terrified passengers took cover and shouted for help. ‘

“Where is the NYPD, oh my God!” one woman exclaimed as others said, “close the door, close the door!”

The train pulled into the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets station, where law enforcement authorities who heard the gunshots swarmed the scene.

The 32-year-old gunman was arrested before entering the platform and remained in custody.

The 36-year-old man was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he underwent surgery and remained in critical condition.

Footage posted by social media user Owen Anderson shows emergency workers rushing the person on a wheeled stretcher to an ambulance.

“If you bring a gun on a train and start a fight, that is not right and absolutely outrageous,” Chief Kemper said.

He added that authorities have not yet determined whether the alleged shooter’s actions would be considered self-defense. No charges were filed against him Thursday evening.

Janno Lieber, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), said, “The victim here appears to be, as the chief said, the aggressor.”

He added: ‘But the real victims are the people I saw in those videos, having a harrowing time because they’re on the train with someone with a gun.’

Lincoln Restler, the city council member who represents the area, wrote on

The shooting follows a series of criminal activities on the trains, including one cellist who was hit on the head by a stranger while handling a water bottle while performing, and in a shooting that left one person dead and five others injured.”

New York’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams said earlier this month he is bringing back bag checks for subway passengers and stationing 750 National Guard members at the city’s busiest stations.

The Big Apple saw a 45 percent increase in major crimes in January compared to the same period last year.

Knives, box cutters, batons and guns are reportedly among the weapons the NYPD is looking for.

Crime in the subway has been on the rise lately, with 2023 seeing the most attacks on the subway since 1996. There have been three murders on the rails at the start of the year, compared to none at this point last year .

In May last year, a 24-year-old former Marine was seen putting an erratic subway passenger in a headlock until he died.

30-year-old Jordan Neely entered the subway and began threatening passengers.

He was pushed to the ground and became unconscious. When an ambulance team boarded the train, which remained on the platform, they were unable to revive him.

Police have chosen not to identify the 24-year-old man, who was released without charge after the incident.

It’s time to go swimming. Have you already picked out your swimsuit? If not, make sure you’re ready to dive into the cool, sparkling clean pool water (or the ocean, if you’re going to the beach) and take a dip – but also make sure you first have something to lounge in and after you get in the water. We’re talking about cover-ups, of course. You could just wear your swimsuit, but if you’re cold after taking a dip, make sure you have something to wear that isn’t just a towel.

We found a particularly cute cover-up at Walmart for just $15. The UVN chiffon loose pom pom shirt dress It’s so chic that you could wear it without a swimsuit — and you might want to, considering how cute it is. This is the perfect option for cooling off by the pool or wrapping up after air-drying after a swim.

Grab the UVN chiffon loose pom pom shirt dress for only $15 at Walmart!

This dress is long enough to cover you from neck to thighs, so you get complete modesty if you want it, and it’s opaque enough not to show off when you’re in areas where it isn’t necessary. It’s also a nice piece to take with you in your luggage when you go on holiday, because you can even wear it with leggings if you want.

Grab the UVN chiffon loose pom pom shirt dress for only $15 at Walmart!

If you’re looking for a nice cover-up to wear when you’re out and about, this one will do the trick. Use it as a shirt, cover up your swimsuit or simply parade around a beach paradise with this look. Whatever you do, you will look stylish and chic.

An old video of Queen Camilla praising the Princess of Wales’s “relaxed” and “natural” approach to her Country Life photoshoot has resurfaced in light of Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day photo blunder.

The King’s wife, 75, spoke in an ITV documentary about her cover for the magazine, which was shot by the then Duchess of Cambridge in the summer of 2022.

“She does it very naturally… we had a lot of fun with it,” Camilla revealed.

‘It was very relaxed and of course very friendly: the Duchess of Cambridge came with her camera.’

She called Kate an “extremely good photographer,” added that it was “all very casual,” and joked that there was “not a lot of hair and makeup.”

“It was just out in the garden and there was a lot of laughter,” the Queen added. ‘It was a nice way to do it.

“Catherine said if there was anything that needed to be done, she would be happy to do it.”

At the time, Kate – who is an avid photographer and has taken several official portraits of her three children – was described by the magazine as a ‘consummate professional’.

The then Duchess of Cornwall was seen relaxing in the country retreat of Ray Mill House in Lacock, Wiltshire.

The photo taken by Kate appeared in the July issue of the publication, just ahead of Camilla’s historic 75th birthday on July 17.

According to a royal source, it was Camilla’s idea to ask Kate to take the photo, and Country Life managing and editor-in-chief Paula Lester has said the publication “couldn’t be happier with the results” of the photo shoot.

She added: ‘In fact, the range of photos she took were so good that we struggled to choose just three, from which the Duchess of Cornwall made her final choice.’

According to Paula, Kate took the job ‘very seriously’ and was ‘incredibly professional’ about the task.

“She called me to discuss our wishes for the cover and then put together a series of beautifully shot images,” Paula explains.

Meanwhile, the magazine’s editor Mark Hedges said everyone was raving about the photos which captured Camilla ‘magnificently’. He added that the magazine would be “delighted” to offer Kate another commission.

It comes as, in a stunning move, Kate admitted yesterday that she had ‘edited’ an image of herself celebrating Mother’s Sunday with her children.

The princess said in a rare personal message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she ‘occasionally experimented’ as an ‘amateur photographer’.

She apologized for the “confusion” the photo had caused after six global photo agencies sensationally withdrew the image from their cell towers and libraries – an unprecedented response to an official royal photo – amid fears that “the source manipulated the image ‘.

The agencies’ murder announcements added fuel to the fire, as a litany of conspiracy theories about Kate’s health continue to swirl.

There were questions about everything from why Princess Charlotte’s wrist didn’t match the sleeve of her cardigan, to Prince Louis’ strange fingers.

The photo of Kate and her children, which Prince William took at the parental home in Windsor on Friday, was the first to be published since her abdominal surgery in January.

While the couple has regularly released something personal to mark Mother’s Day, it was hoped the photo would also quell cruel speculation on social media about the nature of the princess’s condition.

Instead, the royal blunder resulted in another public explosion of conspiracy theories.

The princess publicly took the blame for the uproar, writing: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing.

“I wanted to apologize for any confusion the family photo we shared yesterday caused.

‘I hope everyone who celebrated had a happy Mother’s Day. C.’

Kensington Palace said it would not reissue the unedited photo of Kate and her children, which in itself sparked further debate.

Last night the Palace faced increasing pressure over the debacle, with claims it has damaged public confidence. The row overshadowed yesterday’s coronation service at Westminster Abbey, which was led for the first time by Queen Camilla – accompanied by Prince William – in the king’s absence while he underwent cancer treatment. His Majesty instead recorded a video message for the first time.

Yesterday, Kate was spotted in the backseat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. It is understood she was on her way to a ‘private appointment’ and was not accompanying William in public.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that her ‘sudden appearance is not a dignified response’ to what happened.

He said: ‘When journalists said they wanted to ‘see’ Catherine, no one, as I understand it, meant it this way. A sudden appearance, which she has just made, is a knee-jerk reaction that lacks what royals should have, which is dignity.

“This case has also overshadowed Commonwealth Day. There should never have been two and a half months where she seemed to disappear; we should have felt like we were in touch at times, while what was important was that she felt she had kept her privacy.

‘William and Catherine are under enormous pressure, which is especially devastating when someone has been as seriously ill as they have. However, the photo editing mistake, while extremely embarrassing, is not a major disaster.

‘It shows that she is looking good again and that her children look very happy. However, their current handling of public relations is potentially dangerous.

“What the small but growing number of Republicans want is to mock the monarchy.

‘While Queen Elizabeth was alive this was virtually impossible. The ill health and crises faced by the Sussexes and Yorks have given them good opportunities. Public relations in the palaces must be responsive and disciplined, which is clearly not the case. William and Catherine are the world’s most glamorous and high-profile royal couple.

‘They need dignity to continue to do good for their charities and project soft power in a way no one else can do for Britain.

“They need to put this embarrassing episode behind them and appear confident in public. It will take time and common sense to keep in touch, people will respond…’

A woman believed to be a close friend of Samantha Murphy’s accused killer has been spotted near the rural estate where he was arrested two days ago.

The identity of the man accused of Ms Murphy’s murder has been revealed as Patrick Orren Stephenson, the only son of former AFL star Orren Stephenson, after a suppression order was lifted on Friday.

Stephenson, 22, was arrested on Wednesday in Scotsburn – about 17km from Ms Murphy’s home in Ballarat East in Victoria. The next day he was charged with murder.

On Friday a woman, believed to be a close friend of Stephenson, was seen training and grooming a horse at the back of a property not far from where he was arrested.

She declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia but was seen standing, sitting and blowing kisses to the horse.

Stephenson was arrested a short distance away at another property on Yendon No 2 Road.

It is understood detectives raided the property at around 6.30am on Wednesday and seized a car.

Detectives are reportedly investigating whether Ms Murphy may have been hit by a car on the Sunday she disappeared, but police have ruled out a hit-and-run accident.

Stephenson, a tradie – who was himself a well-known local footballer – appeared in court on Thursday wearing a bright orange striking workman’s jacket charged with murdering Ms Murphy on February 4 – the day she disappeared.

He seemed interested in the legal proceedings around him and maintained his composure, occasionally staring at journalists, the magistrate and lawyers.

When asked by Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz if he could hear her, Stephenson, who had a scruffy beard, said: “Yes, your honor.”

The identity of the alleged killer can only now be fully revealed after a court-imposed ban was finally lifted on Friday.

A magistrate immediately banned the media from identifying him, but the blackout was lifted after an appeal from media outlets, including Daily Mail Australia, during a court hearing on Friday morning.

Stephenson’s family life

Stephenson’s father Orren made headlines when, aged 30, he made his elite AFL debut as a ruckman for Geelong in 2012 before joining Richmond as a rookie in 2013.

He was the oldest first-round draft pick in the history of the sport.

Orren married his high school sweetheart Whitney and the couple had three children – Stephenson was the middle child and only son.

‘It was fantastic and a huge bonus. For my wife and the kids, it’s something they’ll never forget, so I’m quite blessed to be able to share it with them,” Orren told AFL.com.au in 2013 when discussing his football career.

“Patrick rolled around the rooms with the Geelong Cats last year and this year he’s rolling around with the Richmond Tiger boys.

‘He wouldn’t pass it up for a pound. He loves it and the girls had a lot of fun with it too. Being able to share these wonderful times in our lives with our children is a huge bonus.”

The retired 41-year-old player grew up in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales – the birthplace of bona fide AFL champion Wayne Carey.

The family moved to Ballarat in 2002 to be close to Ms Stephenson’s family, and set up an electronics company, Elite Voice and Data, which had to leave their home, according to company records.

It is understood the family have now left the area after a horde of media invaded their home on Thursday afternoon.

Orren started playing AFL for Ballarat’s Redan Football Club and after winning premierships in 2002 and 2003, he was named best and fairest player in 2004.

He then joined North Ballarat Football Club and played for Victoria’s VFL competition before being promoted to the AFL competition.

The veteran was cut at the end of the 2014 season.

Stephenson follows in his father’s footsteps

Keen to emulate his father in football, Stephenson played for the same local Redan side that Orren had once played for.

In 2019, Stephenson appeared in the Ballarat Courier alongside teammates from the Redan Under 19s promoting the L.Watching the After Our Mates program.

It was an initiative that aimed at reducing the risk of players being affected by crashes caused by alcohol or other drugs.

The alleged killer attended Ballarat’s St Patrick’s College, a private Catholic boys’ school, which costs about $7,000 to $8,500 annually.

It is understood Stephenson was living between two houses when Mrs Murphy disappeared. He split his time between his parents’ home in Mount Clear and a share house in Scotsburn – about 10 miles from Mrs Murphy’s home.

Stephenson’s first appearance in court

On Thursday the court heard that Stephenson, a trader, did not suffer from drug or mental health problems.

However, his lawyer David Tamanika warned that his client was at risk of harming himself while behind bars.

He was given a suppression order on the spot, despite the protests of a dozen journalists present at the hearing.

That gag order was lifted on Friday amid a storm of reactions to Magistrate Mykytowycz’s quick decision to impose the gag order.

Lawyers acting on behalf of a group of Australian news media stormed the court on Thursday afternoon, postponing the planned fight against the suppression order from April to Friday.

Ultimately, no fight was necessary and the suppression order was withdrawn by Stephenson’s own lawyer.

But Tamanika criticized the Australian media for advocating an open justice system.

“It is concerning that the application or granting of such orders could immediately become or be perceived as a form of underhanded action or manipulation by a suspect,” he said.

Mr Tamanika said his client’s request for a gag order was made for ‘bona fide’ reasons and was not an attack on the Murphy family.

“It had nothing to do with any disrespect or disregard for the position of Ms. Murphy or her family,” he said.

Tamanika said his client had hoped to keep his father’s name out of the press.

“The interim injunction appears to have had little effect in assisting what the intent of the application would be,” he said.

“The current media storm now includes the suspects’ families and the defense’s intention to help has only become that much more destructive.

“For these reasons, my client has asked me to withdraw the application.”

Dressed in a bright orange worker’s vest and sporting a bushy beard when he appeared in court Thursday, Stephenson’s identity had been circulated for hours on news websites and television broadcasts.

On Friday morning, hours before the 11 a.m. gag order was lifted, Stephenson’s name was widely linked to the alleged murder via the internet and social media.

In accepting the withdrawal of Stephenson’s request for a suppression order, Magistrate Mykytowycz suggested he had little hope of actually obtaining a full order.

The magistrate said she brought the matter to court after speaking with Victoria’s chief magistrate Lisa Hannn.

“In the absence of any evidence or sufficient credible information, I would not have issued an order suppressing the proceedings today even if some of that evidence had been in court… it was very, very, very unlikely,” she said.

At a news conference Thursday, Victoria Police Chief Shane Patton told reporters that Stephenson was unknown to the family of his alleged victim.

However, detectives issued no warnings to the general public about potential threats to their safety during the months-long investigation.

Stephenson will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in August.

By Eve Buckland for Dailymail.Com

Published: 08:30 EST, March 7, 2024 | Updated: 08:41 EST, March 7, 2024

By Ali Daher for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 06:54 EST, March 7, 2024 | Updated: 06:58 EST, March 7, 2024