James Packer’s confession menu: Ego à la carte

A billionaire’s feast of ego and excuses, James Packer’s latest interview is less a tale of redemption and more a stripping down of illusion, writes Naomi Fryers.

In what can only be described as a full-scale demonstration, James Packerlatest report offered a menu of confessions, deflections, and slightly charred self-awareness; garnished, of course, with a generous sprinkling of billionaire delusion.

first course

Packer begins with his “very toxic relationship” with alcohol and addiction. Normally, such explanations require compassion. But when the speaker is a man who tucks a Trump card into every designer jacket, the public goodwill cupboard becomes a little bare.

He then admits his failures as a businessman.

Let’s call it soup: too bland to overpower the meal, but spicy enough to prepare the palate for what’s to come.

And since no Packer broth is complete without flourishes, he marvels that he never fails at his job—really, it seems. A hint of arrogance bubbles to the surface, a reminder that even his flaws come as a “shock” for him.

Entree

The spoon had barely hit the bowl before Packer began praising the “impressive.” genocide war criminal It allegedly distracted him from his toxic relationship with radishes.

Drink, I say.

Some of us would take on the Centurion challenge at Jamieson’s before taking our moral life rafts from that particular corner of history – but maybe that’s just me.

This alone could shut down the kitchen overnight. Instead, Packer gleefully orders another round from the chaos menu.

Main course

Then we get to the point: Packer laments that he can barely make it back to an entire Australian city without risking running into the long list of people he’s had falling out with.

This is not a tasting plate.

This is a full taste of the Bondi fist fights involving nine managers and their poor life choices.

At some stage, a man needs either fewer enemies or a wider horizon. Luckily Packer owns a billionaire’s yacht; The kind that comes with ready-made horizons on demand.

Sweet

Dessert, as always, is best served cold – and often with a touch of citric.

Here, Packer means to our own making Prime Minister from Wangaratta like “human scum” Because it almost ruined his job and his life.

Not the gamblers who lost their lives in, around, or because of the empire built under his watch.

Families were not torn apart.

It’s not regulatory failures that have allowed his fortune to flourish.

But what do I know?

I just lost a loved one to gambling – and probably because of the “bullshit regulation” the Crown took advantage of.

Digestive

Poor Jimmy, even if he was one of them, he wouldn’t know when dinner was done. “This is enough” He stabbed it into the side of his yacht with a silver spoon.

At this point, like many Australians, all I want for Christmas is a little less Mariah… and a lot less Jimmy.

Ding ding.

Bill at the table. Clean the plates. Give him a fruit plate while you’re on the go; Meanwhile, give him the entire ice bucket.

Greetings of the season to the great man.

I hope his next course is delivered with a humble sense of responsibility and a little more introspection.

Naomi Fryers is a journalist based in Naarm. He is a former editor. Lot’s Wife And The Good Men Project. You can follow Naomi at:@just-naomi.bsky.social.

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