Kayla Cullen says Luatua is like a brother. Photo / Dean Purcell
Luatua's former flatmate takes online dig after spotting pop pose.
All Black Steven Luatua tweeted superstar Justin Timberlake on Monday congratulating him on his MTV Video Music Awards performance, but the 22-year-old flanker was called out by Silver Fern Kayla Cullen for his own musical routine at the Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday.
"All the single ladies put your hands up," the 21-year-old netballer teased Luatua on Twitter, comparing his hand gesture during the haka to superstar Beyonce on her Single Ladies video, about holding your engagement talon high in the air.
Was the All Black busting a Beyonce move?
Cullen, who returned from the World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow last week with a knee injury, told The Diary she made the picture and posted the tweet "because he so looked like he was pulling a Beyonce".
She felt it only right to rib him. "Steven used to be my flatmate. He's like my brother."
The rugby star with the heart-throb hair didn't respond to the Silver Fern and Mystics player online. She tried to bait him again, but nothing. Even a call to his rep failed to incite a droll retort to The Diary.
Her post was retweeted 45 times. In the battle of the codes and war of wits, netball was clearly the winner.
But you get the feeling this was a fight Luatua didn't mind losing. Teasing and taunting is part of their friendship.
Cullen's Tumblr page, with its bikini-clad mannequins and derriere snaps, shows the glamorous young athlete is very fashion-forward. We wondered what she makes of Luatua's lengthy locks. Those tresses are made for a Pantene endorsement - or a Disney prince.
For now, though, it's Luatua's haka hand-flick that's the move du jour. Fuggedabout twerking and Miley Cyrus.
The tables turned on the self-serving internet freedom fighter when he picked on the Prime Minister's 20-year-old daughter, Stephanie, in a deliberate attempt to push his agenda and score political points against her dad.
Dotcom posted several capitalising tweets about her nude self-portraits. But an injudicious one about the cop raid on his house that tastelessly exploited an image of the young artist, topless with a gun, scored the wrath of followers. Dotcom had gone too far, they said. He quickly whipped it off, but the backlash had begun.
Last year, Dotcom used Twitter to foster his cause and a fledgling pop career, but drew indignation after posting a wildly inappropriate joke about rape. He yanked it down faster than you could scream, "raid".
Three-way Labour race begins Applications for the Labour leadership nomination have closed. The lights have gone up. The stage is set. The votes are to be cast. This is your Political Idol. So far, there's no lack of hubris among the runners.
Shane Jones, remember him? Paid for hotel porn movies on his Crown credit card? He's making a comeback and wants the top job.
Grant Robertson is running, too, and making headlines for his sexual orientation. He is getting credit for being an articulate, sharp-witted, gay MP. Robertson says his private life is not of interest; New Zealanders will look past it. He's happy, however, to peddle his pastime of playing rugby.
David Cunliffe announced His ticket with His slogan while wearing His ceremonial leis at His electorate office under a portrait of Himself.
Critics say he is too Me, Me, Me. So blinkered, evidently, he obliviously posted His candidacy message on Facebook and duplicated the same template as rival Robertson. Oops. Witi Ihimaera may call that flattery, but voters will call that a turn off.