Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die.
asserted
them → ask → die
The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given.
asserted
they → land → ?
This week, he talks with Brendan Pang.
asserted
he → talk → Pang
The cookbook author, 33, competed on MasterChef Australia twice and has more than 2 million followers on online platforms.
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author → compete → platforms
SEX
True or false: you came out to your mum just before you went on MasterChef?
asserted
you → come → MasterChef
I was 24, working as a social worker, couldn’t take leave without pay, so had to let everything else go in my life to go on MasterChef.
asserted
everything → work → MasterChef
So I’m doing all these massive things, but I didn’t really feel fully true to myself.
asserted
I → do → myself
I just kept thinking: “I could be away from home for six months, my life could change, and a lot of people are going to see this on TV,” so I wanted the people closest to me to know I was gay.
uncertain
I → keep → me
When I told Mum in the car, I was crying.
asserted
I → tell → car
But she was like, “I already knew, but I wanted you to tell me.”
asserted
you → know → me
You later came out publicly, too.
asserted
You → come → ?
What responses from the public stayed with you?
asserted
responses → stay → you
Once I did a TEDx talk, and my coming-out story was part of it.
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story → do → it
This young guy shooting the talk – a teenager – came up to me afterwards and said, “Your story has inspired me to come out as well.”
asserted
story → shoot → me
So getting to be a role model for gay Asian Australians – and second-generation Asians, too – is pretty special.
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getting → get → Australians
What turns you off in a guy?
asserted
What → turn → guy
Oh, so many things [laughs]: a guy who doesn’t know how to wash or dry his clothes properly.
asserted
who → laugh → clothes
who’s preachy
asserted
who → ’ → ?
Someone who’s not motivated.
asserted
who → ’ → ?
Someone who doesn’t care about himself.
asserted
who → care → himself
You don’t want a mess is what I’m hearing.
asserted
I → want → what
So what turns you on in a guy?
asserted
what → turn → guy
Basically, the opposite of all those things: someone who smells great.
asserted
who → smell → things
Someone who has ambition. Someone who has self-respect.
asserted
who → have → respect
It’s funny: I actually cooked for my boyfriend at the beginning …
asserted
I → ’ → beginning
Ah, you caught him with food!
asserted
you → catch → food
What did you cook?
asserted
you → cook → What
Well, I always try to find out what people’s dietaries are, and ask a few questions about the things they like.
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they → try → things
He said he was pescatarian and hated coriander.
asserted
he → say → coriander
So I made crispy prawn wontons with a nice, tangy dressing and a little mayo on the side.
asserted
I → make → side
I also got some local scampi, poached them in butter and made a little Vietnamese salad and steamed rice rolls.
asserted
I → get → salad
Settle this for me: should a romantic meal come before or after sex?
asserted
meal → settle → sex
BODIES
Did you feel attractive growing up in your body?
asserted
you → feel → body
Some context: I’m Chinese-Mauritian, but look mostly Chinese, and was born and grew up in Perth.
asserted
I → ’m → Perth
So I think I had a lot of inner struggles with my body growing up in a white-dominant place.
asserted
I → think → place
Apparently, when I was a kid, I’d say to Mum, “I wish I had blond hair” – which is quite sad.
asserted
which → say → hair
Later, I was also around a lot of guys who weren’t into Asian guys, and I felt I’d never want to date an Asian person myself.
asserted
I → feel → person
But I’ve come a long way.
asserted
I → come → ?
When you say you’ve come a long way, what changed?
asserted
what → say → ?
Up until recently, I lived in Taiwan.
asserted
I → live → Taiwan
…and 31 more, not listed.
The Aporia
