Nova radio presenter Tim Blackwell faced public criticism after sharing a Father’s Day social media post in which his partner, Lizzie, referred to him as “daddy.” The post, which included a photo of Lizzie posing with Blackwell and his three children, drew backlash from listeners and followers who called the comment inappropriate.

In the Instagram post, Lizzie, 28, captioned a photo of herself alongside Blackwell, 42, and his children: "Happy Father's Day to our Daddy because I'm young enough to be your daughter too." The image, which Blackwell later reshared on his account, prompted replies from followers including "Yuck and vomit," and "Calling him Daddy. Yuck," while another wrote, "Sorry, there is a better way to recognise your partner on Father’s Day."

Blackwell shares three sons — Bo, 12; Alfie, 9; and Artie, 6 — with his former wife, Monique, and the family element of the photo appears to have been a factor in some followers' reactions. Lizzie works as a producer on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa, and the couple publicly confirmed their relationship last year after making a red-carpet appearance at the ARIA Awards in November, where Blackwell was hosting the ceremony.

The relationship became public following reports of a Date in Coogee and social-media exchanges between the two. In a previously reported online exchange, Lizzie asked Blackwell if she could be his date for the awards, writing, "Do you need a date by any chance? You're hot." Blackwell replied that he would be working and that it "wouldn't be unprofessional," later adding, "I'll think about it..." Lizzie responded, "Hasn't stopped you in the past."

Blackwell’s relationship with Lizzie followed the breakdown of his marriage to Monique, who announced the split on Instagram on Dec. 10 with the caption, "Not all good things end, but this has." The announcement came about a year before Blackwell and Lizzie’s ARIA appearance.

Public reaction to the Father’s Day post has been driven largely by social media responses and commentary from Nova listeners. Critics focused on the combination of the term used in the caption and the presence of Blackwell’s children in the photograph. Supporters have not been prominent in the responses shared publicly, and neither Blackwell nor Lizzie issued further comment about the criticism at the time of publication.

The incident highlights sensitivities around public figures' family images and the language used in social posts that include children. It also underscores how quickly private remarks between partners can attract attention and commentary when shared on widely followed accounts.