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SMH accidentally publishes explicit image in backpacker hostel gallery

The paper blurred his face. They just forgot about everything else.

By Natasha LeePublished Jun 15, 2026
2 min read
MW 150626 ADB9

Those intrepid newshounds at Crikey have certainly sniffed out a big one, picking up on an accidental, ahem, d**k pic posted by The Sydney Morning Herald.

So it goes that on Wednesday last week, the paper ran a story about a Sydney backpacker's hostel.

It centred on neighbourhood complaints about plans to turn the roof of the aforementioned hostel into a "recreational space".

The story was resplendent with quotes from the chair of the local strata committee, who spoke of the questionable behaviour of guests, which included: "the defecation on our steps, the urination, the sexual activity that happens as a result of the partying next door".

To illustrate the claims, the publication included some 16 CCTV images.
However, by the next day, the count went down to 15.

Why, you ask with bated breath?

Well, because nestled in that gallery was an image of a man and his manhood just hanging out there, in the open, for all the world to see.

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Curiously, as Crikey notes, those who uploaded the gallery had gone to the effort of blurring the man's face, but neglected to scan the rest of the image.

The publication then republished the image, preserving the man's decency and, in a rather generous act, mind you, saved it as 'eggplant'.

Then again, in the rush of the 24-hour news cycle, who hasn't missed a few tiny things every now and then?

Mediaweek has reached out to SMH owner Nine for comment.

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