Q&A

The guy behind Australia’s favourite cult Instagram page MAFSFunny has written a book

On Friday, Joshua Fox blessed us with news that he was officially releasing his book, What You Into? Sex, sadness and celebrity scandals. The Bondi local is known as “Yeah But No But Josh” on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Or, as the guy behind cult Instagram page, MAFSFunny. 

Regardless of how you know him, the British-born radio producer, content creator and tabloid journalist is set to be releasing the perfect summer reading material. Both savagely funny yet surprisingly dark, Fox chronicles his experiences navigating the Grindr landscape in the midst of his divorce and battles with depression.

And it appears we’re not the only ones chomping at the bit to get our hands on it. Only days after its announcement, it’s already topped the Movers & Shakers list on Amazon. Sadly, we’ll have to wait for a little longer before we get a sneak peak. The book set to launch at the end of the month on October 30.

Prior to it’s launch, we had the opportunity to sit down with Josh.

Q: Congrats on the book, Josh! What’s it about?

A: “The book documents how my life fell apart after my husband one day decided to abruptly leave me, whilst taking the dog and all hope I had for my future with him. I started writing to just process that loss. Over time, it became a diary documenting me spiralling into Grindr, hook up culture and sex addiction. All while questioning why did he actually leave.”

Q: It sounds like it gets quite dark in parts?

A: “My publisher said this is the funniest book anyone will ever read about depression – and that’s a fair description. The whole thing is written in diary format, so it’s crazy seeing how much my outlook on life changes day by day as my mental health deteriorates.

I’ve suffered with depression all my life. Often, I’ve turned to books and blogs and anything for help or to feel less alone. But I’ve never really related to any of that media. These parts of the book though really articulate the reality of living with that cloud following you. Even in the darkest moments of not wanting to be alive anymore, I still managed to find some light and approach all of that heavy stuff with humour….

Because if you’re not laughing, you’re crying.”

Q: Do you write about your career in media too?

A: “Yeah. While reflecting on why my husband left, I start to look at how much my work has impacted who I am as a person. And the many regrets I have. Especially from my days working as Britain’s youngest paparazzi, and then as a journalist for The Sun, the biggest tabloid in the world.

There’s a fine line between entertainment and exploitation. I often crossed it… which is why the book is dedicated to “all the celebrities I’ve pissed off” as well as “all of the boys I’ve ghosted” and “the husband who left.”

Q: What’s it like working with Kyle & Jackie O?

A: “They are, without any doubt, two of the realest celebrities I have ever met. The fact I get to call them friends and work with them everyday is a dream. They are generous, supportive and even when writing this book, there were so many times I was completely overwhelmed by the thought that these deeply personal stories are going to be out there for people to read and judge. Jackie would sit, listen and help me through those moments. She’d remind me that actually, this will help people, and I should be proud.”

Q: How did MAFS Funny start?

A: “In all honesty, when I moved to Australia, I just couldn’t understand the hype around Married At First Sight, and the fact the country were taking these TV marriages so seriously. In the UK, we’re a lot more sceptical and watch to be entertained, not to be part of a fairytale. So I made the Instagram page just to give me alternative commentary taking the piss out of it, and it just blew up really. It was the first page doing that and people really got behind it!”

Q: What made you move to Sydney from the UK?

A: “I never in my whole life felt safe in the UK, or really part of the culture over there. I was raised on the edge of Manchester City Centre and then moved to central London. Everything always felt intense, claustrophobic. It’s like people thrived in the rat race of living to work – whereas I hated it. I then took a vacation to Sydney, fell in love with the lifestyle, the outdoors and the tranquillity and never went back.”

You can pre-order Josh Fox’s book What You Into? Sex, sadness and celebrity scandals here.