It wouldn’t be the annual Logie Awards if a faux pas or discriminatory comment wasn’t made.
Last night’s 60th annual event to celebrate the best on the Australian small screen was no different when television icon Bert Newton made a gay slur when presenting the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent.
“As I look out on the audience I’ve got to be honest, there are many faces that I know from the screen but don’t know them personally,” Newton said. “And you might feel the same way. ‘You know, ‘where’s this old p**f come from?'”
It’s unclear whether Bert Newton was referring to himself or to his late friend and longtime collaborator Graham Kennedy.
“Speaking of young talent,” Newton continued, “Graham Kennedy was always the sort of man who nurtured young talent.” Newton then joked that his former co-star enjoyed “mentoring” young talent in private.
“He enjoyed giving young people a chance on television, he was a great mentor, he mentored a lot of young people,” he said. “[…] You knew if you went to his dressing room and it was locked, he would be inside doing some mentoring.”
Bert Newton, appositely, is now facing a social media backlash.
Australian TV and movie historian Andrew Mercado tweeted:
When Bert Newton leaves the stage, will someone explain to him about the #metoo movement?
Making jokes about “mentoring behind closed dressing room doors” is not funny#Logies2018— Andrew Mercado (@andrewmercado) July 1, 2018
Members of the public and media took to Twitter to share their disdain for Newton’s comments.
Bert Newton is a legend so it’s seems churlish to be critical but his Graham Kennedy “joke” was odd and jarring, particularly in the context of presenting an award in Kennedy’s name. #Logies #logies2018
— Michael Byrnes (@MichaelByrnes) July 1, 2018
“most people are wondering who this old poof up on stage is” I’m pretty sure Bert Newton just either outed himself (finally) or was outright homophobic #Logies #logies2018 🌈@TVWEEKmag @tvtonightau
— Patrick Abboud (@PatrickAbboud) July 1, 2018
Ooooooooooh boy
Bert Newton just put his foot in it on the #Logies2018 broadcast.#MeToo
— Sandy Lanceley (@sandylanceley) July 1, 2018
This year’s winners included Grant Denyer of the recently cancelled Family Feud taking home the coveted Gold Logie, beating out longtime Australian TV favourites Tracy Grimshaw and Amanda Keller, with Pamela Rabe of Wentworth taking out the award for Most Outstanding Actress.
Logies 2018 Winners List:
TV Week Gold Logie – Most Popular Personality on Australian TV
Grant Denyer, Family Feud/All Star Family Feud (Network Ten)
Most Popular Actor
Ray Meagher, Home And Away (Channel 7)
Most Popular Actress
Jessica Marais, Love Child (Nine Network); The Wrong Girl (Network Ten)
Most Popular Presenter
Grant Denyer, Family Feud/All Star Family Feud (Network Ten)
Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent
Dilruk Jayasinha, CRAM! (Network Ten); Utopia (ABC)
Most Popular Drama Program
Wentworth (Foxtel – Showcase)
Most Popular Entertainment Program
Gogglebox Australia (Foxtel/Network Ten)
Most Popular Comedy Program
Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network Ten)
Most Popular Reality Program
The Block (Nine Network)
Most Popular Lifestyle Program
The Living Room (Network Ten)
