We all know the photo. We’ve seen it, probably laughed at it. Surely seen memes of it. Now, Prime Minister ScoMo has spoken out about the incident.
During an interview on 4BC, Mr Morrison was asked: “Did yourself and your wife Jenny feel disrespected?”
The Prime Minister didn’t deny whether he felt disrespected or not, but assured that he greeted Grace Tame with civility.
“I’ve seen all of that. Anyone comes to our home, when we invite somebody, we greet them with a smile, and they’re always welcome,” he said.
Unprompted, ScoMo noted that the focus on the day was not on the 2021 Australian of the Year, but rather it was about the 2022 finalists.
“And that day, that day was actually about all the finalists coming to celebrate,” he said. “And the previous Australians of the Year were there. Jenny and I were there and that day was all about them. All I’m saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who’ve done an incredible job for our country. And Jenny and I wanted to welcome them into our home and wish them all the best.”
Morrison then suggested that Tame had experiences a lot of difficulties in her life and no one was able to deny that.
“Look, Grace is a passionate person who’s raised important issues. She’s had a terrible life, terrible things happened to her. It’s just awful. And I know a lot of Australians, me included, and I support her efforts to ensure that this issues can be raised and addressed.
“Our goverment has done more than any other government on this issue. And that is in part because of the strong focus that has been brought to these issues. So I thank her for her time as Australian of the Year and as I say, when people come to our house, Jenny and I always greet them with a smile.”
Tame was named the 2021 Australian of the Year after she managed to overturn a Tasmanian law that prevented her from speaking about her experiences of sexual assault when she was just 15.
The viral photos that were captured on Friday showed the hilariously tense moment Tame met with ScoMo before a morning tea to celebrate the 2022 Australian of the Year finalists.
The 27-year-old was seen looking extremely unimpressed as the Prime Minister and wife Jenny stood for photos with her and others as they waited for the event.
At one point, she smiled at Jenny who said something that wasn’t heard.
Twitter took to the photo like a moth to a flame and pumped out some thoughts about the whole situation.
Grace Tame is all of us at the moment… pic.twitter.com/7HouFL8zee
— ZaneBarb (@BaneZarne) January 25, 2022
As she is undoubtedly vilified following the encounter, remember this.
Grace Tame owes the PM nothing.
Not her smile, not her handshake, not her civility. And definitely not her respect.
— Emma (@emma__jayne14) January 25, 2022
Dear men, how about you get as angry about a woman a week dying from male violence in Australia as you are today about Grace Tame not smiling at the PM.
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) January 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/vidyarrrr/status/1485833867793952768?s=20&t=5nKg2_ZGprfzZFfqN4tWcg
Mr Morrison,
Heard your spin on Grace Tame at The Lodge as you grifted her right of protest. You said “you and Jenny” always smile when people come to YOUR HOME.
You’re a rent free tenant in THE PEOPLE’S HOME. You’re there as a representative, not a private citizen.
DO YOUR JOB. pic.twitter.com/JJ25y9CjHl— (SCA) S. C. ANDERSON 🇦🇺🇨🇦🇳🇿 (@christianlexus) January 27, 2022
