Amanda Keller has revealed she’s still “upset” by Tom Gleeson’s strange acceptance speech at the TV Week Gold Logie awards.
Opening up about his controversial win, the affable television and radio presenter said during the first Jonesy and Amanda show since the big night that although she understood the comedian was being sarcastic, she didn’t appreciate his distasteful comments about other hardworking celebrities in the entertainment industry.
WATCH: Amanda Keller unleashes on Tom Gleeson
“I think in his speech when he said, ‘everyone who works in TV, if you want to win this you’re a big wanker’, pretty much, and that upset me because he was mean to (last year’s Gold Logie winner) Grant (Denyer) I felt,” she said to WSFM co-host Brendan “Jonesy” Jones. “He said ‘Yeah I won it last year for Grant, and sucker, now I’ve done it on my own for me.’
“That’s not fair to Grant, he won that last year on his own two feet. And people that have won in the past — Carrie Bickmore changed the world, she’s raised ten million dollars for brain cancer research. Grant spoke about redemption. Waleed Aly spoke about inclusiveness.”
“She has a sense of humour — she would actually be offended by the idea that I felt sorry for her,” the comedian said. “So, I find it hard to do that because if I do, I’m denying her a sense of humour, and she was finding it funny.”
However, two weeks after his shock comments made headlines Keller clarified her position, insisting that although she had “no problem” with Gleeson, she was still saddened by his speech.
“I like Tom, we saw him at the airport, no problem with Tom. But (his speech) gave everyone permission to say, ‘yeah you’re all up yourselves, and this is all a big joke’. And it wasn’t a joke to me,” she explained. “I don’t know why in television we’re embarrassed to be proud of our work. The tourism industry has awards, the restaurant industry has awards … He got to a point where he said, ‘Sucko for wanting this, you know it’s all a dumb joke’ — and that’s what made me feel bad, because to the other nominees, it wasn’t.
She continued: “We were all worthy, and I don’t think we should be embarrassed for being worthy.”
It’s no secret Gleeson’s acceptance speech on the Gold Coast ruffled a few feathers. Following a political style campaign— which saw the Australian TV host bash nominees including Keller, Neighbours star Eve Morey, Doctor Doctor actor Rodger Corser, The Project host Waleed Aly, and Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac— Gleeson shocked viewers when he claimed Australians need to “lighten the f**k up”.
WATCH: Grant Denyer Calls Out Tom Gleeson for Mocking Logies
“Just because all of you want it and I’ve got it, don’t get angry with me. It’s all right, you’ll all survive. It’s a shame this is the last Gold Logie that’s ever going to be handed out — according to Grant Denyer, I’ve ruined the Logies. But at least I won this all by myself,” he said.
Do you know what would have been weirder? If I campaigned for this award sincerely … Imagine me just sincerely saying I was humbled by the award. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. It would make me want to vomit.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
