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Bert Newton faces backlash for 'inappropriate' Logies joke

Team Lifestyle

He’s one of the most beloved Australian television stars, but Bert Newton has come under fire for making an “inappropriate” joke at this year’s Logie Awards.

When the 79-year-old took to the stage to present the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent, he went off on a rather long tangent.

Reflecting on the late comedian who lends his name to the award, Bert made a joke about Graham “mentoring young talent” that didn’t go down well.

Reflecting upon his early career with the late Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton made a rather suss joke about the late actor “mentoring young talent”. Source: Nine
Reflecting upon his early career with the late Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton made a rather suss joke about the late actor “mentoring young talent”. Source: Nine

“He enjoyed giving young people a chance on television,” Bert said in his speech. “He was a great mentor, he mentored a lot of young people.

“You knew if you went to his dressing room and it was locked, he would be inside doing some mentoring.”

Whilst some of the audience laughed, many also gasped awkwardly.

The joke did not go unnoticed by many on social media.

However, some argued there was humour in his joke.

Bert himself also clarified what he meant by the joke.

“I’ll tell you what I was referring to. I was referring to the fact it was totally innocent, as far as I’m concerned,” he said in the TV Week Logie Awards media room on Sunday night.

The late actor never made his sexuality known to the public, but it was rumoured he was gay.

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