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Anti-Discrimination Board to investigate Eddie

The NSW Anti-Discrimination Board will investigate the comments made by Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy about US skater Johnny Weir.

Gay activist Gary Burns has filed a complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board against the comments made by Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy about US skater Johnny Weir.

Mr Burns said McGuire and Molloy incited hatred against homosexual males.

“These hired goons were not down at the pub drinking flat beer with their mates, they were on national television being viewed by millions of Australians.

“On Mardi Gras eve the Board’s decision to accept this complaint is a timely reminder to homophobes like McGuire and Molloy they won’t get away with vilifying homosexuals.”

The comments made by the two Nine presenters during the Winter Olympics caused a media storm last week after McGuire said of the men’s skaters “They don’t leave anything in the closet either, do they?” and referred to the event as  “a bit of a Brokeback.”

But Nine and McGuire began to back-pedal from the original comments the next night when McGuire explained Johnny Weir never shrinked from pubicity at the same time as praising his athleticism. On Sunday night he interviewed Weir who appeared to take the comments in good humour, while Molloy distanced himself from homophobia on Monday night.

Burns has previously laid similar complaints against Nine shows including the NRL Footy Show.

That complaint had sought on air retribution for comments, which Nine is likely to have declare has already been addressed on this occasion.

Nine is yet to formally apologise or address the original comments.

The ADB has agreed to investigate the complaint.

Source: smh.com.au

27 Responses

  1. The whole incident is a storm in a teacup. If people are that upset by remarks alluding to homophobia then they need to get a life and grow up. Plenty of people make racist, provocative and offensive remarks all the time – all aided by the mainstream media and its depraved agenda.

  2. This is another example where all television programs must now warn viewers before any program,that anything said on the following show that offend’s someone is not the intent by the network,if we do offend we opologise.Unfortunately no matter what the subject these days there is always going to be someone offended by something.Real shame really.But at least if the networks do this they won’t need to opologise later,because it will get to the point where television networks will get sick of opolgiseing to viewers.Maybe Play School 24 Hours A Day will solve it

  3. I agree with David Knox. Whilst not homosexual myself, I was offended by the cheap shot, sleazy, juvenile nature of the comments. Do I think the comments incited hatred of homosexuals? No. Did the comments vilify homosexuals? Well, I think it can be argued that they did. The “a bit of Brokeback” comment was very offensive. Obviously, the ACD thinks that the comments were out of line and created enough of an outcry in the general community to warrant an examination of them. McGuire and Molloy overstepped a line and whilst their apology is probably enough, this should throw a scare into them.

  4. What offends one person may not offend another. The anti discrimination board recognises there has been a wider reaction to the comments and therefore it is obviously prepared to look closer at what went on. That’s the whole point of having the ADB in the first place.

  5. I also agree with everyone else here. This issue has gone way too far.

    I’m not a fan of Eddie, he makes me cringe at the stuff he comes out with, but this is ridiculous.

  6. There isn’t the remotest chance that the Anti-Discrimination Board will rule the comments incited hatred against homosexuals, which begs the question: why is he lodging the complaint to begin with? If he’s doing it for the publicity then he needs to realise that this sort of thing actually inflicts serious damage to the gay rights cause. What he’s complaining about here is not a violation of his rights. People do not have a “right” not to be offended. However, they do have a right to change the channel in response to lame jokes if they so choose. They also have the right to be treated equally before the law, but that isn’t going to happen when certain elements within the gay community keep diverting the real issues at hand (such as gay marriage) by creating a new bunch of “rights” out of thin air.

  7. What gives Mr Burns the right to speak for the whole “gay” community??
    He doesnt speak for me!!
    If anyone had a right to complain it would have been Johnny Weir…. but he obviously doesnt seem to care…… so why should we….it was a joke.

    Take the government to the Anti-Discrimination Board for not allowing Gay Marriage and then i will support you, Mr Burns, but while you keep bringing forward these frivolous complains no one will take you seriously.

  8. Oh get over it – gay guy here – so do we start to chase all the general community people that make sly gay jokes every day – get a life and get on it with it – do we see the irish making big things about all the sick irish jokes

    next

  9. I agree with everyone else here. This issue has gone way too far.

    I understand that Gary is frustrated by straight men who still think it’s funny to make such lame comments about gay people and thinks it’s acceptable…but he should leave things as is. They have back-tracked somewhat because they understand that they have over-stepped the mark….and it can be seen as yet another example of how much a tool Eddie McGuire is…

  10. Oh please, Gary Burns, this story is so last week. We’ve all moved on. Let it go… and go out and enjoy your parade. Eddie’s (and Molloy’s) biggest crime on that night was that their humour was stale and out-dated, but it’s a stretch to think it incited hatred.

  11. Really? If the person in question didn’t care and probably was happy with even more publicity why should this be pursued? Wake up Australia!! There are bigger things for government departments to be looking at. Insulation anyone?

  12. Yes, the NRL footy show sketch was offensive because it made the assumption that gay people are soft and can’t play a man’s sport – I would love someone to tell that to Ian Roberts and then watch him give them a good king hit.

    However, I think Gary is drawing a long bow to make the statement that these two idiot’s comments have ‘incited hatred against homosexual males.’ In fact, Gary’s comments and actions might be causing more harm than good for the gay community as Mum and Dad Australia will struggle to see what the issue is.

  13. Ok, this is going too far now…

    The comments, both in and out of context, were borderline homophobia at worst , but in reality they were attempts at humour – extremely poor, lazy, and cheap humour.

    The fallout from all this is enough to pull these two gits into line.

    The network has done all it can to quell any offence people may have taken, only due to the backlash, not out of choice.

    The issue should be laid to rest, and we should be thankful we will likely see Johnny Weir on our TV’s soon as a result – hopefully not in a stereotypical role like giving fashion tips or whatever…

    For what it’s worth – I’m gay.

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