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Johns sketch goes before Anti-Discrimination Board

On the eve of his new Seven show, a controversial Matthew Johns sketch on Nine went before the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board yesterday.

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On the eve of his Matty Johns Show premiering on Seven, the controversial sketch featuring “Elton Johns” on Nine’s NRL Footy Show had a brief mention before the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board yesterday.

The 2009 skit featured a fictitious gay brother of troubled NRL siblings Andrew and Matthew Johns, called ‘Elton Johns’.

“I want to return this,” said Johns’ father Gary in the skit. “It’s faulty.”

A complaint by activist Gary Burns will now be heard on May 19.

Former NRL player turned actor Ian Roberts will give evidence in the case. He was also drawn into the sketch when ‘Elton Johns’, portrayed by Matthew Johns, said: “Dad only knew I was gay when he walked in on me and my boyfriend Ian (Roberts).”

Meanwhile Gary Burns will meet with Eddie McGuire today to discuss the Winter Olympics gay slur directed at skater Johnny Weir.

McGuire has since claimed the comments were taken out of context and apologised for any offence.

Last month on JOY radio he said: “It was a gag. Whether it was a good one or not that happens all the time in live television but it certainly wasn’t aimed at or construed to be homophobic. As I’ve said it’s very easy to say ‘If anyone was offended I apologise.’ Obviously people found it offensive and I apologise, and I’ve said that all the way along. I notice that Gary Burns said yesterday that I should apologise. Hey, I apologised because there was no intent to hurt anyone, so if there was any hurt or anything like that -100% taken back,” he said.

He also showed interest in appearing in the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) campaign,

“I’d be the Patron if I could be involved!” he said.

14 Responses

  1. @Natasha, if you read the article you will notice that david didn’t take sides and simply reported the fact that some have found this offensive and that legal action is being taking. and if david did choose to take sides it would be well within his rights to. i can’t understand why do you seem to think its a bad thing to be against discrimination. @andy, good point ,any reasonable person is against racism but when it comes to discrimination of other groups unfortunately some people don’t feel the same why.

  2. @dave. I think mathew Johns is very funny. Sad state of affairs for Australian comedy, when the funniest person on Aus tv is ex football player. People should just take this as a joke. I wonder how many here faining insult at Johns skit. Where defending oloughlin (sp) When she attacked bindy irwin? Being made fun of is sign of acceptance. And if you can’t handle being made fun of. Then maybe you should get back in the closet.
    And what is so lame about the name of the show?
    I suppose the dick van dyke show, is a lame name? Or the johnny carson show ,has a lame name?.
    Unimaginative maybe. but lame? hardly. But down your latte mate. You silver plated spoon is rusting.
    What would you suggest as a name for the show?

  3. Natasha if you don’t like want David writes about don’t visit his site, because it’s just the same as if you don’t like something on TV, no one is forcing you to watch it.

    I don’t believe David writes his arcticles in a bias way but if he did that’s totally his choice, and I don’t think two articles about “gay themes” if you can call it that lol is showing David in a pro gay light. David is just reporting on current TV stories.

    Like 99.9% of TVT readers would say keep up that great work David.

  4. Natasha, it’s a blog. It’s nothing to do with what _you_ think it “ought” to be. Go read the right-wing press if you’re craving anti-gay coverage.

    From day 1 it has included gay coverage that might have been “overlooked” by the mainstream media and that’s part of its appeal. You don’t like it, don’t read it.

    Honestly David, I don’t know how you put up with this rubbish. Keep up the good work.

  5. Just what exactly is the pro gay lobby, Natasha? I think David has a very good balance of stories about the media. I think you are just bit paranoid and overly sensitive and just plain nasty.

  6. Is this blog funded by the pro gay lobby?

    Everyday there seems to be another article supporting the gay lifestyle. David if a story came up that was anti-gay would you publish it?

    This site seems very biased towards Positive Gay Lifestyle. Can back to reporting TV news please

    1. Natasha both stories are television related. Both stories were reported in wider media this week. TV Tonight has always been a personal blog and as a brand started in the gay media, I don’t intend to shift the way I write. I think if you add up the bulk of the stories, the ones that have hetereosexual themes far outweigh those that don’t?

  7. This is offensive – plain and simple. If you replaced ‘gay’ with ‘race’ there is no way it would be let on air (perhaps except on Hey Hey).

  8. It was a pre-recorded skit. It wasn’t “live” as Johns suggest. As to how anybody could put together this skit together without realising how offensive it is goes beyond me…

  9. Despite not being a supporter of gays, that skit is very cruel and offensive, particularly the lines “I want to return this,” said Johns’ father Gary in the skit. “It’s faulty.”

  11. eddies mcguire’s comment while stupid, was ad-libbed and not meant to cause offensive, but this matthew johns skit was planned, scripted and acted out, (and approved for air) and was clearly meant to make fun of gay people and portray them negatively, they even made fun of the only out footballer. good to see this is being investigated, so people know that these sort of skits will not be tolerated.
    also i cant believe someone who thinks this kind of thing is funny would be given there own tv show.

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