Oops. The Project apologises after gag backfires
Project producers apologise after an honest mistake was made at the expense of a visually impaired woman.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
The Project has apologised after an unfortunate gag which appeared to be an honest mistake in editorial.
On Thursday night a short clip of a Remembrance Day breakfast at Doncaster RSL included an observation that suggested Yvonne Sher, 65, a mother of a deceased soldier, was giving PM Scott Morrison “the cold shoulder.”
But Ms. Sher is also visually impaired mother, told The Australian, “They’ve tried to make me look like an idiot who doesn’t know who the Prime Minister is – it was so humiliating.”
Ms Sher said The Project wouldn’t have known she was visually impaired but the incident was still upsetting and she had since received an apologetic phone call from one of the program’s producers.
Comedian Nath Valvo also sent a message to Sher’s daughter-in-law, saying a “huge sorry to you and the family … If we had known any of this, we would have never shown it.
“It’s no excuse but please know the intention was to poke fun at the PM,” he wrote.
The show also included more poignant stories on Remembrance Day as well.
10 declined to comment.
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14 Responses
I found this sort of behavior to be absolutely abominable. When they show some of the segments, they make unnecessary jokes (which I don’t find it funny).
Oh my God, let’s shut the show down and sack all the staff.
The anti Project league are out, The Project is a current affairs show with light relief, always has been and thank 3 eyed fish for that….
They shouldn’t be making jokes about the PM either. He is still human.
And an elected public official. No matter what your politics are you should respect the office and if they can’t do that they should just interview Delta Goodrem for 1 hour 7 nights a week. I wouldn’t expect the rating to be any worse.
Disagree. Comedy to make political points goes back to the Greeks and Shakespeare. Public office is fair game whether on The Project, Mad as Hell or The Gillies Report.
Sending up politicians and public figures is thankfully never going away “Welease Bwian”
The PM, indeed any elected official, is fair game for satire and has been for years, long before The Project came along. I remember the hilarious imitations of John Howard that Full Frontal used to do….no doubt Hawke and Keating were also subject to it.
I wonder if these people protesting the sending up of the PM have also expressed outrage at pretty much every newspaper cartoonist ever to exist, and TV shows as far back as This Day Tonight or The Mavis Bramston Show.
The ABC even did a full sitcom based on a caricature of Julia Gillard. I wonder if those seeking protection around the current PM were as vocal in protesting that show and the many others that came before it. Or is it just because it’s The Project…?
The comments here already a bit harsh on The Project. In all honesty how were they meant to know the lady was visually impaired? They have done the right thing once they found out, so good on them for doing that.
And despite how The Australian might like to frame this, it was not a deliberate or malicious intent to “punch down” towards Ms Sher, although by using her actions to have a go at “punching up” to the PM they inadvertently offended her and they were right to apologise to her for it.
Disgusting behaviour from The Project, but I’d expect nothing else from there to be honest. They have done this sort of behaviour before
Its disgusting behaviour yet again from The Project. They try and make a joke of everyone and honestly enough is enough. Apology or not, it’s unacceptable.
Yes it is acceptable or it’s not up to you to accept but the injured party. And they are a brilliant show who have jokes some work som3 dint bu5 they are not disgusting. Politicians are.