Mardi Gras accepts Wilson’s apology
A Channel Ten newsreader has apologised on air after he branded the Sydney Mardi Gras parade “disgusting”.
The interview on Ten’s Morning News on Monday between Mardi Gras co-chair Peter Urmson and newsreader Ron Wilson turned sour after what began as a general discussion about the political themes of this year’s Mardi Gras. It quickly turned into a tense back-and-forth between the two when Wilson began questioning the relevance and appropriateness of the parade in 2011.
“Some of the spectacles you’re seeing, I’m assuming would even make you cringe. It becomes an exploitation almost of a sexual image rather than trying to explore the diversity of lifestyle,” Wilson said.
“Our community is extremely colourful, and we celebrate our diversity through …” Urmson replied, before Wilson interrupted by saying “there’s a difference between colourful and disgusting”.
At one point, Wilson questioned why the gay and lesbian community was pushing same-sex marriage as an issue.
“There’s acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. Why not let time take care of the gay marriage issue rather than pushing it?” he asked.
A clearly dumbfounded Urmson responded by saying, “Because if we don’t push for it, no one’s going to.”
Criticism of Wilson’s performance exploded on the Star Observer’s website – www.starobserver.com.au – and social media platforms, with many questioning the bizarre and uncharacteristic editorialising of what began as a fairly straightforward interview for the 35-year news veteran.
Following the backlash Wilson apologised for the interview in a statement on Monday night and on air at the end of the Tuesday morning news broadcast.
“As a journalist, my job is to present an issue from different perspectives,” Wilson said in an on air apology.
“But there is no question I could have chosen my words better. If anyone took offence at anything I said during the interview I apologise. I fully support the gay community in its campaign to promote the issue of gay marriage and I congratulate the gay and lesbian community on the success of Mardi Gras. Please take that with the upmost sincerity.”
Urmson said he was happy to accept Wilson’s apology.
“We appreciate the need for an interviewer to present contrary views and it is our roles as spokespeople to respond, however clearly a line was crossed yesterday and Ron made some highly subjective and damning comments which it is now clear he regrets,” he said in a statement.
“Furthermore we appreciate that Ron was prepared to go on record, on a personal basis, stating his support for same-sex marriage. That is something that neither major political party has to date been prepared to do. It is not something Ron needed to do, but clearly felt important to put on record.
“As far as we are concerned, it lays the matter to rest. Channel Ten has given otherwise positive coverage to this year’s Festival and Parade, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Sydney gay activist Gary Burns has announced he will lodge a complaint against Wilson at the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board.
“The Mardi Gras may not be everyone’s cup of tea but surely diversity on a night like this is acceptable,” Burns said.
Ten also released a statement yesterday in regards to the comments:
“Ten Morning News featured eight minutes of overwhelmingly positive coverage of Mardi Gras. Ron Wilson congratulated organisers on the success of the 2011 event.
One small section of the interview raised a question about behaviour by some participants. The phrasing might not have been ideal, and TEN apologises if any viewers took offence.
However, it is not unreasonable for alternative views to be put to organisers and the interview talent agreed that while he didn’t hold the view, some sections of society may.”
You gays make a fuss about everything. Get over yourselves. Anyway I’m sure that you have all heard worse.
I’m curious — how many straight people were in the parade this year, naked?
fire him!!!
crucify him!!!
jk of course, Ron made some valid points but on tv to call gay people disgusting, like mentioned above by Paul Rios mardi gras is pure sexual stuff compared to our mardi gras and kids love it!!
and to defend him channel 10 shame
Can I suggest a whole lot of you go and watch ‘Stonewall’. “Gosh gee whillickers why do all these pesky drag queens have to go running around, why all those nice straight people will think thats just what all us homosexuals are all like, so lets all go off and protest nice and quietly in the corner and not give offence, in a suit and tie or a pretty frock. But no loud colours or patterns to scare the children!” (I paraphrase but Im sure you get the point).
A minority that is effectively marginalised on so many levels, especially politically, will express itself very loudly when it gets the chance. Thats the point of Mardi Gras. It was also grossly hypocritical and unprofessional of Wilson to ask those questions when Ten used to broadcast the parade, and revel in every bare bum or boob it could throw a camera into.
As Michelle noted, Ten removed their upload of the interview from their Youtube site at around 7:43 tonight, when there were already over 120 VERY negative postings. At the same time there was over a 30 minute delay on hold to get to their switchboard operator to lodge a complaint. Our point has been made very loudly and very clearly.
‘Say Something’ is this years Mardi Gras season theme. While Ron Wilson should be entitled like all others to voice his opinion, he should as a veteran journalist have chosen his words better. He used the word ‘Disgusting’, so full of venom. I am glad I didn’t hear him at the pub with his friends when his off-air words come out – probably much more vile. Ron, resign. Channel 10, sack him if he doesn’t resign. In 2011 his on-air comment is unacceptable.
Two things- 1. Ron kept up the “disgusting” theme & wouldn’t let go – interupting Peter until the conversation got cornered into a dead silence, and 2. Ron pushed an idea to let go of a push for Civil Marriage, & just “leave it alone” & “maybe it will come in time”.
Apart from those two points, I thought Ron was fine in the rest of the interview. But…. why was he so pushy on these two points??? Is it because of his involvment in the fiercly homophobic Salvation Army??? (who viciously closed soup kitchens across New York in revenge when same sex partrnership benefits were granted by city officials there)? When they come around for Red Shield Appeal, I slam the door in their faces.
As more “celebrities” get drawn or linked into Hillsong & Salvation Army, they more they need to think twice before spruking their agenda for them in thier media roles. Look how long it took Guy Sebastian to have the penny drop & stamp out being the Hillsong poster boy. Don’t fall into that trap Ron!
In Australia the most visited websites are ones containing pornography, and the most downloaded material is pornography. Poor old Ron wilson is a little out of step when it comes to mouthing an opinion on what “some people” may find discusting as its obvious that the “some” are in the minority while the majority are at home watching real sexual acts and not in the least bit bothered by any simulated acts during the Mardi Gras parade.
Whether it assists the right to same sex marriage will be immaterial as that is a polical and legal battle.
People in Rio cavort semi naked during that Mardi Gras and I havent heard the of the Pope putting a stop to hetrosexual marriages because of it?
I fully support the freedom of expression events like Mardi Gras give our marginalized community ,we have had to fight hard for what little acceptance we actually have in our society and many of our brothers and sisters continue to struggle ,face persecution,violence and death in places all over this planet ,even in our own communities .We still have a long hard road to equality for all humanity ,we must not forget the fight isnt over its has just begun ,i was an activist in the mid 80s and though there is definitely progress ,it can easily be taken from us …V for Vendetta ,everyone should take heed ….we are ever totally safe or free this is not star trek or utopia yet ,let work to find common ground , whilst challenging bigotry ,hatred and educate the masses …be out and proud!Love to all my Brothers and Sisters ….
Well Wilson and Channel 10 are saying not to rush things like Same-Sex marriage and let time sort it out. Well I hope the Public Relations people at Channel 10 trying to clean up this mess read this.
It is Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott that meddle in your private life and tell you under no circumstances marry your love while at the same time doing nothing about the 1084 pieces of legislation that discriminate in favour of married couples. Hell they will never meet you or your love, and is not their bloody business! It is this government that does not even protect you in the Federal Equal Opportunity Act. And when you are old and need a nursing home, then you may well have the same trouble others have had getting denied a nursing home place simply due to your sexuality. And let us not forget you can be sacked on the spot no matter how hard you work in a school or a hospital if it is run by a religious business and funded with tax payers money. Hell you can even be sacked by the Salvation Army working in a soup kitchen.
Wilson might be well pleased with himself throwing stones at Mardi-Gras for some of us asking for all these issues to be addressed. He may think this is disgusting but I do not.
So I ask Channel 10 why they think all this is good enough. I ask Channel 10 why the hate our Civil Rights. I ask Wilson why he does not broadcast an apology and tell people how we are discriminated against rather then we should give all this time. Exactly how many decades is he proposing before we get full equality?
Every minute of every hour of every day of every year we are discriminated against.
Wilsons comments were yet another green light to all of the homophobes and gay bashers out there. Comments like that can be very damaging to young gays and lesbians and im perplexed as to why any gay person would jump to Wilsons defense.
He is nothing but a news reader, his job is to present the news. Thats it. Frankly, i dont care what his or any other news readers personal opinions are on any given topic. I hope gay people switch channel ten off en masse!
I see both sides of the arguement. I do think Ron Wilson could have worded his interview much better. And I also agree that those participating in the Mardi Gras need to be mindful of exactly what they are portraying. It’s important to share a message of equality and that’s not done by flaunting around half naked in a parade. I am a gay man. Proud and out. But even I question and sometimes cringe at some peoples antics at this years Mardi gras.
A decade ago I would never have dreamed that in 2010 a prime ministerial candidate would be getting seriously grilled in the mainstream media for his/her refusal to stand up for same-sex marriage. If that means that the mardi gras parade becomes a touchpoint for serious debate rather than the basis of a short puff piece of commercial telly then so be it – it’s a small price to pay.
Just resign old man
“@David..you are the exact type of whinging Queen I am talking about”
Good! Oh and for the record, im really not that much of a whinger, well not when you compare it to the whinging emanating from certain sections of the straight community for the last 33 years that Mardi Gras has been in existence. I have always held a live and let live attitude but damn it some people are just begging for a verbal smackdown and i have never backed away from one either. You wont win this argument honey, you know NOTHING about me.
Despite what Channel 10 have said, I’m guessing it must have made Channel 10 look bad as the video has been removed from You-Tube – guessing 10 made that happen?
From what I’ve read, it sounds pretty appalling. And he has contradicted himself by saying ‘why push gay marriage’ to ‘i support gay marriage’. What a tool.
Ron Wilson you should be ashamed…WHY you ask? What you’ve said, intentional or not, was very hurtful! There WILL be people you love and respect who are gay and your comments will hurt them. Straight and gay people act outrageously at times because they are having a good time.
Don’t justify your actions with a bull crap statement after the backlash. A simple apology which is heartfelt is best… Sadly, this must be how you really feel.
I find your comments disgusting and expected more from you. You are part of the violence against good, decent gay people. This makes you the same as those who persecute other races… it all stems from intolerance and ignorance.
@David..you are the exact type of whinging Queen I am talking about,my “hetro” friends are against the sexualisation of straight people all over the T.V,mags,out in public,in MUSIC.They have young children who hear blatent sexual vocals on radio in the cinema on T.V. more so my female friends are disgusted in the way ugly men are often paired with stunning women.Get out of your box and get to know some.
“And gay & lesbians have had straight sexuality shoved in our faces since forever so to those of you who think it’s too sexual – TOO BAD!”
So true! every time you open a magazine, switch on the TV, go to the movies and in my case look out the window at the laneway that runs behind my building there they are, shoving it in our faces. Oh but thats ok, its hetero sex, its “normal”. LOL you lot are not normal, just common :)!
And as somebody else mentioned the Rio Carnivale is about to take place, a HETERO display of mud wrestling, floppy tits and god knows what else and you know what? The vast majority of the homophobes calling us vile will not even give it a second thought. HYPOCRITES.
I agree with Glen,ffs get over yourselves your constant bitching makes us all look bad,we are not all “drama queens” I prefer to spend time with as many straight friends as possible because so many of you, even people who actually work for this paper are so concerned about your place in the “gay scene” you take sides with people who may give you status above people who are actually decent.A lot of straight people are,but I have seen many bullied and bitched on,for what?If you have nothing personal to gain from one you will listen to the opinion of a bunch of lying bitching gay men.One of my best friends is straight and the gay people of Melbourne who bullied her into a breakdown need to take a close look at yourselves.Until then we will always be outcasts.If you want respect then be respectful.
Great Wilson went into this direction as this from my point of view is exactly what Mardi Gras and its parade is all about: Create a public discussion on GLBTQ rights and getting the message across that there e.g. just isn’t anything disgusting about ANY sexuality.
It is now on us to teach Ch10 (and with it all other mainstream media) a lesson that there are some lines and phrases which are simply inappropriate to us as a community and don’t help to get the public well informed.
Knowing how many GLBTQ editors, cutters, stylists, presenters etc. are working within the media such as channel 10, I right now have a big smile on my face whilst picturing what happens behind their studio walls these moments. Ron Wilson, without knowing you have done our communities a big favour and at the same time have lost probably 10% of your metropolitan viewers. And Kudos to Peter, he has responded just as I could have wished for, very diplomatic + factual but clearly making a point that this was just NOT right to say.
To a certain degree I can agree with Ron.
There is still a minority of floats that I personally, as a gay man, to be inappropriate rather than discussing. Even this year there was one specific float that I said to my niece that I did not think it was appropriate. So, he was only saying what some in the gay community feel as well.
Yes, some of Ron’s comments were inappropriate but Peter did get his word across and did very well.
Unfortunately, everyone has a right to an opinion and if we don’t like what that opinion is then so be it.
Now me being cynical I wonder when the serial complainer will lodge a complaint with the authorities.
Have any of you ignorant and uneducated people heard of the word ‘catharsis’? When you’re marginalized and discriminated against I can understand the need to let it all out in a ‘I don’t give a f@ck what you think’ manner.
I love how Glen “as straight as they come” hangs out on the SSO website and comment stream in their spare time..!
Everyone on here can have an opinion on this and not be ridiculed yet he says one word (which everyone has taken out of context) and gets slammed?? calm down! He meant no harm….the theme of Mardi Gra was “Say Something”…. Ron said something and looked what happened……
Gawd I’m as straight as they come and I couldn’t care less about what gays do with themselves, however I can’t stand the hypocrisy! Why has the Gay cause deviated from the pursuit of acceptance and equality and transcended to this level of all Gay people must be treated as “Special” and be above critiscism because you are “Gay”? Gay people I can handle but your radical politics makes me sick!
Rio’s Carnival is on right now. It’s predominantly straight and EXTREMELY provocative. In fact, it’s based on a foundation of maximum sexual conquests pre-lent. Yet there are no cries of “disgusting!” Double standards anyone?
Homophobia is alive and well in the Channel 10 newsroom.
To the people who are commenting that Mardi Gras isn’t a good representation..
A lot of other outlets leave impressions that far stronger than seeing snippets of the Mardi Gras on the TV. Think: Movies, TV shows, ads, our own peers etc.
Not everyone watches the news on telly (let alone switches to it just as Mardi Gras is shown). People seem to think that Mardi Gras is the one and only place that the general public will get their ‘impression’ of various stereotypes…why would you think that the party goers that you see enjoying themselves that night is an actual, accurate everyday representation of “them queerfolk”?!
Mardi Gras celebrates all the majestic colours of the rainbow and so do I.
Mardi Gras is a celebration, it’s a party. Of course people are going to go ‘out there’ and act in ways that they may not normally act but as someone said, it’s an escape from society’s norms. It’s like Supanova – I see a lot of people dressing up in various costumes but they don’t go to the shops wearing Sailor Moon or Aliens 2 costumes…or what about those music festivals like Woodford? People go to Woodford to immerse themselves in another environment, to escape and to have a good time. I think Ron Wilson is too old to remember what it’s like to escape and have a good time!