Bert Newton calls himself a “poof” during baffling Logies speech
Australian television royalty Bert Newton has raised eyebrows with a confusing speech at last night’s Logie Awards at the Gold Coast, in which he referred to himself using a gay slur.
Newton, 79, was met with cheers as he took to the stage to introduce the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent, before making the strange comment.
“As I look out on the audience, I’ve got to be honest,” he said.
“There are many faces that I know from the screen but don’t know them personally. You might feel the same way—where’s this old poof come from?”
Social media users reacted with surprise, with many shocked by Newton’s use of the slur and some even questioning whether he had picked an odd way to come out.
“Um, did Bert just out himself?” asked one person.
Others called the comment “homophobic”, but not everyone was offended by Newton’s turn of phrase.
Some suggested it was a reference to an “in joke” between Newton and Kennedy, who passed away in 2005.
“I’m gay, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest,” posted one person.
“As a gay male, I can honestly say that Bert Newton’s use of the word poof on stage at #Logies2018 when referring to himself was definitely not offensive. People need to get off the PC bandwagon,” wrote another.
The rest of Newton’s speech was packed with jokes well-received by the live audience, until he came to speak about entertainment icon Kennedy.
“Speaking of young talent, Graham Kennedy was always the sort of man who nurtured young talent,” Newton said.
“He enjoyed giving young people a chance on television, 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.”
The joke was met with shock by the audience, and reactions on social media have questioned its good taste, particularly given the current #MeToo movement.
“Interesting choice for Bert Newton to imply Graham Kennedy was a serial sexual abuser while presenting an award named in his honour,” posted one person.
Others called it “odd and jarring”, and said they “[couldn’t] believe people laughed”.
Newton has defended his comments about Kennedy.
“It was totally innocent so far as I am concerned,” he told News Corp.
“In fairness these days, everything is jumped on.
“I am not that sort of person. I didn’t mean anything untoward.”
Newton has been an Australian television fixture for six decades, and was himself inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 1988.
“most people are wondering who this old poof up on stage is” I’m pretty sure Bert Newton just either outed himself (finally) or was outright homophobic #Logies #logies2018 🌈@TVWEEKmag @tvtonightau
— Patrick Abboud (@PatrickAbboud) July 1, 2018
"where has this old poof come from" – Bert Newton…. um did Bert just Out himself? #logies
— Squirrel Comedy (@squirrel_comedy) July 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Salem4444/status/1013376515117965312
https://twitter.com/HayleyAmber_pdf/status/1013389773879197697
🙄
we all know bert is old school. give him a break. if people are going to get offended by the word "poof" they need to fucking grow up. i'm gay, it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
as for the other comment, maybe a bit too out of date now. https://t.co/q1asPQCbP6— 𝑴𝒔. 𝑫𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒐 🐶🐶 🇦🇺 (@ms_dingo) July 1, 2018
As a gay male, I can honestly say that Bert Newton’s use of the word poof on stage at #Logies2018 when referring to himself was definitely not offensive. People need to get off the pc bandwagon. Other than @Ladyjmo dance skit (fabulous), his has been the only good bit!
— Michael (@miksta85) July 1, 2018
Interesting choice for Bert Newton to imply Graham Kennedy was a serial sexual abuser while presenting an award named in his honour. #logies
— TheGrimRecapper (@TheGrimRecapper) July 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Petit_Galaxie/status/1013384330469519361
Bert Newton is a legend so it’s seems churlish to be critical but his Graham Kennedy “joke” was odd and jarring, particularly in the context of presenting an award in Kennedy’s name. #Logies #logies2018
— Michael Byrnes (@MichaelByrnes) July 1, 2018
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The outrage at this is one reason why nothing seems funny anymore.
Bert is from another generation, where people could poke fun at themselves and others, as long as it wasn’t meant to be hostile. As per the words of that Joe Jackson Lyric (from ‘Real men)- “don’t call me a faggot unless you are a friend”.
To all those that are part of the p.c. brigade/ offence industry-
IM OFFENDED THAT YOU ARE OFFENDED… (does that offend you?!)
Oh come on everyone get off the political correctness high horse. He’s 79. It’s like my granddad got up on stage and started telling jokes. Some of them wouldn’t be funny, some would be very racist and some would maybe hit the mark. He’s a different generation, cut him some slack.
Someone needs to remind Bert we haven’t collectively got a sense of humour any more. We aren’t even allowed to make a joke at our own expenses anymore without being called to account by the PC crowd who just want us all to be dull and boring. For the record, this is not the first time Bert has referred to himself as an old poof – and although we know he isn’t one – this ol poof doesn’t mind one bit because I’ve still got a sense of humour.
Bert Newton has always regarded himself as being “funny”. The Comedian’s Comedian. He’s not, nor ever has been., he was only ever the butt of Graham Kennedy’s vicious tongue.
It is beyond time Bert and all those other tired, old former s0-called “celebrities” just went home and stayed there in silence.
It just goes to demonstrate how old-fashioned, out-of-date and pointless the Logies are when they drag all these old has-beens out every year.
I disagree with a fair bit of this but I don’t think Bert would. I’m Gen-X thus grew up with watching Bert do morning tv while procrastinating attending uni and his show was basically a clever comedic satire of a morning tv show, I just can’t hate the guy.
Nobody disagrees the Logies are pointless though.
As an out and proud gay man in my 50s, I’m not offended by Bert’s comment. And I agree totally with Dave.
People should also remember, and I’m definitely not stating that it is the case, but Bert’s in an age bracket where *any* of us can be effected by dementi. That is not a slur against Bert, it is simply a sad thing to consider, as are any conditions that we can all experience as we get old; so before people get on their high-horses and react negatively, I think all other possible contexts must also be considered and observed.
Bert always enjoys a laugh at himself. I recall hearing him discuss his early days on tv in the era when he worked with Graham Kennedy and he hosted a pop music program in the early 1960’s called the Hi-Fi’ers Club. In a style influenced by British radio dj’s of the era he really camped up while hosting this show and probably had a few tongues wagging in those more conservative times. As he said during the interview I heard, people would have guessed that out of him and Graham it was Bert who was the gay one.
I think he’s been left behind by recent social changes which make once-acceptable jokes and comments now off-limits but I don’t think he’s homophobic so much as a guy just living in the past (as many in their 80’s do).