Veteran Australian TV host Bert Newton was a guest presenter at the Logie Awards, but his jokes have been criticised as being homophobic and out of touch with modern times.

Newton was presenting the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent. The award is named after Newton’s former TV colleague who passed away in 2005. Newton spent many years working in late night television with Kennedy and American born TV host Don Lane.

“As I look out on the audience I’ve got to be honest, there are many faces I know from the screen, but don’t know them personally.” Newton said. “You might feel the same way, you know ‘Where’s this old poof come from?'”

Later in his monologue Newton made a comment about Kennedy’s support for new talent.

“Speaking of young talent, Graham Kennedy was always the sort of man who nurtured young talent. 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’d be inside doing some mentoring.” Newton said, his joke getting laughs but also groans from the audience.

“Don Lane was a mentor too, he did a hell of a lot of mentoring.” Newton continued. “They were wonderful years, and years I wouldn’t swap with anyone.”

The comments have been labeled homophobic and insensitive at a time when the entertainment industry is at the centre of the #metoo movement.

TV writer Andrew Mercardo took to Twitter to ask if anyone had informed Newton about the #metoo movement?

“Making jokes about “mentoring behind closed dressing room doors” is not funny” Mercardo said.

While many people felt Newton;s comments were out of touch, other’s complimented Newton on his humour saying it was reminiscent of his memorable banter with Kennedy in their heyday.

Speaking to the media later in the evening, 79-year-old Newton said he meant nothing untoward by his comments.

“I was just referring to the fact that it was totally innocent as far as I’m concerned. In fairness, these days, everything is jumped on. I’m not that sort of person — I didn’t mean anything untoward about it.” Newton said.

OIP Staff