Australian comedian Reuben Kaye has sparked a storm with a joke about Jesus which has set off a bomb amongst religious groups in Australia.
The LGBTI+ comic was a guest on primetime show The Project on Channel 10 yesterday where he addressed the repeated abuse he receives, particularly from Christians, for being gay.
He said: ‘I think it’s hilarious when someone messages me and says you have to accept Jesus’s love or you will burn in hell – because I love Jesus. I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more!‘
That comment caused all sorts of outrage in many quarters, particularly poignantly amongst very many religious sectors with Australian left scandalised by the sheer brass neckery of the comments.
Muslim activist Steve Dabliz told the Daily Mail: ‘We, as an Australian Muslim community, strongly condemn the recent episode of the Australian TV show The Project that aired content that mocked the revered figure of Jesus. Such derogatory and offensive remarks have no place in a diverse and inclusive society like Australia.’
Charlie Bakhos of Christian Lives Matter – which believes fundamentally that gay people as ‘sinners’, has demanded an apology: ‘We have all had enough and this show last night crossed the line with the mocking of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone needs to stand united and we need to put a stop to all this.’
Following the backlash, the programme’s presenters were forced into a grovelling apology.
Waleed Aly, who is Muslim, said: ‘It’s fair to say we weren’t expecting a comment like that to be made. ‘We wouldn’t normally broadcast a comment like that. We acknowledge the offence it caused and more than that we’re sorry.’
However – as you can see above – the video remains on The Project’s YouTube channel.
Co-host Sarah Harris, who laughed heartily when Kaye cracked it, added: ‘Live TV is unpredictable and when this happened in the last few moments of last night’s show, it took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in any sort of considered way.”
