“It upset me”: Amanda Keller opens up about why Tom Gleeson’s Logies speech struck a nerve
Amanda Keller has spoken out about comedian Tom Gleeson’s controversial Gold Logie win, and admitted that she was “upset” by parts of his speech.
Gleeson, who hosts ABC’s Hard Quiz won the Gold Logie at the Logie Awards, after a satirical political style campaign as he targeted fellow nominees with short adverts outlining why he should win. No nominee was safe.
It didn’t help that Gleeson ruffled feathers with his acceptance speech of the awards.
“Just because all of you want it and I’ve got it, don’t get angry with me. It’s all right, you’ll all survive. It’s a shame this is the last Gold Logie that’s ever going to be handed out — according to Grant Denyer, I’ve ruined the Logies. But at least I won this all by myself,” he said according to news.com.au.
“Do you know what would have been weirder? If I campaigned for this award sincerely … Imagine me just sincerely saying I was humbled by the award. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. It would make me want to vomit.”
Massive thank you to everyone who voted! Last night, I was mostly showing off to you at home. I really hope you got your money’s worth. Thank you again. #Gleeson4Gold pic.twitter.com/N4d6tXNZky
— Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) July 1, 2019
Keller addressed the dig on the first Jonesy and Amanda show since the Logies, and admitted that while she understood the comedic angle, Gleeson made a joke about everyone who works hard in the television industry.
“I think in his speech when he said, ‘everyone who works in TV, if you want to win this you’re a big wanker’, pretty much, and that upset me because he was mean to (last year’s Gold Logie winner) Grant (Denyer) I felt,” she told WSFM co-host Brendan “Jonesy” Jones.
“He said, ‘Yeah I won it last year for Grant, and sucker, now I’ve done it on my own for me.’
“That’s not fair to Grant, he won that last year on his own two feet. And people that have won in the past — Carrie Bickmore changed the world, she’s raised $10 million for brain cancer research. Grant spoke about redemption. Waleed Aly spoke about inclusiveness.”
The day after he won, Gleeson was quick to assure everyone he doesn’t have bad blood with Keller.
He said on The Project: “She has a sense of humour — she would actually be offended by the idea that I felt sorry for her,” the comedian said.
“So, I find it hard to do that because if I do, I’m denying her a sense of humour, and she was finding it funny.”
However, Keller clarified her position on the Jonesy & Amanda show , by saying that while she has “no problem with Tom”, she was still upset about some of his words.
“I like Tom, we saw him at the airport, no problem with Tom. But (his speech) gave everyone permission to say, ‘yeah you’re all up yourselves, and this is all a big joke’. And it wasn’t a joke to me,” she explained.
“I don’t know why in television we’re embarrassed to be proud of our work. The tourism industry has awards, the restaurant industry has awards … He got to a point where he said, ‘Sucko for wanting this, you know it’s all a dumb joke’ — and that’s what made me feel bad, because to the other nominees, it wasn’t.
“We were all worthy, and I don’t think we should be embarrassed for being worthy.”