Hey McGuire, Molloy — leave Johnny alone! Weir’s agent speaks
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US figure skating champion Johnny Weir has hit back over “homophobic” jibes by Channel Nine commentators Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy, with his agent saying the three-time US champion is more focused on winning gold. Weir’s agent Tara Modlin, speaking from Vancouver in the lead up to tonight’s free skating event, told Crikey that Weir had dismissed the furor and was concentrating on securing a podium finish instead. “Johnny doesn’t appreciate comments like that. He will be going for gold tonight and doesn’t really care what two gentlemen from Australia think.” Modlin agreed to speak to Crikey just before Weir was set to hit the ice. “He’s focusing right now on his free skating and his triple axels.” Modlin was unsure what had prompted McGuire and Molloy’s attack, which has generated international attention and left Nine executives red faced. However she hinted that the duo may have found Weir’s flashy outfit alluring. “They clearly have some sort of affection towards his outfit. Johnny’s very knowledgeable about fashion, his costume shows his personality, and that’s what the costumes are meant to do out on the ice.” Modlin said Weir was sick of the constant media speculation over his s-xuality: “…people don’t ask Christian Aguilera, if she’s gay or straight so why are they talking about Johnny?” On Nine’s Wednesday night broadcast, Molloy and McGuire ramped up the s-xual innuendo in an apparent attempt to recreate the off-hand jocularity of Roy and HG. “They don’t leave anything in the locker room these blokes, do they?”, Molloy said, to sniggers from McGuire. “They don’t leave anything in the closet either, do they?”, McGuire replied. Another skater’s cowboy-clad routine was likened to “a bit of Brokeback”, a reference to the gay-themed Western starring the late Heath Ledger. Molloy later issued an insincere on-air “apology”, prompting more studio chuckles. The incident triggered a storm of outrage on Twitter and Facebook. And Crikey’s item yesterday on the fracas sent the international media into overdrive, with the story making the top-selling UK tabloid The Sun and NBC Philadelphia.
Modlin also hinted that Weir may yet extend an olive branch to McGuire and Molloy, saying the duo had a chance to redeem themselves during tonight’s broadcast. “Johnny is a lover of all kinds of people, whether they’re gay or straight, Hindu or Muslim.” Despite the furor, Modlin said Weir retained an affection for Australia and Australians, saying that the champion skater was flying back from a competition Down Under when jetliners hit the World Trade Centre on September 11 2001. “It was a very patriotic moment and he’s had good perceptions of the country ever since.” Weir is currently sixth in the ice skating competition and is believed to have an outside chance at securing a medal tonight. |
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56 Comments
It’s a precious world we live in folks!
@johnfromplanetearth you representing the silent majority then, john?
The biggest joke is that figure skating is considered a sport. I’ll watch any sport that’s competitive. A sport where a panel of judges decides who wins isn’t a sport. Figure skating shouldn’t even be an Olympics sport. There is something wrong with that.
Another homophobe eh John? Dont hide it, as if you need to.
Mick Molloy, a comedian who has never actually said anything intentionally funny in his whole career - what a joke!
Has the world gone mad…this over bearing political correctness is doing my head in. He is clearly gay - his own agent admits as much: “Johnny’s very knowledgeable about fashion”.
It is hardly homophobic pointing out the blatantly obvious. I, for one, congratulate Eddie for having the courage to tell it like it is.
I don’t support McGuire and Molloy’s remarks, but to say they ‘attacked’ Weir is totally untrue and inflammatory. Cheap jokes can be offensive but politically correct over-reactions are tedious. Let’s move on now and wait for the next faux pas for everyone to jump all over.
So, JBG, exactly whose s-xuality is ‘fair game’ for commentators in sport, eh? Would you like people discussing what you get up to behind closed doors? I agree, let’s move on, but can’t we learn from this example of stupidity? It’s nothing to do with political correctness, it’s a grab for cheap laughs. And we all know Channel 9’s capacity for that.
Nice one, JBG.
I’m knowledgeable about fashion too. Does that mean I’m gay?
Leave the stereotypes where they belong, eh?
M
… and I know zip about fashion and am, Michael. Like you say, so much for stereotypes.
@JBG & Johnnotfromanywhereonthisplanetearth - come out of the closet yourselves, say that you hate gays and the thought of two men at it just makes you uncomfortable because of those pent up unexplored feelings at the back of your feeble little minds…
WTF Does it matter what people do in bed? It’s their bloody business. Anyway no one has a crack at Bwruce.
Channels 9 and 7 are infamous for sending tasteless, Ears=bookends on a vacuum. Demeanour=common, fat, slob. Commonly found in= pubs, casinos and divorce courts. So called ‘mate’ to anyone with an under-carriage; and a man who knows nothing but playing up to the common man’s perception of an ocker. Eddie McGuire, a man for no season except ‘da footy’ over to Olympic events
Sports people condemn themselves by the biggest stereotype of all. The inarticulate shuffle-footed Oz footy representative who wouldn’t know anything outside his own particular sport. The man who pronounces Essendon as Essedon. The man whom Kerry Packer gave the top job to only to find McGuire is as silly as he looks.
A lot of people in other countries laugh at our insane desire to prove ourselves at sport, because we don’t know who we are ourselves.
Too much analysing going on here.
All you offended poofters - shut up or laugh.
JBG said:
Has the world gone mad…this over bearing political correctness is doing my head in. He is clearly gay - his own agent admits as much: “Johnny’s very knowledgeable about fashion”.
It is hardly homophobic pointing out the blatantly obvious. I, for one, congratulate Eddie for having the courage to tell it like it is.
— -
Wow, in the same breath you blow it off as “pointing out the blatantly obvious”, then congratulate Eddie for being “courageous” and “telling it like it is”.
So which is it? Some boring matter-of-fact observation or some until-now hidden fact of earth-shattering importance? Courage? Eddie’s not outing the shark who ate Harold Holt for chrissakes. He’s giving shit to an effeminate ice dancer. Quake in your boots everyone, Eddie sure does pick a hard target. What’s next on your insightful wit list, Ed? Male flight attendants? Emo kids? Ooooh wait - drama teachers!
It’s noone’s business who Johnny Weir f-cks or why he wears pink - just as it’s noone’s business, thank Christ, who Eddie McGuire f-cks or what colour his jocks are. McGuire should stop attempting to be a comedian and concentrate on talking about sport because right now he more or less sucks arse at both. But hey, you can’t blame the guy - Eddie’s usual fans think the height of comedy is a footy player in a pink tutu. Ha fricking ha.
When Roy & HG did “The Dream” in 2000 and 2002 they certainly did it with plenty of arse jokes but they still had enough class not to alienate the competitors or the viewers. They also had a genuine interest & passion for the events and could interview athletes without looking like rank amateurs.
It’s not political correctness to tell an ignorant old bogan to pull his head in; it’s common sense. For the record I’d put Johnny Weir’s masculinity up against Eddie McGuire’s any day.
@ James Bennett: when Eddie says something funny, I’ll laugh. Until then, he can growl my taint.
But hey, I almost laughed my arse off when you said “poofter” - I love it when people use ancient dialects. Very retro of you. I bet it goes great with your mullet.
Good on you mate.
That’s the spirit.
Shit yeah James Bennett, is ya real name bruce?!!
I don’t like Eddie, but seriously people, get a life.
hey Andrew got one, I just can’t stand homophobic shitheels
“Has the world gone mad…this over bearing political correctness is doing my head in. He is clearly gay - his own agent admits as much: “Johnny’s very knowledgeable about fashion”.
It is hardly homophobic pointing out the blatantly obvious. I, for one, congratulate Eddie for having the courage to tell it like it is.”
I can tell it like it is as well:
You’re dumb.
Alexander Berkman: Go and take a cold shower and cool down just a little bit, all i said was ” it’s a precious world we live”. It’s true! McGuire and Molloy are both over 40, they were brought up in a very different era of comedy. You can’t say anything these days, it’s not Are You Being Served or a Carry On movie where the ‘poofter’ jokes were integral to the plot. John Inman’s Mr Humphries or any number of Kenneth Williams characters, both of them very funny men. You won’t get away with that these days, so don’t have a ‘crack’ at me for stating the bleeding obvious It’s a precious society we live in and McGuire and Molloy should know that too. FFS sake i saw Bill O’Reilly have a go about the latest Pork ad because a woman says “I porked him last night” Apparently this is offensive in the USA? Our sense of humour is going the way of the DoDo. Have we gone Soft Language crazy?
hey Johnfromanywherenotonthisplanetearth _ i was just going by your track record! Right wing trolling usually equates to homophobe, so is that a yes or no? Also as for Em & MM it is nothing like the Carry On or Are You Being Served comedy, quirky intelligent and outrageous for it’s time, EM & MM= mundane, boring, bullshit blokey homophobic humour. no comparison. and thansk for the shower tip…
Right Wing? Trolling?(Voted labor for 25 years until i came to my senses.) What an extraordinary insecure fellow you are. The point i was making here ‘Frankie Howard’ is both McGuire and Molloy have been influenced from a different time, when Are You Being Served and Carry On films were popular. Have you seen the Monty Python sketch ‘Bruces’? I bet McGuire and Molloy have. You have to learn to calm down old chap, people do have different opinions, that’s what makes living in Australia so great, we can speak our minds. I’m sorry the lefty loons i left far behind in a former life wish to suppress that very freedom. You are very precious indeed!
Lame.
Is Crikey’s new plan to become a poor man’s news.com.au?
Why is being homosexual so bloody funny? I am homosexual, and I’ve got enough on my plate without bloody Eddie McGuire having a laugh at my expense. “Oh those poofs, they’re so poofy! Not like REAL men like me!” James Bennett, I am an ‘offended poofter’, and I choose to neither ‘shut up or laugh’, I choose to call you an ignorant bastard.
Alexander Berkman and Alex McKinnon: Chill out a little, lose the chip and to quote an old poof from yesteryear “Life is to short to be taken seriously” You need to take his advice.
Two toads sniggering with amusement. What’s to like? Trust the NINE network to go for the lowest common denominator. The ideal of masculinity on show here seems to be either the oaf or the buffoon, and the fawning over WINNERS!! is almost as stomach-turning as the casual homophobia. Eddie Maguire appeals to a very limited strand of a complex society and the fact that NINE puts this jejune buffoon up to host of any show speaks volumes about their lack of taste. Maguire tried to brush it all off Friday night saying it “was all a bit of fun”, which shows he really doesn’t get it.
Johnfromnotonanyplanetiwanttobeon - how about you give us your insightful opinion on homosexuality so we get an idea of where you stand! Life can’t be all serious but you gotta call a spade a spade like plum blossom just did! as for the loony left -haha you seriously believe the ALP are Left! ahahahah take a coupla bex and have a lie down dear..
You need to put a plug in it Alexander, we have lost our sense of humour in this country. Geez we’ve become worse than the Poms! I’m tired of people’s stupid bullshit, people who walk around all day long, every minute of the day worried about everything we do and everything we say. Worried about the air, the water, the soil, worried about insecticides, pesticides, food addtives, worried about the climate and worried about what Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy have to say at a figure skating competition! It’s not that important! Life really is too short to be taken seriously. As for my opinion on homosexuality, i work in the music industry so i come in contact with gay people every day, i have friends who are gay, i have no problem with that. I like music made by gay people, I love The Smiths (i know Morrissey is gay) doesn’t bother me at all. The Frankie Goes to Hollywood album Welcome To The Pleasurdome is one of the best albums of the 80’s, i have no problem with that. I enjoy the music. I have no problem with gay people, i do have a problem when we have become a society of very precious, politically correct, whinging stick in the muds with no sense of humour. We have gone soft language crazy and politically correct mad. I can’t see a remake of They’ re A Weird Mob being made any time soon can you? What would the Italians think these days? Why all the angst? Why the division? I can remember as a kid laughing at a Carry On film, or Frankie Howard, Dick Emery or MR Humphries and not being at all concerned, i had a chuckle and moved on. I think there are a few more important issues to worry about than the comedic quips of Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy. You need something a lot stronger than a Bex to live in Australia these days.
Frankly I can see the funny side of an overexposed talking head from Australia demonstrating to the entire world just how much better it is to be hot, young, gay and talented than it is to be him. It gives me hope for the gay teens out there. But that aside, if figure skaters are such a bunch of nancies then who does this “business man” think might also be watching? Can Channel 9 really let someone this stupid dent their brand image among viewers who are gay, gay friendly, related to gay people or who just do not have their heads completely embedded in their own arses? There will, of course, be other Olympics and opportunities to read a teleprompter for money. Is Eddie the first choice for the gig? Good move McGuire.
Johnfromplanetearth - I look at the issue in a different context. Like for example, I turn on Channel Nine expecting to see exclent in depth coverage of the Winter Olympics and what do I hear - The commentators taking the piss out of gay people. This has nothing to be with being PC, this is about delivering to the Australian public top class coverage of the Winter Olympics, which Channel Nine has failed to do.
Oh well if he wants to flit around like a ferry then he has to be prepared to take the flack. I’m gay and don’t flit around like a ferry and have never been hassled about being gay.
Finally someone with half a brain, thank you KIWI 84, you are of course 100% correct. I find myself watching the Fox coverage more than Nine. I have enjoyed the speed skaters, terrific athletes.
I think I mean “fairy”
There was no need for the comments whatsoever. Firstly, they aren’t funny. Secondly, they aren’t constructive in any way shape or form - not entertaining, or more importantly informative, which is supposed to be the role of a commentator (see Benaud or Cometti).
What an exquisite exhibition of the dominant, yet embarrassing, version of Australian bigotry and our national immaturity, which is of course derived from our conservative, irrational and insecure masculine culture. And of course, what a spectacle it is to have Eddie McGuire’s severe lack of intelligence and tact beamed throughout the world for all to see.
Isn’t it nice when we can keep our embarrassments to ourselves?
Hey jOhnfromanyplanetnotofthisearth - how about the tits on those speed skaters hey, they can speed on over here and skate on me anytime….(ahem..)
KIWI84: Please, if you ever discover Channels 9 & 7 giving you an excellent coverage of either Summer or Winter Olympics, let me know.
Channel Seven’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics was, as usual, tragic, embarrassing, leaden commercialism, churned up, vomited out and spoon fed to the footy loving masses.
Sorry, that is not my idea of excellent sports coverage.
The issue is not that what they said was particularly offensive.
I think it’s more that it was was boorish and people are tired of channel 9 thinking that this kind of shit is what the audience want.
Channel 9 have to realise that it is not the 1980s anymore.
Braden please, this is an expression of channel 9’s immaturity, not the nations.
I don’t think we’re anymore homphobic as a culture then the rest of the western world (which is to say we’re actually very homophic - just like everyone else.)
The immaturity I referred to is the way Australia persists clinging to masculine ideals in constructing and reinforcing its identity. We therefore, have a dominant culture which makes these types of comments somewhat acceptable, Molloy and McGuire were far from hesitant in expressing their views, it was after all “a bit of fun” as Eddie explained - and they will be seen by most Australians as being the case.
I take no comfort in knowing that we maintain some kind of international “western” standard of homophobia, as I’m sure you don’t. I guess perhaps I should be thankful we aren’t full of fundamentalists (U.S, Uganda, Saudi Arabia) who are much more aggressive than Eddie when expressing their views on homosexuality. But these comparisons aren’t particularly helpful now are they, lets have a think for ourselves on this one.
“US figure skating champion Johnny Weir has hit back over “homophobic” jibes… told Crikey that Weir had dismissed the furor…”
And I thought you hated the Fox News approach, Crikey. I stand corrected.
Venise Alstergren - Yes Channel 7 and nine can be equally bad when it comes to covering sport, however this time Channel Nine went overboard. You see the coverage of the skating that Channel Nine showed while making the comments in regards to Johhny Weir was not actually live, it was recorded hours eariler. So what Im say is I believe Channel Nine purposly brought up old coverage just for a laugh, It was planned what makes Channel Nines coverage worse than 7.
Well i guess we’ll just have to wait and see who will be wearing the Eddie and Mick masks at next weeks mardi gras parade. It’s bound to happen!
Who watches channel 9 anyway. Heard of E Mcguire, suppose to be a nerd.
The problem with the g/p is they are such attention seekers which gives presenters as mentioned
an angle to pretend to be funny.
People on TV, the so called “celebrities”always think what comes out of their mouths is funny. Judging by the way the morons, who watch them in the studio, react you are not surprised that the presenters think that way.
IMO presenters speak through their a…s and that means sh.t comes out.
Gays/ l’s are not my cup of tea either. They always seem to try to be in the news to push their inclanations and want the rest of us to like it.
oh lord ! Never thought I’d say this thank you Venise. I could not have said it better.
Yep good call to those who pointed out that this is as much about poor sports coverage and crap TV as it is about non-PC comments.
Channel 9 should have got in Roy and HG. They’d have half MacGuire’s salary, be 10 times as funny as Molloy, and would do the whole thing with a bit of class.
Life goes on. I wish Molloy gets back together with that skinny friend of his
and does movie reviews.
DERMOT McGUIRE: My comments were as much an attempt to portray the ‘Ocker’ mentality of the Oz footy supporters, which Channels 7 and 9 cater to, as to canning Eddie McGuire.
Perhaps I was too dogmatic in the way I expressed my feelings. I sincerely apologise for any hurt I may have caused you.
Most sincerely
Venise
KIWI84
Thanks for explaining how Channel 9 appeared to manipulate the whole thing.
In the light of what you say, I can only agree with you.
Cheers
V
we turned the sound off watching the events his great.
but what a poor couvourage did the sbs have it last time.
The gov should give more money to sbs or make them the sports channel
laura ingalls
THIS WAS A GREAT PIECE no this is not 1980s and eddy everywhere and everything is not funny
laura ingalls
i knew i heard that name before now i feel really nostalgic,.
Was it ” little house on the prairie”
Where is Channel nine on my TV?
We live on farm and enjoy rurality including the absence of reception of Channel nine and seven.
I think Bonanza was the last time I watched commercial TV or was it ‘I love Lucy?’
Ah, time flies.
http://oosterman.wordpress.com/
Well I reckon Johnny Weir’s freaken gorgeous.
And if any of youse feel the need to ‘straighten’ me out, you can leave your poofter jokes after the beep.
Cheers.
venise i loved your comment! welll done!
Who is this Gary Burns lunatic?