Made In Bondi star apologises for ‘offending’ viewers as he hits back at wild allegations
Made In Bondi’s Lawson Mahoney has responded to wild accusations that he ‘fake’ his accent on Channel Seven’s new show.
The reality star shared a video on Instagram on Tuesday apologizing for “offending” viewers and mocking claims that he used a fake voice for the show.
He explained that there had been strange speculation that he had used a fake accent during filming after viewers criticised the way he pronounced certain words.
Lawson denied the “slander” in the light-hearted video, insisting he was speaking on screen as he normally does, while dismissing the criticism.
He said: ‘I have heard the rumours, I have heard them through the grapevine and I would like to address these allegations, the confusion and the defamatory allegations about my name that I was somehow imitating an accent on a TV programme.
‘I have a unique way of speaking, my ‘L’s’ are a bit strange, a bit South African, if you like.
“My ‘T’s,’ my grandmother also said to me, ‘If you want to be on television, if you want to be a movie star, say your ‘T’s’ and say them right!'”
Lawson admitted he was “nervous” during the filming of the first few episodes of the drama-filled reality TV show, which may have contributed to the way he spoke.
Made In Bondi’s Lawson Mahoney has responded to wild accusations that he ‘fake’ his accent on the new Channel 7 show in an impassioned video
“I’m not sure if you’ve seen the first five episodes, but the scenes that I have, I was a little nervous! I apologize to anyone I offended,” he continued.
“I also laugh like a seagull, so I apologize to any seagulls I may have offended.”
He urged fans to keep watching the show, concluding, “But again, if you hate my voice, then you should watch the show, and that’s fine with me!”
“Keep watching and keep hating the way I talk!”
Made In Bondi premiered last week on Seven, but received very mixed reviews from locals.
Residents of the area told Yeah that they are angry about the way the beachside suburb is portrayed in the reality show.
“Bondi is not defined by a handful of cosmetically polished, rich boys looking for attention,” local resident Jake Leech told the publication.
Another local, Jean, said: ‘The last thing Bondi needs is more unrealistic media that reinforces these stereotypes. [that everybody is an influencer here].
“This is one of Sydney’s most diverse suburbs, with a strong sense of community, but that is never emphasised.”
A third resident noted: ‘The real elite wouldn’t be caught dead here’.
The reality star has apologised for ‘offending’ viewers by mocking claims he used a fake voice for the show following the premiere of Made In Bondi last week.
The series also caused controversy when it was revealed that most of the cast are not from the iconic beachside suburb.
According to Seven, the reality series “follows the real lives and loves of young Sydney socialites living in the affluent eastern suburbs and on the world’s most famous beach: Bondi.”
However, it appears that most of the cast members aren’t from Bondi or even Sydney at all.
“Producers have tried hard to get real local Bondi members on board with a profile, but they haven’t had much luck,” a source told The Sunday Telegraph.
Producers initially tried to recruit model Montana Cox, fashion designer Sophie Coote, pilates instructor Bernadette Fahey and socialites Andy El-Bayeh and his wife Harriet Williams.
When these attempts failed to yield the desired results, they had to settle for a mix of influencers and socialites from different parts of Australia.
The cast includes Bella Salerno, 23, who spent much of her childhood in Europe; Molly Paradice, 23, from Scone in New South Wales and Isabella Cicero, 31, a content creator from Perth.
The show has been met with mixed reactions, with Bondi residents recently expressing anger over the way the beachside suburb was portrayed in the reality show.
Pippa Hanan, 22, from Paddington, publicist Billy Daniels, 32, who moved to Paddington from Perth, and model Lachlan McLean, 27, from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, also feature in the series.
Lawson was born and raised in the Eastern Suburbs and attended the famous private boys’ school, The Scots College.
Jewellery designer Emma Pillemer, 22, is believed to be the only cast member who actually grew up in Bondi.
Sources on set also claim that the majority of filming took place in Brighton Le Sands, about 30 minutes from Bondi Beach.
“They’re clearly not targeting an Australian audience,” an insider noted. “This show is aimed at the international market, who won’t know the difference.”
Contestants reportedly received as little as $240 for a day on set.
In stark contrast, the Real Housewives of Sydney actors have contracts worth $30,000 to $50,000.