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A high-profile Nine Network star has dipped his boot into The Project as viewers call for the Ten show to be removed for broadcasting a lewd joke about Jesus’ crucifixion.
The left-leaning current affairs show is under fire after gay comedian and cabaret artist Reuben Kaye joked on Tuesday’s show that he admired Jesus Christ because “I love any man who can get fucked three days straight and come back for further”.
Co-host Sarah Harris laughed at the joke, which aired uncensored during the live broadcast, but fellow Muslim Waleed Aly seemed surprised.
The backlash from Muslims and Christians was swift and brutal, forcing the two presenters to issue a humiliating apology on air on Wednesday.
But this apology did not sit well with Omar Slaimankhel, who last year became the biggest winner in The Block’s history alongside his partner Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik.
A high-profile Nine Network star has dipped his boot into The Project as viewers call for the Ten show to be removed for broadcasting a lewd joke about Jesus’ crucifixion. The news show is under fire after gay comedian Reuben Kaye (left) joked Tuesday that he admired Jesus Christ because “I love any man who can get nailed three days straight and come back for more.”
The backlash from Muslims and Christians was swift and brutal, forcing co-anchors Waleed Aly (left) and Sarah Harris (right) to issue a humiliating apology on air on Wednesday.
This apology did not sit well with Omar Slaimankhel (left), who last year became the biggest winner in The Block’s history alongside his partner Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik (right).
Slaimankhel accused Harris of hypocrisy for laughing at the off-color joke only to apologize 24 hours later when he realized some viewers found it offensive.
He posted a screenshot on Instagram of the couple’s stone-faced apology, writing: “He was pissing himself laughing and now he wants to apologize.”
Slaimankhel also called The Project ‘trash TV’ for giving an anti-religious comedian like Kaye a platform.
Meanwhile, Aly and Harris’ live apology appears to have done little to stem the wave of criticism from members of the Christian and Muslim communities, who are already planning protests at the Channel 10 headquarters.
Posts from the show on social media are being spammed with the hashtags #CancelTheProject and #BoycottTheProject in what appears to be an organized effort.
Slaimankhel accused Harris of hypocrisy for laughing at the off-color joke only to apologize 24 hours later when he realized some viewers found it offensive (left). He also called The Project ‘trash TV’ for giving an anti-religious comedian like Kaye a platform (right)
Posts from the show on social media are being spammed with the hashtags #CancelTheProject and #BoycottTheProject in what appears to be an organized effort.
Addressing the inappropriate joke on Wednesday, Aly began: “During an interview last night, our guest told a joke that we know was deeply and unnecessarily offensive to many of you.”
‘We want to acknowledge the particular offense it caused our Muslim viewers but especially our Christian viewers.
“Obviously I understand how deep that offense ran.”
Harris, who laughed after the joke, joined in.
“Live TV is unpredictable and when this happened in the last moments of last night’s show, it took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in a considered way,” he said.
Aly insisted that she caught the show’s producers and panel by surprise.
“It’s fair to say that we didn’t expect a comment like that to be made,” he said.
‘We wouldn’t normally broadcast a comment like that. We recognize the offense you caused and more than that we are sorry.
Harris (left), who laughed after the joke, backtracked on Wednesday, saying: “It took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in a thoughtful way.”
The prank was met with a huge reaction on social media.
‘What a disgusting joke about Jesus, and The Project team just laughed and said nothing. So offended by your inaction,” wrote one viewer.
Another said: ‘Actually, a dirty joke about Jesus. I’m all for being who you want to be, but that’s too far.
A third said: ‘It’s interesting to see Waleed’s reaction to that joke! He knew that he was inappropriate! The project is so desperate these days!
But others thought the lewd gag was hilarious.
One person said: ‘I can’t believe Rueben Kaye said that on national TV in prime time. What an icon!
Other positive comments included: ‘I almost peed myself’ and ‘That was gold, the best thing on The Project in months!’
Kaye is known for his crude humor which he pairs with singing and showmanship in his comedy shows.
He is embarking on a national tour to present a variety of jokes centered around sensitive topics like sexuality and racism.
“I want to poke the bear,” he said. “I’m so spread out across this country that it might as well be systemic racism.”
Kaye (pictured in Edinburgh, Scotland on August 3, 2022) is known for his gritty humor that he combines with singing and general showmanship in his comedy shows.