Sarah Harris says the fallout from The Project’s lewd ‘Jesus joke’ was ‘sad and scary’

Sarah Harris has spoken out about the scandal surrounding The Project earlier this year after the program aired a controversial ‘Jesus joke’.

The left-wing current affairs program came under fire after gay comedian and comedian Reuben Kaye joked that he admired Jesus Christ because “I love any man who can get nailed three days in a row and come back for more.”

The Project host told The Matty Johns Podcast that the unfortunate incident, which aired on February 28, should never have happened.

“During the scandal we had on The Project, it was sad and it was scary, the joke should never have aired and it took us all by surprise,” she said.

The 41-year-old added that while she didn’t support Kaye’s comments, she is concerned about whether there will be a limit to comedy.

“I’m not defending the joke being on the show, it was definitely the wrong context and the wrong forum for it,” Sarah said.

“But when we start talking about what you can and can’t joke about, are we moving on to blasphemy laws? It’s also concerning for comedy.

“If we’re going to say you can’t joke about that — it’s completely off limits — that’s a very bizarre time we’re in.”

Sarah went on to say she had to disable comments on her popular Instagram page because she was receiving abuse and death threats, also aimed at her children.

It comes after the ACMA revealed it received hundreds of complaints from the public after The Project’s lewd “Jesus joke” sparked widespread outrage.

The left-wing current affairs program came under fire after gay comedian and comedian Reuben Kaye (pictured) joked that he admired Jesus Christ because “I love any man who can get nailed three days in a row and come back for more”

Co-host Harris laughed at the joke, which went on the air uncensored during the live broadcast

The backlash from Muslims and Christians has been swift and brutal, prompting the show’s presenters to apologize on air as religious groups staged protests against Channel 10’s headquarters.

A significant number of viewers have expressed their grievances to the ACMA following the controversy.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, the media watchdog confirmed: ‘The ACMA has received 203 inquiries regarding an episode of The Project airing on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 featuring comedian Reuben Kaye.

‘Under the co-regulation system for broadcasters, complainants are initially referred to the broadcaster.

“If a complainant does not receive a response from the broadcaster within 60 days, or is not satisfied with the response they receive, they may submit their complaint to the ACMA for consideration.”

“During the scandal we had on The Project, it was sad and it was scary, the joke should never have aired and it took us all by surprise,” she said

It comes after a former panelist on The Project sensationally claimed that a guest’s controversial Jesus joke was “script-approved” by the show’s producers – despite the hosts saying it was a “live TV” gaffe that could not have been predicted.

Co-host Harris laughed at the joke, which aired uncensored during the live broadcast, but her Muslim colleague Waleed Aly looked shocked.

An insider at The Project claimed that Channel 10’s premier talk show was wrecked by shoddy production values ​​and editorial standards.

The ‘Jesus’ prank disaster could have easily been avoided in previous years, the source told Daily Mail Australia.

The informant said The Project pre-recorded 90 percent of all interviews with potentially controversial artists like Kaye for the simple reason that they could remove anything offensive.

The hosts quickly apologized the next day, but their gesture left viewers unmoved and calls continued to grow for the show to be canceled. Pictured left: Waleed Aly

And if a “tense” guest wasn’t available for a pre-record, the hosts were minutely notified so they could “neutralize such situations, step in if necessary, and apologize if necessary…don’t laugh like Sarah Harris or sit with an icy face like Waleed’.

The hosts quickly apologized the next day, but their gesture left viewers unmoved and calls continued to grow for the show to be canceled.

The insider said they “can’t understand” why Reuben Kaye’s interview was not pre-recorded when it was a blatantly “red flag interview.”

‘In the few cases [before] such an interview would be done live, the hosts would normally be well prepared in advance.

“If the interview was done live, because that was only time [Kaye] available, why weren’t Harris and Aly better prepared?

“It’s yet another sign of the show’s declining professionalism, Ten’s declining standards, sloppiness and, quite frankly, their general lackluster approach.”

Sarah went on to say she had to disable comments on her popular Instagram page because she was receiving abuse and death threats, also aimed at her children.