Archives for June 2023

Christina Applegate and “Dead to Me” co-star Linda Cardellini shared an inside joke about a particular production still from the show’s final season.

An insider at The Project has claimed Channel 10’s flagship talk show is being trashed by sloppy production values and editorial standards.  

The ‘Jesus’ joke disaster – where gay comedian Reuben Kaye offended Christians by saying ‘I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more’ – would have been easily avoided in previous years, the source told Daily Mail Australia.

The informant said The Project used to pre-record 90 per cent of all interviews with potentially controversial performers such as Kaye, for the simple reason they could edit out anything offensive. 

And on the occasion an ‘edgy’ guest wasn’t available for a pre-record, the hosts would be meticulously briefed, allowing them to ‘neutralise any situations like that, intervene if necessary and apologise if needed… not laugh like Sarah Harris or sit stony-faced like Waleed’.

But on Tuesday night Kaye’s joke went to air live and uncensored with co-host Sarah Harris doubling up with laughter while her Muslim colleague Waleed Aly looking on shocked, sparking a firestorm. 

The hosts were quick to issue an apology the following day but their gesture left viewers unmoved with calls continuing to grow for the show to be cancelled.

Former panellist and comedian Em Rusciano has accused the network of throwing Kaye ‘under the bus’ in its apology after the hosts tried to distance themselves saying ‘live TV was unpredictable’ and they were ‘taken by surprise’ by the comment.

The Project insider said the car crash that was comedian Reuben Kaye’s Jesus joke interview on Tuesday night (above) would never have happened under old standards which dictated that 90pc of ‘red flag’ interviews were pre-records

In previous times (above old The Project panel of which Waleed Aly is the only survivor) in the rare case an edgy interview wasn’t pre-recorded ‘the hosts would be meticulously briefed’ to allow them ‘to neutralise any situation, intervene if necessary and apologise if needed’

The insider said they ‘can’t understand why Reuben Kaye’s interview wasn’t pre-recorded when it was an obvious ‘red flag interview’.

‘In the few cases (before) an interview like that would be done live, the hosts would normally be well primed beforehand.

‘If the interview was done live because that was only time (Reuben Kaye) was available, why weren’t Sarah Harris and Waleed Aly more prepared?

‘It’s yet another sign of the slipping professionalism on the show, the declining standards of 10, sloppiness and, frankly, their general slack approach.’ 

Rusciano joined in saying she found it hard to believe the joke hadn’t been script approved.

‘I find it pretty hard to believe that (Reuben Kaye)’s joke that stopped a nation wasn’t script approved,’ she wrote on Twitter.

‘I’ve worked on The Project – VERY little is off the cuff! A tiny, tiny amount. They’ve flat out thrown him under the bus (in my opinion). Sorry, but someone had to say it.’

Rusciano went on to defend Kaye in another tweet.

‘They honestly don’t deserve him and his talent,’ she wrote.

‘I dunno if Australia deserves him! In the end, we always seem to champion the non-threatening and the mediocre.’ 

The backlash from Muslims and Christians offended and outraged by the joke was swift and brutal, forcing Harris and Aly to issue a lengthy and grovelling on-air apology on Wednesday.

This retreat comes at a time when the left-leaning current affairs program is bleeding viewers in the wake of the high profile departures of Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar. 

And it inspired calls for an end to the show with a #CancelThe Project hashtag trending on Twitter.

High profile Nine Network star Omar Slaimankhel joined the chorus of critics to stick the boot into The Project.  

Slaimankhel, who last year became the biggest winner in the history of The Block with his mate Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik after being the first Muslim team to join the hit renovation show, was not impressed with Wednesday night’s apology.

He accused Harris of hypocrisy for laughing at the off-colour joke only to apologise for it 24 hours later when she realised some viewers found it offensive.

He posted a screenshot on Instagram of the pair’s stony-faced apology, and wrote: ‘She was p****ing herself laughing and now wants to apologise.’

Instead of being meticulously briefed and prepared, co-anchors Waleed Aly (left) and Sarah Harris (right) were forced to issue a grovelling on-air apology on Wednesday for offending Muslim and Christian viewers 

This apology didn’t go down well with Omar Slaimankhel (left), who last year became the biggest winner in the history of The Block with his mate Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik (right)

Slaimankhel also called The Project ‘trash TV’ for giving a platform to an anti-religious comedian like Kaye.

Meanwhile, Aly and Harris’ on-air apology seems to have done little to stem the tide of criticism from members of the Christian and Muslim communities – who are already planning protests at Channel 10’s headquarters.

The show’s social media posts are being spammed with the hashtags #CancelTheProject and #BoycottTheProject in what is a seemingly organised effort.

Addressing the inappropriate joke on Wednesday, Aly began: ‘During an interview last night, our guest told a joke which we know was deeply and needlessly offensive to many of you.

‘We want to acknowledge the particular offense that caused our Muslim viewers but especially our Christian viewers. 

‘Obviously I understand just how profound that offence was.’

Slaimankhel accused Harris of hypocrisy for laughing at the off-colour joke only to apologise for it 24 hours later when she realised some viewers found it offensive (left). He also called The Project ‘trash TV’ for giving a platform to an anti-religious comedian like Kaye (right)

The show’s social media posts are being spammed with the hashtags #CancelTheProject and #BoycottTheProject in what is seemingly an organised effort

Harris, who had burst out laughing after the joke, then joined in. 

‘Live TV is unpredictable and when this happened in the last few moments of last night’s show, it took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in any sort of considered way,’ she said.

Aly insisted it took the program’s producers and panel by surprise. 

‘It’s fair to say we weren’t expecting a comment like that to be made,’ he said.

‘We wouldn’t normally broadcast a comment like that. We acknowledge the offence it caused and more than that we’re sorry.’

Daily Mail Australia sought responses from Channel 10 and The Project since Wednesday’s apology, asking if standards of preparation on the program have changed, and why the hosts were not primed to handle Kaye’s off-colour joke.

Network 10 said The Project had provided on-air apology on Wednesday. 

Harris (left), who had burst out laughing after the joke, backpedalled on Wednesday by saying, ‘It took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in any sort of considered way’

The joke was met with major backlash on social media.

‘What a disgusting joke about Jesus, and The Project team just giggled and did not say anything. So offended by your inaction,’ one viewer wrote.

Another said: ‘Actually a filthy joke about Jesus. I’m all for being who you wanna be, but that’s too far.’

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A third said: ‘Interesting to see Waleed’s reaction to that joke! He knew it was inappropriate! Project is so desperate these days!’ 

But others thought the lewd gag was hilarious.

One person said: ‘I can’t believe Rueben Kaye just said that on national, prime-time television. What an icon!’

Other positive comments included, ‘I nearly pissed myself,’ and, ‘That was gold, the best thing on The Project in months!’

Kaye is known for his crude humour which he combines with singing and all-around showmanship in his comedy shows.

He is embarking on a national tour set to feature an array of jokes centered around touchy subjects sexuality and racism.

‘I want to poke the bear,’ he said. ‘I’m so thickly spread around this country that I might as well be systemic racism.’

Comments by Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, were met with laughter at an international conference in India, when he said that the Ukraine war had been “launched against” his home country.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, a politics and economics event in Delhi, Lavrov also claimed that Russia was trying to stop the war.

“The war, which we are trying to stop, which was launched against us using Ukrainian people, of course, influenced the policy of Russia, including energy policy,” he said, briefly stumbling over his words as people in the audience laughed.

Referring to the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipeline in the Baltic Sea in September, Lavrov continued: “And the blunt way to describe what changed: we would not any more rely on any partners in the west. We would not allow them to blow the pipelines again.”

Contrary to Lavrov’s claim, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, launched an invasion of Ukraine on 24 February last year, in what he called a “special military operation”.

The audience did not laugh at everything Lavrov had to say, however. Asked about the “double standard” of western military intervention, the audience applauded his response.

“Have you been interested in these years in what is going on in Iraq, what is going on in Afghanistan? Have you been asking the United States and Nato whether they are certain of what they are doing?” he asked.

The Raisina Dialogue conference comes after a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Delhi, during which the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told Lavrov that the US would not back down in its support for Ukraine.

India, which has longstanding economic and military links to Russia, has remained neutral on the topic of the Ukraine war.

It has abstained from voting in UN resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion and has increased its imports of Russian oil after the introduction of western sanctions against Moscow.

Bruce Willis flashed a cheerful smile, much to the delight of fans, as he enjoyed a ride on Splash Mountain during a trip to Disneyland in a new Instagram video shared by wife, Emma Heming, on Thursday. 

The Die Hard star, 68, who has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia following his retirement from acting, was not only joined by his wife to the amusement park, but also his children. 

In the clip shared by Heming, 44, she could be seen filming with her smartphone while seated on the log ride with husband, Bruce, and their daughter, Mabel, 11, directly behind. 

‘Here we go!’ she yelled out, while the former Hollywood actor placed his left arm protectively in front of his daughter before splashing down. ‘Smile,’ he said, with the clip cutting to after the fall. 

Bruce let out a laugh and wiped a few droplets away from his face, and sweetly told Mabel, ‘You gotta watch out, I think we are gonna go again.’  

Having a blast! Bruce Willis, 68, flashed a cheerful smile, much to the delight of fans, as he enjoyed a ride on Splash Mountain during a trip to Disneyland in a new Instagram video shared by wife, Emma Heming, 44, on Thursday

Fun day! The Die Hard star, who has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia following his retirement from acting, was not only joined by his wife to the amusement park, but also his children

Although it is unclear when the video was exactly taken, Emma also uploaded a photo of Bruce’s three daughters whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, who jumped on the ride as well. 

She had the chance to enjoy Splash Mountain multiple times, such as going on with daughter, Mabel, and Evelyn, nine, whom she welcomed with Willis after tying the knot in 2009. 

Lastly, the model shared a short reel in the slideshow post that was taken from a far distance as she went down the steep drop on the ride. 

In the caption, Heming penned, ‘You bet this family will be back for more fun and laughs when you reopen as Tiana Bayou! Thanks for all the memories Splash Mountain.’ 

The iconic ride officially closed on May 31 and will turn into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on the Disney classic, The Princess And The Frog, with a reopening date set for 2024, according to People.   

Social media users flocked to the comment section to share their support and joy to see The Sixth Sense star having a blast and smiling with his family. 

One typed, ‘I love how he’s protecting her with his arm! Dad instincts, so sweet,’ while another wrote, ‘To see Bruce and his family happy is the best.’ 

A follower applauded Emma by adding, ‘Good job Mrs Willis you are in control of Bruce’s dementia. It takes fun times and lots of work. I controlled my husbands Dementia/Alztimers for 18 years.’

Making memories: Bruce let out a laugh and wiped a few droplets away from his face, and sweetly told Mabel, ‘You gotta watch out, I think we are gonna go again’

Family time: In the caption, Heming penned, ‘You bet this family will be back for more fun and laughs when you reopen as Tiana Bayou! Thanks for all the memories Splash Mountain’ 

Farewell Splash Mountain: The iconic ride officially closed on May 31 and will turn into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on the Disney classic, The Princess And The Frog, with a reopening date set for 2024, according to People

‘Just keeping him going traveling, fun places, eating out and talking to him all day. Stimulating his brain. Helping him remember. Children are so beautiful and you are too!’ the fan concluded.  

One follower commented on the importance of family, penning, ‘Love and Family is reason we hope, the reason we keep believing and the reason we keep pushing forward. and blessings to your family.’ 

Earlier this year in February, Bruce’s family issued a statement on Instagram to reveal his specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, ‘The nerve cell damage caused by frontotemporal dementia leads to loss of function in these brain regions, which variably cause deterioration in behavior, personality and/or difficulty with producing or comprehending language.’ 

Late last month in May, Emma also jumped to Instagram to reveal that Wave Life Sciences had ended a clinical trial that aimed to find a treatment for FTD. 

‘Yesterday I read that Wave Life Sciences ended their clinical trial that could potentially treat frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.),’ she wrote. 

Although the entrepreneur admitted that the news felt like a ‘gut punch’ she added that she is always looking for ‘silver linings.’ 

‘So I want to say thank you to Wave Life Sciences also to Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and AFTD who played an active role through the Treat FTD Fund program.’ 

Let’s go! Emma also uploaded a photo of Bruce’s three daughters whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, who jumped on the ride as well

Loving support: Social media users flocked to the comment section to share their support and joy to see The Sixth Sense star having a blast and smiling with his family

Happy: One typed, ‘I love how he’s protecting her with his arm! Dad instincts, so sweet,’ while another wrote, ‘To see Bruce and his family happy is the best’ 

‘Please keep that momentum going, build on the learnings/findings and don’t give up on this loving community,’ and positively emphasized that, ‘Our family will continue to keep the faith and never lose hope.’ 

Bruce’s daughter, Tallulah, shared a moving piece that was published in Vogue on May 31 that touched on her father’s dementia. 

Although her family initially announced in 2022 that Willis was diagnosed with aphasia before revealing he has FTD, the actress admitted, ‘But I’ve known that something was wrong for a long time.’ 

‘It started out with a kind of vague unresponsiveness, which the family chalked up to Hollywood hearing loss: “Speak up! Die Hard messed with dad’s ears!” Later that unresponsiveness broadened, and I sometimes took it personally,’ she revealed. 

‘He had had two babies with my stepmother, Emma Heming Willis, and I thought he’d lost interest in me,’ but added that it, ‘couldn’t have been further from the truth…’ 

Sharing the love: Other fans applauded Emma for her hard work to keep Bruce happy while another commented on the importance of family 

Search for a cure: Late last month in May, Emma also jumped to Instagram to reveal that Wave Life Sciences had ended a clinical trial that aimed to find a treatment for FTD

The star added, ‘I admit that I have met Bruce’s decline in recent years with a share of avoidance and denial that I’m not proud of. The truth is that I was too sick myself to handle it,’ and explained she had suffered from the eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. 

‘Recovery is probably lifelong, but I now have the tools to be present in all facets of my life, and especially in my relationship with my dad. I can bring him an energy that’s bright and sunny, no matter where I’ve been,’ Tallulah wrote. 

The star explained that now, ‘I can savor that time, hold my dad’s hand, and feel that it’s wonderful,’ while also stating ‘that this is the beginning of grief, but that whole thing about loving yourself before you can love somebody else—it’s real.’ 

She continued, ‘These days, my dad can be reliably found on the first floor of the house, somewhere in the big open plan of the kitchen-dining-living room, or in his office.’ 

‘Thankfully, dementia has not affected his mobility,’ and added, ‘He still knows who I am and lights up when I enter the room.’ 

Opening up: Bruce’s daughter, Tallulah, shared a moving piece that was published in Vogue on May 31 that touched on her father’s dementia

Kind words: Bruce has not only seen love from loved ones and fans, but also fellow actors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, who called the retired actor ‘fantastic’; the two seen in 1994 in Las Vegas 

Bruce has not only seen support from loved ones and fans, but also fellow actors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

During an interview with CinemaBlend earlier this week to promote his latest project titled, Fubar, The Terminator star shed his thoughts on Willis’ retirement. ‘I think that he’s fantastic.’ 

‘He was, always for years and years, is a huge, huge star. And I think that he will always be remembered as a great, great star. And a kind man.’

‘I understand that under his circumstances, health-wise, that he had to retire. But in general, you know, we never really retire. Action heroes, they reload.’ Schwarzenegger and Bruce both notably starred in The Expendables together, which was directed by Sylvester Stallone.