PM given the finger on ABC coverage
Viewers watching the ABC's live New Year's Eve coverage were stunned to see a performer give the middle finger and shout "This one's for the Prime Minister."
The shocking moment unfolded around 10pm, about 90 minutes into the ABC's coverage, when musician Tex Perkins took to the stage.
Tex Perkins: “This one’s for the Prime Minister, it’s called The Honeymoon is Over” (directs bird toward Kirribilli).
— Sotiris Cominos (@SoggyTiri) December 31, 2019
The right will be going off their nut when they hear about this aired on the ABC. #Smoco #SenateInquiryPending #SydneyNYE #DonateToTheRedCross pic.twitter.com/kiHVhHKyh9
As the camera panned across Sydney Harbour and then onto the live concert, Perkins could be seen sticking his middle finger up in the direction of Kirribilli House, the secondary residence of the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.
"This one's for the Prime Minister," Perkins said, holding his middle finger up for a few seconds before launching into a rendition of "The Honeymoon Is Over", a perhaps aptly chosen song he released as a member of the band The Cruel Sea.
The singer-songwriter didn't appear to face any consequences over the stunt, as he returned to the ABC stage about an hour later to perform Skyhooks hit "Living in the '70s."
Viewers were divided over the crude gesture, with some saying it was disrespectful, and that it was unnecessary to make the night political.
Others said it adequately expressed the frustration many feel with Australia's leadership as the Sydney fireworks celebration went on while parts of the country were ravaged by bushfire.
Many thanks to the fabulous #TexPerkins for making my New Year's eve.😜🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👏👏👏 https://t.co/pZ3U32n17y
— Lee 'Inner City Lunatic' Murray🔥 (@cousincat) December 31, 2019
#auspoI
— Sir Thomas Wynn ⚫️ (@Sir_Thomas_Wynn) December 31, 2019
SYDNEY LIVE NYE CONCERT:
TEX PERKINS GIVES ONE FINGER SALUTE TO #SCUMMO AT KIRRIBILLI HOUSE AND DECLARES "THE HONEYMOON IS OVER!"
ALL OF #SCUMMO'S HOUSE GUESTS HEARD IT AS IT WAS BROADCAST LIVE!#GoTex pic.twitter.com/GWLfnAc3iv
Tex Perkins dedicating The Honeymoon is Over to the PM & then flipping off Kirribilli on live TV is a perfect way to end 2019.
— Omnishambles (@number30five) December 31, 2019
Wait... did Tex Perkins just give the finger towards the PM at Kirribilli... then dedicate “The Honeymoon is Over” to him? #SydneyNYE #AustralianFires #abcaustralia
— Kirsty Young (@kirsty__young) December 31, 2019
Friggenhell so over this bs. I used to be a huge cruel sea / tex Perkins fan .. until now. Leave your politics out of it.
— Annie (@AnnetteLarcomb1) December 31, 2019
what a sad human tex perkins is hey, attacking his pm like that on national television. take you and your terrible music elsewhere if you don’t like it here.
— Sam Briggs (@BriggsSamuel) December 31, 2019
Thank you, Tex Perkins. #NYEABC#NotMyPM #AustraliaBurns https://t.co/x2ovzhOchM
— 🐨Adele K. Thomas🐨 I have spoken. (@AdeleKThomas) December 31, 2019
@TexPerkins didn’t need to make that comment about the PM onstage at #NYEABC Sad to make a fun night political.
— Troy Hovenden (@SnakeyTroy) December 31, 2019
Tex Perkins made #NYEFireworks all worthwhile by giving Scott Morrison the one fingered salute.🖕 #AustralianFires #ClimateEmergency #auspol
— 💧Living the #ClimateEmergency. (@Jansant) December 31, 2019
Haha go Tex Perkins "This one's for the Prime Minister"
— 💜Purrrplegrrrl💜 (@purrrplegrrrl) December 31, 2019
The Honeymoon Is Over. #NYEABC @ABCTV
Tex opened with, "This is for the Prime Minister. The Party's OVER!" & then gave him a one fingered salute directed at Kirribilli.
— 💧🔥GeometricAnalogAndDigitalTime (@mathisnatural) December 31, 2019
He read the sentiment perfectly & as always, he's worth every cent & then some. #AusieLegend
Scott Morrison and local leaders including Sydney Mayor Clover Moore have been heavily criticised for going ahead with the annual New Year's Eve fireworks display as parts of the country have been decimated by unprecedented bushfires that have killed three people in the last 24 hours.
