'I only wanted to make people laugh': Russell Crowe DEFENDS 'tone deaf' sodomy speech at AACTA Awards after it was CUT by Channel Seven

By Benge Nsenduluka For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 13:57 GMT, 7 December 2017 | Updated: 19:31 GMT, 7 December 2017

e-mail

View
comments

Russell Crowe has defended his bizarre AACTA Awards joke about sodomy, after critics branded his speech 'tone deaf.'

The Hollywood actor said he was simply trying to 'make people laugh' in a statement released to 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Thursday.

'Actors and actresses by the nature of our job get thrown into some embarrassing, bizarre and extreme circumstances,' he said.

Speaking out: Russell Crowe has defended his bizarre AACTA Awards joke about sodomy, after critics branded his speech 'tone deaf'

'It's an ironic combination that the sensitivity required for the job also has to be coupled with an ability to put aside your embarrassment and fears and cope with the humiliation.

He added: 'Jacquie and I survived that moment in our young careers because we looked after each other. Our friendship has only strengthened over the years and it's a story we both cringe and laugh over.

'The way I delivered the story was to elicit that half cringe/half laugh reaction ... Obviously I was only intending to make people laugh. Especially Jacquie, and she did. I didn't mean any offence to anyone and it wasn't a comment on other issues.'

Tone deaf? The Hollywood actor said he was simply trying to 'make people laugh' in a statement released to 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Thursday

It comes after actress Jacqueline McKenzie reacted to Russell's bizarre tale about 'sodomising' her in 1991 R-rated film Romper Stomper.

According to The Guardian, Russell made the controversial comments during Wednesday night's AACTA Awards in Sydney as a means to highlight the need for 'sensitivity' in the industry.

Jacqueline jumped to the actor's defense on Thursday, beginning a public Facebook post: 'There were no blurry lines on that awkward day's filming back in 1991!!!'

Report claims Russell Crowe made 'tone deaf' joke about 'sodomising Jacqueline McKenzie' on set of 90s film Romper Stomper at AACTA Awards before it was CUT from Channel Seven broadcast

The star, 50, shut down any misunderstanding regarding the pair's interaction on set, writing: 'The very important conversation of sexual harassment in the workplace bares no relevance to this. There were no blurry lines on that awkward day back in 1991. As there should never be.'

'Over the eons, he and I have often laughed at the awkwardness we felt shooting that scene. How we were trying to be as protective of our modesties as we could, as 'sensitive' to each other's feelings as we could BUT when the director called 'action', the scripted action was violent and explicit,' Jackie said.

'The irony -what we actors are asked to do in scenes and how we actually film them- is what we laugh at. Then and now.'

The 4400 actress later admitted: 'Yes, it was uncomfortable. For everyone. Scenes like that always are. Also for family and friends when they later watch the work on the big screen.'

'The very important conversation of sexual harassment in the workplace bares no relevance to this': The actress made it clear that no wrong-doing by either party was committed during the filming and confirmed they were both 'sensitive' to each other's feelings on set

'He and I have often laughed at the awkwardness we felt shooting that scene': She confirmed the stars had discussed the R-rated indie film's sex scene in the past

Russell, 53, was reflecting on the R-rated indie film's sex scene on stage at the event, but the comments were reportedly never made cut from the Channel Seven broadcast.

'I didn't actually intend to do that – I was trying to keep my bits away from her bits, and she's been given one of those pieces of elastic that the girls get when you do those scenes, which protects them from all things, and my bits and pieces were in a little canvas sack with a drawstring,' Russell began.

'And it was actually my desire to keep the bits apart. It wasn't until the opening night of the film that it was pointed out by none other than Jackie McKenzie's beautiful late mother that we were in fact, in her mind, engaged in sodomy.

'Anyway that was just a story about sensitivity!' He concluded but his 'joke' was met with a muted silence from the audience.

Actor Russell Crowe's tone deaf anecdote about 'sodomising Jacqueline McKenzie' on set of 90s film Romper Stomper was CUT from AACTA Awards broadcast on Wednesday night, according to The Guardian

'Statement from Russell Crowe': On Thursday, Jackie also re-Tweeted a post from journalist Ben Fordham, which claimed to be a 'statement from Russell Crowe' regarding the story

On Thursday, Jackie also re-Tweeted a post from journalist Ben Fordham, which claimed to be a 'statement from Russell Crowe' regarding the story.

'Actors and actresses by the nature of our job get thrown into some embarrassing, bizarre and extreme circumstances,' the statement read.

'Jacqui and I survived that moment in our young careers because we looked after each other. Our friendship has only strengthened over the years and it's a story we both cringe and laugh over.'

'I was sodomising Jacqueline McKenzie (female co-star) on the set of Romper Stomper. I didn't actually intend to do that': It's alleged the 'joke' did not please the crowd, with a silent audience reacting to his description of the event from more than 20 years ago

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Russell Crowe, the AACTA Awards and Channel Seven for comment at the time.

The film producer and musician reportedly made the comments with his former co-star Jackie sitting in the crowd on the night.

Just days prior, the actress claimed she was the victim of 'grubby behaviour' and 'sexual harassment and groping' during her early career in a Facebook post.

'It was actually my desire to keep the bits apart': Russell apparently laughed as he told the tale about how despite the actress wearing 'one of those pieces of elastic' and himself wearing a ' canvas sack with a drawstring' they appeared to get a little too close for comfort

The scene he was referring to was within the racist youth gang film, Romper Stomper, where the actors had sex in an aggressive manner

She also claimed a blind eye was turned when she raised the issue and her complaints were ignored on two occasions in the past.

On the red carpet before the event, Jackie told Guardian Australia: 'It's not just about sexual assault and harassment, it's bullying and bad behaviour in the industry.'

What timing: Only a week earlier the actress had claimed she was the victim of 'grubby behaviour' and 'sexual harassment and groping' during her early career in a Facebook post

'In all industries, no matter what job, gender or age, it occurs everywhere. I posted on Facebook last week about my experience … I'm really interested in effecting some change now,' she added.

The 50-year-old has remained too nervous to publicly 'out' her offenders in the past, but said they were predominantly 'actors/directors'.

' I'm really interested in effecting some change now': The 50-year-old has remained too nervous to publicly 'out' her offenders in the past, but said they were predominantly 'actors/directors'