The unfunny fallout: Richard Wilkins causes bizarre boycott of Barry Humphries memorial
In what can only be described as a plot twist worthy of its own sitcom, the memorial service for Australian comedy icon Barry Humphries is shaping up to be more dramatic than the very finest of soap operas.
The cause of this uproar? None other than the involvement of Richard Wilkins, the silver fox of entertainment reporting, as the MC/host of the event.
It seems Wilkins' mere presence has caused such distress among some of Humphries' nearest and dearest that they've decided to boycott the memorial altogether.
One of Humphries' longtime friends, Professor Ross Fitzgerald, expressed his disbelief, saying, "Like a number of Barry's friends, I was amazed and aghast that Channel 9 personality Richard Wilkins was chosen to be the MC at this important event, Barry's memorial."
Fitzgerald continued, "I find it very hard to believe that members of the family and the children, for example, would have approved this."
And now, while the upcoming memorial turns into a high-stakes game of 'Who Wants to Avoid Richard Wilkins?', Sydney Confidential went on to report that while Humphries' widow Lizzie Spender played a role in organising the service, Humphries' daughter Emily was not consulted and won't be attending.
But Wilkins has his fair share of defenders. Australian TV producer Mark Llewellyn took to Twitter to proclaim, "Humphries would have abhorred these snobs," adding, "Shove a gladioli up their boycotting bottoms!" That's one way to settle a family dispute.
Meanwhile, Seven entertainment reporter Peter Ford, in an attempt to play peacemaker, tweeted, "It's all very unfortunate and obviously not Richard's fault. He's a great M.C."
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