Fresh details have emerged regarding an incident at the AFL Grand Final that has caused comedy performer Marty Sheargold to take personal leave from his Melbourne breakfast radio show on Triple M.
The decision by Sheargold to take a break from all media commitments follows an incident at the 2023 AFL Grand Final. Sheargold was ushered out during the halftime break due to behaviour that’s been labelled as “drunken and offensive”.
TV Blackbox understands Sheargold was sitting with senior SCA management (parent company of Triple M) and key advertising clients in corporate seating at the MCG when the incident took place. A patron sitting in close proximity to the comedian has informed this website the match commenced with Sheargold loudly proclaiming,
“just so you know, I won’t be apologising for being an absolute c@nt today”
Eyewitness accounts and complaints highlight inappropriate comments and language from the broadcaster throughout the game which became a cause of distress for those seated nearby.
It’s understood during halftime, Sheargold was heard to mock two SCA advertising clients after they purchased a salad. Our source indicates Sheargold used a ‘number of homophobic slurs’ towards the vegetarian guests because “only f-ggots eat salad at the footy”.
TV Blackbox understands SCA management was reluctant to remove the high-profile star from the game despite the obvious distress he was causing for the radio station’s male and female guests. Sheargold was eventually removed from the game just before the third quarter commenced.
Sheargold remained on-air at Triple M Melbourne in the week immediately after the Grand Final but then went missing after reports of the incident began to emerge in the Herald-Sun.
In a statement released on Thursday, the comedian confirmed he is taking extended leave from all media commitments.
“I just wanted to let people know that I’ll be taking an extended break from work, with the very kind and compassionate permission of my employers, who have been generous in their understanding of my need for a break,”
“I think it’s important for people like myself who have a public voice to admit that I am exhausted mentally from my range of commitments across TV, radio and live shows, in an attempt to continue to remove some of the roadblocks and stigma around mental health,”
“I need to set aside some time to get my work/life balance back into something that feels better than it has over the last couple of years. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, your support has been welcome and enriching.”
Triple M has reportedly now extended apologies to those who expressed their grievances. Its unclear if Sheargold has personally apologised to any network sponsors who attended the event.
The incident at the Grand Final comes after a period of time where Sheargold has lost a considerable amount of weight due to a strict diet.
In the latest Melbourne Radio ratings, Sheargold’s breakfast show clinched a 5.8% market share, while the Triple M network had a 12.4% overall.
In his absence, Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann has been called upon to fill the role as a guest host for an unspecified duration. Sydney Triple M breakfast presenter Mick Molloy has also been recruited to perform daily segments on the Melbourne show.
In 2020, Sheargold made the decision mid-year to exit the top-rating Nova Drive program after a breakdown in communication with his co-host Kate Ritchie.
Sheargold appears in the ABC comedy series Fisk and is a regular guest on programs including Have You Been Paying Attention, The Front Bar and Thank God Your Here!
Best of luck Marty.
Maybe he needs to publicly apologise to the people he offended…and be a man and admit what he’s done….
Being drunk and disorderly is not really a mental health issue …
Total wanker…
He’d probably be better company than any else in the box! If what was reported was the worst of what he said…..hear worse at a sportsman’s luncheon.
I hope he takes this better than the last isolating break he had after the thing with Fifi.
Stuff you Marty. The right thing for Triple M to do is to sack you.
You are a homophobic a##hole.
After a few drinks the real Marty comes out.
Being a drunk flog is no excuse for saying that kind of disgusting language at a AFL GRAND FINAL!! I suggest Marty Sheargold goes away and smartens up a lot maybe give the booze up for awhile also.
Idiot… probably voted no
He’s a diehard leftie, I’m tipping he voted YES !
I pretty sure the week he came back after the grand final. He said we all know what to do if you suff up you just say i have mental health issues. To joke about it then use it as an accuse. When it is a real problem. What a sad man
Use it as an accuse???
If an employee had carried on like that in front of clients and management in any of the corporations where I’ve worked, the employee would have been fired. Are the standards different here because he’s a (minor) celebrity, or because it was at the footy, or is it just weak management?
Alcohol can be a joy to some, but a problem for others. I personally think his ‘stic’ borders on offensive behavior and for me is becoming tired and repetitive. Alcohol can also sometimes reveal our true personality, I hope in this case that isnt true.
However I think its great he is taking some time to re evaluate his mental health and to work on himself, that has to be applauded.
Come back Marty we love you
You say it the way it is
Don’t listen to these tools
A joke is a joke
Everyone is offended by everything these days
Harden up Australia
I thought we had a sense of humour
That’s right he calls it how he see’s it,that’s what makes him a Jamoke.He plays up doesn’t apologise then throws the mental health card.Deluxe flog
Sheargold is a grub. He is always talking dirty on the radio .. keeps deliberately saying Jesus Christ to be offensive. Why doesn’t he abuse Allah and the prophet also… Or does he just offend Christians. Every conversation ends up with the old filth twisting it into something rude . Good riddens. Sack the creep. Leamo is so much better