Sunday 19 June 2022 10:46 PM Logies: Tony Armstrong hits back at online trolls who ridiculed his Welcome to ... trends now
Tony Armstrong has hit back at online trolls after he was slammed for delivering a Welcome to Country at the TV Week Logies Awards.
The ABC star acknowledged the traditional owners of the land while presenting with 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott at the red carpet event on Sunday night.
His speech quickly drew backlash with social media users accusing the proud Barranbinya man of 'going woke' and 'virtue signalling'.
'Acknowledgement of country is virtue signalling that does nothing to further the wellbeing of indigenous people in Australia,' one person wrote on Twitter. 'Specially to a room of coke sniffing elites. It's time we drop this nonsense.'
Armstrong returned fire and shut down his haters with a blunt and apt response.
Tony Armstrong has hit back at online trolls after he was ridiculed for delivering a Welcome to Country at the Logies
Armstrong went on to win the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent
'Shut up bro,' he wrote. 'I'm a blackfulla and I am duty bound to respect the land I'm on.'
His comment sparked an outpouring of support from fans who swooped in to defend him and commend the former AFL player for delivering the Welcome to Country.
'Dont let him shake you you are at the start of the top of your game keep growing past this point lot better things to do with your awesome energy up and beyond,' one wrote.
Another added: 'It's his award, He won it. He can say whatever he wants. Don't like it? You win an award. You can say whatever you want. Simple really.'
Armstrong went on to win the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent.
He made an emotional acceptance speech thanking his mother for her unflagging support throughout his career.
'The old cheese, my mum, she is a superstar, has done everything for me and has been a superstar and I would not be up here without her so a big thanks to her and please give her a clap, she will love it back home,' he said.
The TV Week Logies Awards ended with a bang, with the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television going to comedian Hamish Blake, who gave a moving speech as he accepted the coveted statuette for the second time.
Also in the running for the award were I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia host Julia Morris, MasterChef Australia's Melissa Leong, television host Sonia Kruger, comedian Tom Gleeson, and Home and Away star Ray Meagher.
In his acceptance speech, Hamish joked his Gold Logie counted as three because none were handed out in 2019 and 2020.
Armstrong made an emotional acceptance speech thanking his mother for her unflagging support throughout his career
The Logies Awards ended with a bang, with the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television going to a very deserving winner. Comedian Hamish Blake (pictured) took home the coveted statuette
He also won the award in 2012, and claimed that he now technically had four Gold Logies.
The television personality thanked his wife, Zoë Foster Blake, and his two children, son Sonny and daughter Rudy.
'My beautiful wife, this is - you don't get to stand up here unless you have amazing people behind you. You're the most amazing of people.
'You stole my look for tonight. I had to quickly find this. Apart from that, I think you do it better anyway. Thank you, honey. And I would also like to thank you know, little shout out to our kids'.
He continued: 'My kids are the favourite of all kids. They can't be here. They got last minute fake IDs and gone clubbing.'
Hamish joked that his Gold Logie counted as three because none were handed out in 2019 and 2020. He also won the award in 2012, and claimed that he now technically had four
The television personality thanked his wife, Zoë Foster Blake (pictured), and his two children, son Sonny and daughter Rudy
'My beautiful wife, this is - you don't get to stand up here unless you have amazing people behind you. You're the most amazing of people,' he said
'But I know they will watch this tomorrow when I make them on YouTube,' Hamish joked.
'So to my kids winning an award is nice. But the greatest prize is to be your dad. You're the most important.'
Hamish concluded: 'If you are watching this, you're an insomniac and also somebody that supports Australian TV and we would not be here without you. So thank you to the people at home.'
'So to my kids winning an award is nice. But the greatest prize is to be your dad. You're the most important,' he added. The couple are pictured with their children
Despite the thrilling finish, the revamped show suffered a few teething issues.
The who's who of Australian celebrities gathered on the Gold Coast for the glittering event, which got off to a rough start.
Receiving the first award of the night, Hamish Blake was left awkwardly fumbling though his acceptance speech when no one handed him the actual Logie statuette.
The revamped show suffered a few teething issues before getting off to a thrilling finish. Pictured: Ryan McNaught and Hamish Blake
Hamish was collecting the Logie for Most Popular Entertainment Program for the show he hosts, Lego Masters, alongside co-star Ryan McNaught.
He joked that he may have to build his own award from Lego, before an usher came dashing out to finally hand the pair their statuette.
Next Karl Stefanovic was left red-faced when presenting an award alongside Chrissie Swan, who sledged him for missing rehearsals earlier in the day.
Receiving the first award of the night, Hamish Blake was left awkwardly fumbling though his acceptance speech when no one handed him the actual Logie statuette
Hamish was collecting the Logie for Most Popular Entertainment Program for the show he hosts, Lego Masters, alongside co-star Ryan McNaught
He joked that he may have to build his own award from Lego, before an usher came dashing out to finally hand the pair their statuette
Chrissie joked, 'I came to rehearsal so I get to do the announcement', to laughter from the crowd.
'I was in cocktails and dreams. Living my best life. Just getting up it,' Karl immediately replied.
Earlier, host Julia Morris took a crack at former Gold Logie winner Tom Gleeson, who was again up for the prize this year.
Karl Stefanovic (right) was left red-faced when presenting an award alongside Chrissie Swan (left) who sledged him for missing rehearsals earlier in the day. Chrissie joked, 'I came to rehearsal so I get to do the announcement'
'I was in cocktails and dreams. Living my best life. Just getting up it,' Karl immediately replied
'We can't legally discuss his Logie win,' she quipped as Tom shot her a stormy look from the audience.
Julia was referring to Tom's very controversial speech back in 2019.
Tom divided the room with his rambling, eight-minute Gold Logie acceptance speech which included several eyebrow-raising comments.
Earlier, host Julia Morris (pictured) took a crack at former Gold Logie winner Tom Gleeson, who was again up for the prize this year
'We can't legally discuss his Logie win,' she quipped as Tom (pictured) shot her a stormy look from the audience. Julia was referring to Tom's very controversial speech back in 2019
There was a rare and touching performance from Jimmy Barnes, who was joined by his children David Campbell and Mahalia Barnes.
The trio put on a rousing rendition of the classic song Do You Love Me by The Contours.
David and Jimmy's contrasting vocals brought the house down with the pair ending their song to massive applause.
There was a rare and touching performance from Jimmy Barnes (left), who was joined by his children David Campbell (right) and Mahalia Barnes
The trio put on a rousing rendition of the classic song Do You Love Me by The Contours
Patti Newtown took part in a moving tribute to her late husband, industry legend Bert Newton.
'Thank you, thank you very much for that beautiful welcome and for this beautiful man of mine, isn't he fabulous! What am I going to do without him!' she began.
'I actually didn't think I was going to be able to do this tonight, because it is still very raw and I will never get over him not being here. But I know he is with me. And here. And he is inside me and my daughter'.
Patti Newtown (pictured) took part in a moving tribute to her late husband, industry legend Bert Newton
She then showed off a necklace she was wearing which bears Bert's name.
'Lauren had this made for me so I will be wearing this forever around my neck. I will know who I am and when I cannot remember anymore, I will say who's that? It will be Bert,' she continued.
'Lauren and I used to sit with him for hours and hours and we would reminisce about all the wonderful things that he did, because he did do a lot of fabulous things, and we would talk about the people that he met and the shows that he did and how wonderful it was. We were very proud of him because he did go through a lot, and he was very brave and he just never complained.'
