Steve Price awkwardly interrupts Waleed Aly amid on-air row that sparks bitter viewer backlash

Waleed Aly was awkwardly interrupted on The Project by Steve Price, whose remarks have caused backlash on social media.

Steve Price has sparked fierce backlash after slamming Daniel Andrews being named on the King’s Honours list this year.

Andrews, who was one of Victoria’s longest-running premiers, has been recognised for his “eminent service to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.

Steve Price has sparked a wild backlash on social media when he made remarks about the King's Honours list. Picture: Ten.

Following the announcement, controversial commenter and host Price didn’t mince his words when he shared his dismay on Monday’s episode of The Project.

“It’s got to be some sort of sick joke,” he said as he began his rant. “Who would expect Daniel Andrews would get the highest honour that you can possibly get from the King? It’s the equivalent of a Knighthood! This is a bloke who locked Victoria up longer than anywhere else in the word. Apart from Covid, this bloke wasted 600 million dollars not holding the Commonwealth Games.”

Andrews quickly became synonymous for his strong stance towards COVID-19 restrictions back in 2020. In total, the city spent 262 days in lockdown – a record by the time the restrictions ended.

Refusing to allow his co-stars to interject, Price then alleged: “Every infrastructure project he’s [Andrews] ticked off on is either over budget or over time. And we give him an award? I mean it is pathetic!”

Price's remarks didn't sit well with some of his co-stars, or viewers at home. Picture: Ten.

“I have never heard people today so angry about something like this. Daniel Andrews should be run out of the State, not given an award. It’s pathetic!”

As Waleed Aly began to share his own opinion, Price butted in, firing back at his co-star: “You’re not going to defend Andrews are you?”

“Will you let me say something?” replied Aly awkwardly, as Price nodded his head.

“Premiers usually get these awards, but they don’t usually get them this quickly,” continued Aly. “And the weird thing about this is that it isn’t for services to the State, it’s for services to health. And that makes it about the pandemic disproportionately. If this was happening in a few years, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation.”

Despite Price claiming that many people are as “angry” as he is, sadly for the star many on social media had fiercely opposing views.

After the clip was posted to Twitter, the show was inundated with replies from viewers who were lashing out at Price’s strongly worded views.

“What criteria is TheProject applying to Steve Prices opinion? The short man is a self serving blowhard that has no credible platform for his opinions. Surely in 2024 there are better options in Australia,” ranted one annoyed viewer.

A second commented: “If it makes @StevePriceMedia mad then it’s a great decision!!” with another replying: “Like anybody should give credibility to anything Steve Price says”.

But the onslaught of remarks didn’t end there, with another firing back: “Steve Price is jealous and miserable,” while a similarly annoyed viewer wrote: “Dan living rent free in Price’s head, embarrassing”.

Originally published as Steve Price awkwardly interrupts Waleed Aly amid on-air row that sparks bitter viewer backlash