Opinion: Will Bodhi Risby-Jones be next reality TV star?

The Noosa man released from Indonesia after an alleged drunken, naked rampage should not be lionised with a reality TV gig or lucrative interview deal, writes Kylie Lang.

The Sunshine Coast man who allegedly went on a naked and drunken rampage in Indonesia is not a hero. To borrow from Monty Python’s Life of Brian, “he’s a very naughty boy”.

But what’s the bet Bodhi Risby-Jones will be Australia’s next reality TV “star”?

The $25,000 his family was forced to pay his alleged victim to secure the lad’s release from prison would be offset in no time.

And if not reality TV or handsomely paid interviews, there is also the prospect of a tell-all book.

The options for capitalising on public misdeeds – as Schapelle Corby illustrated only too well – are endless.

Bodhi Risby-Jones arrives at Melbourne Airport after his flight home from Indonesia.

Let’s not forget Cory Worthington, the teen who made headlines for throwing a wild party in his mother’s home back in 2008 then went on to appear on Big Brother and Australian Ninja Warrior.

As the mother of a 23-year-old son myself, I can certainly appreciate the relief and joy Bodhi Risby-Jones’s family must be feeling now that his month-plus-long ordeal is over.

But there are many people, including a number of Courier-Mail readers, who believe he deserved a much harsher penalty and should still be in jail.

Risby-Jones chose to break the law – alcohol is banned in the Aceh province – and we’re told the fisherman who suffered a broken ankle and needed 50 stitches may never work again.

Bodhi Risby-Jones released from Indonesian prison after reaching compensation agreement. Picture – Akil Rozha in Simeulue

Many people also find it hard to swallow Risby-Jones’s comments to Channel 9 that the pair had become like family.

“Now, however, with the victim, we embraced, we gave hugs, we shared laughs, he told me that I’m basically part of the family, so I feel much better about it now,” he told the network.

“I’m welcome to come back and even stay at their house whenever I want.

“So that feeling of guilt is definitely much smaller than it was originally.”

We can only hope that Risby-Jones has learned a valuable lesson – about respecting other cultures, abiding by the law and realising the importance of self-control.

But it would be wrong to turn him into a hero or for him to otherwise profit from his Indonesian experience.