Complaints to media watchdog against The Project Jesus joke mount

The Project’s offensive Jesus joke has attracted even more complaints than a previous remark made by shock jock Kyle Sandilands.

The Project’s offensive Jesus joke has attracted more complaints than shock jock Kyle Sandilands’ infamous Virgin Mary slur, the media watchdog has revealed.

Tens of thousands of viewers unleashed their anger last week after queer comedian Reuben Kaye made a sexual joke mocking the Christian faith on the prime-time show.

“I think it’s hilarious when someone messages me and says, ‘You have to accept Jesus’ love or you will burn in hell,’ because I love Jesus,” Kaye said.

“I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more.”

Queer comic Reuben Kaye is in trouble for making a Jesus joke on The Project. Picture: The Project

The severe backlash forced the show’s hosts to issue an apology on-air.

However, the Australian Communications and Media Authority said they’ve received more than 203 complaints about the episode.

“Under the broadcasting co-regulatory system, complainants are directed to the broadcaster in the first instance,” ACMA said.

“If a complainant does not receive a response from the broadcaster within 60 days, or is not satisfied with the response they do receive, they may refer their complaint to the ACMA for consideration.”

Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris were forced to apologise over the segment. Picture: The Project

In 2019, around 180 complaints were made to ACMA after Sandilands referred to the Virgin Mary as a liar who was “knocked up” behind the camel shed.

The media regulator handed down their findings nearly a year after Sandilands made the remarks and said the radio host “overstepped the mark” when he made the controversial comments on air.

An apology was issued by Sandilands after he was slammed by the public and a protest was held outside KISS FM studio.

Muslim and Christian protesters outside KISS FM studio in 2019 after Kyle Sandilands’ Virgin Mary slur. Picture: David Swift

Meanwhile, a peaceful protest has been planned outside Sydney’s Channel 10 studio on Saturday as demonstrators call on The Project “to be cancelled”.

Founder of Christian Lives Matter, which has over 26,000 members, Charlie Bakhos said while he hasn’t organised the protest he will be supporting it.

“There’s a difference between free speech and hate speech. We’re all for free speech, but we’re against hate speech,” he said.

“Hate speech is not acceptable and I’m talking hate speech against anybody be it of any faith, sexuality or race.”

A protest has been organised outside Channel 10 in response to the dirty Jesus joke.

Mr Bakhos has been subjected to threats over the past week over his comments condemning The Project as well as being accused of organising a Rosary protest in Newtown last Friday.

“I had several media outlets accuse me of organising this even though I wasn’t there. I simply shared the videos after on my social media pages,” he said.

Mr Bakhos said the handling by the Network has been “much worse” than Sandilands’ on-air comments.

“When Kyle mocked Our Lady it caused a big stir on social media and he then put an apology which wasn’t good enough and then he went on-air and did a heartfelt apology for nearly 10 minutes,” he said.

Kyle Sandilands was remorseful during his on-air apology over his Virgin Mary comments. Picture: Twitter

“But with this scenario there has been a weak response, the apology was fake and people are angered because this time has united much more people who are fed up with everything that’s going on.”

It comes as nearly 40,000 Australians have signed a change.org petition calling on the network to axe The Project.

Leaders from both the Christian and Muslim faith also voiced their outrage and wrote letters to Channel 10 bosses over its airing of the controversial joke.