Molly Meldrum has apologised for F-bombs and Logies stage invasion

MOLLY Meldrum has apologised and explained his stage invasion during Samuel Johnson’s Gold Logie acceptance speech.

EXCLUSIVE

MOLLY Meldrum has apologised for his stage invasion during Samuel Johnson’s Gold Logie acceptance speech — which created a Kanye West-style controversy at this year’s TV gala.

Meldrum has explained he only wanted to present the actor, who played him in a Channel 7 telemovie, with a hat he’d painted gold and hidden under his table in the event of a victory.

“I just wanted to give Sam the hat,” Meldrum told News Corp.

“I wasn’t sure if he’d win the gold, not that he didn’t deserve it, but it took me by surprise and I got a bit caught up in the moment.”

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Samuel Johnson being presented with a gold hat from Molly Meldrum at the 2017 Logie awards.

While the actor was gracious enough to share his moment with Meldrum, the emotional music guru lost his way — and most of the audience — as he tried mumbling his way through an anecdote connecting Johnson with his flame-haired personal assistant Yael Cohen, who had helped him climb on stage.

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Molly Meldrum wanted to get on stage to support Samuel Johnson.

Much to her mortification, Meldrum was attempting to explain how Cohen had appeared topless in a pilot episode of The Secret Life Of Us, the Channel 10 drama which made Johnson a household name back in 2001.

The former Countdown host took full advantage of the late hour, dropping several F bombs — pleasing those who claim the Logies has become too beige; while others felt he’d overshadowed Johnson’s moment.

“I profusely apologise if I upset anyone, “Meldrum said. “I’m so very proud of Sam. Everyone should be proud of him. His (acceptance) speech for his sister Connie was beautiful and his charity work is simply amazing. He’s gone through a lot lately. And if people had problems understanding what I was trying to say, well, that’s nothing new for me.”

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Can we all give a huge thanks to the person having to caption #molly at the #logies @TVWEEKmag 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/5gOso56puq

— Craig Nymms (@nymms) April 23, 2017

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A very understanding Johnson had no problem sharing the stage with Meldrum — pointing out he was the reason he was on stage in the first place.

“Molly was just being Molly,” Johnson said.

“His intentions were so good, his heart is always in the right place. My sister Connie loved it, people have been coming up to me on the street saying they loved it.”

The hat that caused all the drama — alone in the media room. Picture: AAP

As social media melted down about why no one curtailed Meldrum’s rambling antics, the Hall of Famer said he did not notice anyone trying to wrap him up.

Production staff working on the telecast tried urging Johnson and presenter Dave Hughes to cut Meldrum off, but failed due to a mix of awkward politeness and Johnson claiming he’s “half deaf” and didn’t understand what was happening.

The two women on the stage — Cohen and trophy model, Chelsea Butler — both appeared in shock as the speech unravelled, before they inched forward and hurried Meldrum to finish his presentation of the gold hat to Johnson.

Butler, a former Temptation quiz show model, later told industry pals she had felt “torn” about interrupting the TV icon.

Earlier in the evening, Meldrum had missed his moment to take to the stage when the Molly miniseries won best drama, after he was locked outside the Crown Palladium ballroom following a toilet break.

Mushroom Records founder and the telemovie’s executive producer, Michael Gudinski delivered a typically passionate and loose acceptance speech, before walking off stage and leaving the Logie on the podium (collected later by a crew member).

"He might've had a light beer" – Gold Logie winner Samuel Johnson on Molly Meldrum at the #TVWEEKLogies. @AngelaBishop #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/sB2RNUKa9c

— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) April 24, 2017

Johnson told the media after the calamitous conclusion the only part of the speech he didn’t get to mention on stage was thanking the Love Your Sister “village” on Facebook who had supported and voted for him.

Johnson plans to keep raising money and awareness for breast cancer until he reaches the $10 million mark.

Meldrum gave last night’s Logies awards a thumbs-up. “I thought everyone was great, especially Jess Mauboy’s performance. It was a really good night.”

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