Don Burke slammed for Asperger’s syndrome claim

AUTISM charity groups have blasted under-fire gardening guru Don Burke for claiming he had Asperger’s syndrome in a bizarre and rambling TV interview.

AUTISM charity groups have blasted under-fire gardening guru Don Burke for claiming he had Asperger’s syndrome in a bizarre and rambling TV interview.

Burke claimed he had self-diagnosed himself with the Autism spectrum disorder, and said it partly explained his ­inappropriate behaviour in an interview with A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw.

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“I haven’t been medically diagnosed but I’ve worked it out, what it is, and it’s a terrible failing,” he claimed.

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While the former Channel 9 star admitted he had no trouble looking down a camera lens, Burke said: “I have real difficulty looking anyone in the eye it’s a typical thing. I miss all their body language from the subtle signs, like ‘back off, that’s enough’.”

Fiona Sharkie, CEO of Autism peak body AMAZE, said Burke’s comments were highly offensive and damaging to all autistic people, their families and supporters.

“Inappropriate behaviour towards women is never excusable and trying to attribute these behaviours as symptomatic of Asperger’s syndrome or autism is drawing both a long and low bow,” she said.

Nicole Rogerson, CEO of Autism Awareness Australia said she was “sickened” by Burke’s “beyond disgusting” behaviour.

“What kind of human sinks this low?” she said.

“Own your behaviour Don. Don’t you dare smear the ASD community with your vulgar actions.”

Burke was broadly criticised for the interview, in which he also claimed he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by people who held grudges and wanted to “twist the knife”.

Today Show newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys tweeted “Difficult for a first hand allegations of harassment to be twisted in the rumour mill #DonBurke”.

Burke has been slammed for his Asperger’s syndrome claim. Picture: Bradley Cooper

An anonymous Twitter user added: “I am another woman who was preyed upon by Don Burke. I still remember his beard on my mouth. Dreadful, yet A Current Affair has given him a voice tonight and allowed him to invalidate the experiences of women.”

Broadcaster Mike Carlton tweeted: “No surprises here. Burke put the hard word on my first wife while he was filming in our garden in the ’80s. She told him to f--- off. Burke was an infamous sleazeball. It did eventually kill his career.”

Burke’s Backyard rated strongly for most of its 17-year run, launching the careers of TV stars, including The Block’s Scott Cam and TV vet Dr Harry Cooper, who both declined to comment.

And the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance union asked: “If this was so well known, why did Channel 9 allow it to go on?”

A Nine spokeswoman argued the network’s culture had since changed dramatically.

“Nine has zero tolerance of sexual harassment and workplace bullying and no employee should be subjected to this kind of behaviour,” she said.

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