Australian Ninja Warrior: Nick Kyrgios reacts to Ben Fordham calling him an ‘absolute tool’

Nick Kyrgios was taken aback when he was told that his Ninja Warrior co-star Ben Fordham had called him an “absolute tool”.

Nick Kyrgios was shocked when told that his Australian Ninja Warrior co-star Ben Fordham had called him an “absolute tool” in the past.

Kyrgios is the newest addition to the Ninja Warrior family and will join Shane Crawford as a sideline commentator when the show kicks off on June 20 on Channel 9.

The show will once again be hosted by Rebecca Maddern and Ben Fordham, the latter of whom has been a vocal critic of Kyrgios’ in the past.

In August 2019, Fordham blasted the tennis star over his poor behaviour at the Cincinnati Masters.

“I’m reluctant to start a show by talking about this brat because the bloke is an absolute tool,” Fordham said on 2GB at the time. “He could be facing a suspension after another major outburst – this one’s extraordinary.”

Ninja Warrior season five: Ben Fordham, Nick Kyrgios, Rebecca Maddern and Shane Crawford. Picture: Nigel Wright

Fordham explained that Kyrgios had smashed racquets during the game and called the umpire “a tool” and spat in his direction.

“Nick, we know who the tool is … it’s you,” Fordham said on radio. “This bloke is dead set heading towards straight jacket territory. He needs a psychologist, a psychiatrist and some medication and a whole lot more!”

During an interview to promote his role on Ninja Warrior, news.com.au read out Fordham’s comments to Kyrgios and asked him how he felt about them.

“Oh god, he said all those things about me?” a shocked Kyrgios replied. “Dang!”

The tennis star continued: “Well, when I got there he was pretty nice. He asked for a photo with his family, so I didn’t really feel that at all.

“When I was there he was actually a lot of fun to be honest. I didn’t feel any tension at all … he was really nice to me actually.”

Kyrgios added that he didn’t really care about Fordham’s past comments, telling news.com.au: “Regardless of how Ben felt in the past, he understood that I could add some value to the production and being around some of the athletes.”

He added: “Look, my opinion has changed over some people over the last couple of years when you get to know them as a person, so I’m not too fussed about it.”

News.com.au also reached out Ben Fordham to see if he still felt the same way about Kyrgios.

Fordham said: “I think a lot of people have changed their mind on Nick and I’m certainly one of them. He was a pleasure to work with and I hope we get to collaborate in the future. Does he need a ball boy to travel with him while he’s on tour?”

Nick Kyrgios raves about his Ninja Warrior experience

The 26-year-old told news.com.au he “really loved” shooting Ninja Warrior which was filmed in February and March at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park.

And despite not having done much commentary in the past, he said he found the role quite “easy”.

“I’ve done a fair bit of media in my short career so far,” he said. “I definitely feel as if I was ready for it. It was pretty easy. I feel like the athletes related to me a fair bit and it was awesome.”

Kyrgios enjoyed the experience so much that he wants to do more TV work.

“I speak relatively well, I don’t mind being genuine and real to the camera,” he told news.com.au.

“Just being around other athletes, I feel I’m pretty supportive and as I said, I can feel their pain sometimes when they’ve pushed through or fell off quite early.

“I feel like I’m a pretty relatable person,” Kyrgios said.

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Nick Kyrgios on the set of Ninja Warrior. Picture: Nigel Wright

What’s different about Ninja Warrior this year

More than 200 athletes are set to compete on Ninja Warrior this year, and the course is tougher than ever.

There are 26 new obstacles and for the first time ever, ninjas will be able to choose their own path, taking them through to the Warped Wall which is now 10cm higher.

The competitor who goes the furthest on the Grand Final course in the fastest time will be the Season 5 winner and will take home $100,000. However, the competitor who conquers Mt Midoriyama in the fastest time will win an additional $100,000 and claim the title of Australia’s Ninja Warrior.

Australian Ninja Warrior returns on Sunday, June 20 at 7pm on Channel 9