Sarah Harris reveals her kids were threatened in the wake of Project joke scandal

Sarah Harris has opened up about the “sad and scary” abuse she copped after The Project aired an explicit joke, revealing even her kids were targeted.

Sarah Harris has revealed that she and her children received death threats in the wake of the Jesus joke scandal on The Project.

Ten’s nightly current affairs panel program received intense backlash earlier this year following an appearance by Reuben Kaye, during which he made an explicit joke about Jesus.

“I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more,” he quipped during the controversial segment.

Speaking on The Matty Johns Show podcast this week, Harris opened up about the horrifying online abuse she received following the comedian’s appearance.

“People were angry, they needed to let off steam, that’s fine – they see me as a two-dimensional figure on TV,” Harris told host Matty Johns, adding that some threats had targeted Paul, 6, and Harry, 4, the two children she shares with ex-husband Tom Ward.

“The (messages) really only stopped in the last couple of weeks.”

The Project star also labelled the period after the joke aired as “sad and scary”, but admitted broadcasting the remark was a mistake.

“The joke should never have gone to air and it took us all by surprise,” Harris said.

However, as Johns quickly pointed out: “On the scale of scandal, it wasn’t you. It wasn’t your joke.”

Harris opened up about the saga on Matty Johns’ podcast.

“On the flip side”, Harris added, “this is leaving very, very close to blasphemy and the reaction that we’re getting, that we can’t joke about religion.”

She went on: “I’m not defending having the joke on the show because it was absolutely the wrong context and wrong forum for that, but when we start talking about what you can and can’t joke about … are we going to move on to blasphemy laws next? It’s concerning.”

Harris has spoken about the intense abuse she received in the wake of the controversial Jesus joke.

Earlier this year, The Project hosts apologised for Kaye’s explicit joke amid heavy public criticism.

The queer comic had been speaking about the hate he had received for his sexuality and for dressing up in drag – particularly from the Christian community – when he made the X-rated remark on February 28.

The following day, Aly kicked off the show’s apology to viewers.

“During a live interview last night, our guest told a joke which we know was deeply and needlessly offensive to many of you,” he said.

Many viewers were outraged by Kaye’s joke. Picture: Ten

“We want to acknowledge the particular offence and hurt that it caused our Muslim and especially our Christian viewers. Obviously, I understand how profound that offence was.”

Harris added: “Live TV is unpredictable. And when this happened in the last few moments of the show, it took us all by surprise, there wasn’t a lot of time to react in a considered way.”

Aly then said: “We weren’t expecting a comment like that to be made and we acknowledge the offence it caused. We are sorry.”