‘Not my friend’: Kim Williams lashes Austen Tayshus amid fresh scandal

Kim Williams has lashed Austen Tayshus after it emerged the once-prominent comedian continues to invoke the ABC chair’s name in heated messages, this time to a former staffer at the broadcaster.

More correspondence was revealed by 2GB on Friday morning, two months after Media Watch exposed the comedian’s use of Williams’ name to pressure ABC staff to give him air time. This time, Tayshus, real name Sandy Gutman, refers to himself as “mate of Kim Williams” in a message to former Radio Sydney host Josh Szeps.

Comedian Austen Tayshus (left) and ABC chair Kim Williams.Credit: AP Photo, Alex Ellinghausen

The message, which was sent on Facebook Messenger to Szeps, appears to be in relation to an opinion piece written by Szeps in The Sydney Morning Herald. Gutman, who is Jewish, called Szeps’ a “half-Jew” for critiquing Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.

“What you did is dangerous to others. You can sleep well. Just shut up and keep these opinions to yourself at this dangerous moment,” Gutman wrote.

The opinion article by Szeps – who no longer works for the ABC – bears no relation to Williams.

Gutman signed off his message as “Austen Tayshus. Difficult conversationalist and mate of Kim Williams”, perhaps a reference to Szeps’ podcast Uncomfortable Conversations.

Williams labelled the message and Gutman’s ongoing use of his name for his own benefit “disgusting”, saying that the comedian is no friend of his.

“He is not, has never been, and would never be a friend of mine. It is disgusting,” Williams said.

Just because Gutman claims the pair are friends, doesn’t mean it is so, he said.

The chair found himself at the centre of a scandal reported by the ABC’s Media Watch in April, after it was revealed he had aided Gutman in securing a number of radio interviews during a countrywide comedy tour.

Gutman – once known for his 1980s comedy single Australiana – was interviewed 11 times on different ABC local radio stations, all of which promoted coming shows the comedian had booked in the relevant regional markets.

Former ABC Radio host Josh Szeps.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

As part of his messages to regional ABC radio staff, Gutman had alleged to Williams in a phone call that he was being denied interviews because he was Jewish.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks later said that Williams was distressed at the notion he could have put the ABC’s reputation in jeopardy.

On Friday, Gutman said his use of Williams’ name was “a joke”, and that the substance of his message to Szeps was more important. He said he had apologised to Williams for getting him involved in the saga, but that he could not recall whether the pair were friends.

“I consider it a beat-up. He just helped me out, whether he is a mate or not doesn’t matter,” Gutman said.

Szeps defended Williams on Friday, saying he felt for him and he was doing a “great job”.

“The ABC is lucky to have him. On Mr Gutman, I have no comment,” he said.

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