Kamahl fires up at ‘disgusting’ Phillip Adams tweet

It’s an extraordinary dispute involving two cultural icons and allegations of racism and left-wing hypocrisy – and it was sparked by differing views of a third icon, Donald Bradman.

Kamahl with a 1977 centenary cricket bat. Picture: Tim Hunter

It’s an extraordinary social media dispute involving two cultural icons and allegations of racism and left-wing hypocrisy – and it was sparked by differing views of a third icon, cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman.

In the dispute, which played out on Twitter this week, Malaysian-Australian singer Kamahl slammed as “disgusting” a controversial tweet by ABC radio presenter Phillip Adams claiming that Bradman treated the singer as “an honorary white”.

In his tweet, which has gone viral, the Late Night Live presenter said of Bradman’s enduring friendship with Kamahl: “Clearly, Kamahl, he [Bradman] made you an Honorary White. Whereas one of the most towering political figures of the 20th century (Nelson Mandela) was deemed unworthy of Bradman’s approval.’’ (The Mandela claim by Adams has also been challenged.)

Daring to suggest that Sir Donald Bradman invited me to his home in August 1988 as a 'token white' is disgusting at best. You may be White, but oh your Soul is Black! It's ironic to note your vocabulary is Excellent.
Why are people so unkind ?@OfficialKamahl@PhillipAdams_1

— Kamahl AM (@OfficialKamahl) December 27, 2022

I campaigned for homosexual law reform in the 60’s.Worked in the Treaty campaign before most of you were born.Fought for refugees.Have spent my life fighting bigotry in all its forms. Hence I was awarded the highest relevant honour- the Human Rights Medal. Apologies accepted

— Phillip Adams (@PhillipAdams_1) December 28, 2022

I arrived 70 years ago, but failed & was to be deported, but the kindness of strangers paved the way for me to become an Aust.Citizen in'66.
It's an Impossible Dream come true. My eternal thanks to all who helped this 88 year old man's hopes & dreams come true.@OfficialKamahl

— Kamahl AM (@OfficialKamahl) December 27, 2022

Kamahl shot back: “Daring to suggest that Sir Donald Bradman invited me to his home in August 1988 as a ‘token white’ is disgusting at best. You may be white, but oh your Soul is Black!” The singer, who said last year he had endured racist skits on Hey Hey It’s Saturday, including having white powder thrown on his face, added: “Why are people so unkind?’’

Kamahl subsequently wrote that he was “deeply touched” by the strong public support he had received in the wake of Adams’s tweet.

Adams’s supporters, meanwhile, claimed his “honorary white” remark was aimed at Bradman, not Kamahl, but the singer tweeted this was “Bull….!’’

The broadcaster, who writes a column for The Weekend Australian magazine, defended his record on human rights on Thursday, tweeting: “I campaigned for homosexual law reform in the 60s. Worked in the Treaty campaign before most of you were born. Fought for refugees. Have spent all my life fighting bigotry in all its forms. Hence I was awarded the highest relevant honour – the Human Rights Medal. Apologies accepted.’’

Phillip Adams.

Sir Donald Bradman.

However, Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine said Adams’s “honorary white” tweet was “reprehensible” and called for him to be sacked from the ABC, while 2GB broadcaster Joe Hildebrand called the dispute the “most bizarre thing” he had seen in 25 years of journalism.

Hildebrand said Adams should not lose his job, but noted the left’s lack of outrage. He called the saga an “extraordinary” expose of “the hypocrisy of the left when something like this happens on their side of politics to one of their heroes’’.

The falling out between Kamahl and Adams was sparked by their contrasting perspectives of Bradman’s legacy. This week, the reputation of Bradman, who died in 2001, came under fire after a 1975 letter he sent to then-prime minister Malcolm Fraser was unearthed.

In the letter, Bradman urged Fraser to scrap regulations on capital, warned him about union power and called for the public to be “re-educated” about private enterprise.

The letter caused an outcry, with Adams denouncing Bradman as a “right-wing nutjob”. Kamahl leapt to the cricketer’s defence, pointing out that “he welcomed me at his home’’ every year between 1988 and 2001.

The Australian asked Adams to comment on the dispute, but he declined.