Comedian Ed Kavalee has been slammed by viewers for making fun of Jelena Dokic’s moving acceptance speech during Sunday’s Logies.
The tennis great, 42, received the honour for Best Factual or Documentary Program for her documentary, Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story.
During her tear-filled speech, she paid tribute to Todd Woodbridge, explaining that her friend and mentor had encouraged her to get into TV 11 years ago.
When Kavalee, 46, accepted the prize for Best Comedy Entertainment Program for Have You Been Paying Attention? he stole a line from Jelena’s speech.
‘And 11 years ago I sat down with Todd Woodbridge and said ‘‘I’m thinking of getting into comedy” and he said ”don’t even f***ing try”.’
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Ed Kavalee has been slammed by viewers for making fun of Jelena Dokic’s moving acceptance speech during Sunday’s Logies. The tennis great, 42, received the honour for Best Factual or Documentary Program for her documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story. (Pictured)
And during her tear-filled speech, she paid tribute to Todd Woodbridge, explaining that her friend and mentor had encouraged her to get into TV 11 years ago. When Kavalee, 46, accepted the prize for Best Comedy Entertainment Program for Have You Been Paying Attention?, he stole a line from Jelena’s speech. Pictured; Ed Kavalee
While there was a ripple of laughter heard in the auditorium, Ed’s jest did not seem to go over well with the viewers at home.
‘Ed Kavalee mocking Jelena’s amazing speech is one of the lowest points of the night,’ one viewer wrote on X.
‘This is INSANE if so,’ another user responded on the thread.
‘I missed that,’ added a third fan, calling it ‘disappointing.’
Another X user summed up Kavalee’s speech.
‘At the end of the Have You Been Paying Attention? acceptance speech he [Kavalee] started talking about Todd, mirroring how she [Dokic] ended her speech. I’m guessing it was intended as humour, but it fell very, very flat,’ they wrote.
Replying on the same thread a fan took aim at Kavalee.
‘He’s one of those people where I have no clue how they’re employed in the entertainment industry,’ they said.
Dokic also paid tribute to Channel Nine for not only backing the documentary but for standing by her side since she joined the network. (Pictured0
Attendees at the Logies sat in rapt silence during Jelena’s speech in which she paid tribute to survivors of abuse.
‘Ooh! I know you said 30 seconds but I will need at least 30 to gather myself,’ she began, her voice trembling.
‘I’m actually in shock. I didn’t think this was possible and I didn’t have a speech prepared,’ she continued, clearly surprised by the win.
‘I said to my Channel Nine team and Todd that we will wing it… I underestimated this one,’ she continued.
In a heartfelt address, Dokic thanked the production team, Roadshow, In Films and her close collaborators Ivan, Manny and Jessica, crediting them for believing in her story when she initially doubted it would ever make it to air.
‘You made this happen. We would not even have sat down at the table to talk about this possibility if it wasn’t for you,’ she said.
‘I can’t thank you enough for believing in me and bringing this story to screen because I certainly didn’t when we sat down. I said to all of you, “You really think this is possible?” Thank you for doing that.’
Dokic also paid tribute to Channel Nine for not only backing the documentary but for standing by her side since she joined the network.
‘To Brent and Ben, you took a chance with me on everything seven years ago and really believed in me—not just with the documentary but everything I do. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You always have my back,’ she said.
But Dokic’s most powerful moment came when she dedicated the win to survivors of domestic violence and those battling mental health challenges.
‘This is not about winning,’ she said. ‘This is a win for victims and survivors, especially of domestic violence and mental health.’
‘To not just have those stories heard but for them to reclaim their life, to find their voice and not just survive but to thrive. To do what we need to actually be able to talk about it,’ she continued.
In an inspiring message to young women, she urged: ‘Never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away. Believe in your goals and dreams. I am standing here as someone who literally had that dream. I believed in it. I didn’t give up on it. If I can do it, you can do it too.’
But Dokic’s most powerful moment came when she dedicated the win to survivors of domestic violence and those battling mental health challenges
Finally, she became visibly emotional as she thanked her close friend and mentor, tennis player, Todd Woodbridge, crediting him with helping her move into media after she left behind her pro tennis career.
‘You’re my person,’ she said through tears.
‘When I retired 11 years ago, you told me I could be a commentator and speaker and bring my story to life. I looked at you and said, “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but you’re not talking about me.”
‘I was a person who couldn’t string two sentences together and had no social skills. You believed in me professionally. I hope everyone finds a Todd like I did.’
Woodbridge beamed from the audience as Dokic concluded: ‘You’re a massive reason why I’m standing here in every single way.
‘If everyone can have a father and mentor like Todd, they would be very fortunate. Thank you, thank you everyone.’
