On-Air Slip-Ups and Controversies Behind the Show’s Demise

After 16 years on air, The Project was officially axed by Network Ten this week.

The network broke the news on Monday, sharing a post to Facebook thanking viewers for their support before announcing the show’s replacement.

With almost 5,000 episodes under its belt, the current affairs show has been experiencing a ratings decline in recent years.

It was not without controversy, too, with The Project often making headlines as opposed to reporting on them.

Here are just a few of the biggest slip-ups and controversies in Project history.

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A holy furore 

Back in 2023, queer comedian Reuben Kaye shocked Project viewers when he dropped an X-rated joke about Jesus Christ on air.

‘I love Jesus, I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more,’ the comedian said at the time.

Kaye’s off-colour joke sparked a huge backlash, with hosts Sarah Harris and Waleed Aly forced to apologise. 

‘What a disgusting joke about Jesus, and The Project team just giggled and did not say anything. So offended by your inaction,’ one person wrote on X at the time.

Another said: ‘Actually a filthy joke about Jesus. I’m all for being who you wanna be, but that’s too far.’

Rotten remarks 

Another guest that shocked both viewers and stars was former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, aka, Johnny Rotten.

Appearing on the show back in 2013, Lydon dove headlong into a sexist attack against then-host Carrie Bickmore.

Bickmore was attempting to ask the punk rock icon about former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, with Lydon repeatedly telling Bickmore to ‘shut up’.

‘Hey, missus! Whoever you are, you need to be quiet, your voice is too loud for me,’ Lydon said.

Bickmore persisted, only to have Lydon spit: ‘Now listen, when a man is talking, do not interrupt.

‘You sound like one of them [sic] dreadful damn birds I don’t like. You be polite… you’ve got to learn what manners and respect is.’

The interview was then terminated, with panellist Andrew Rochford labelling Lydon a ‘flat out, sexist, misogynist pig.’

Carrie’s C-bomb 

Bickmore was also not immune to the occasional on-air gaffe during her time on the show.

Her most famous on-screen faux pas took place in 2012 when she accidentally said the C-word during a segment about a price war between Qantas and Virgin Australia.

‘Virgin’s targeting key corporate routes hoping to win over C***-tas, excuse me, Qantas customers,’ she said before laughing.

Without missing a beat, Carrie’s then co-host Charlie Pickering quipped: ‘That address you’ll need is YouTube.com.’

Carrie later took to Twitter with an apology, writing: ‘Any publicity is good publicity right??!! Sorry @qantasairways and my nan.’

Courting controversy 

Controversial tennis great Margaret Court hit back at The Project in 2017 for what she claimed was a ‘disrespectful’ interview about her views on gay marriage. 

Court caused a media frenzy when she penned an open letter claiming she was disappointed Qantas had become an active promoter of same-sex marriage.

Appearing on the Project to defend her views, Court said she found it hard to voice her opinion over the top of hosts Waleed Aly and panellist Meshel Laurie. 

‘He tried to cut me off, I said, “No, you’re not listening, you’re just making fun”,’ Court said of Aly to the Daily Telegraph at the time.

‘It’s below-the-belt stuff really, we have freedom of speech.

‘But I think it’s sad they don’t have a lot of respect for people or what they’ve done or who they are.

Higgins hot water

Controversy struck The Project again in 2021 when then-host Lisa Wilkinson sat down with Brittany Higgins for an exclusive interview about her alleged rape at Parliament House.

Higgins made the allegation that she had been raped on a minister’s couch in Parliament House and repeated those claims in her Project interview with Wilkinson in February of that year as well as to news.com.au.

While neither outlet named the alleged rapist, Higgins’ former colleague Bruce Lehrmann claimed that he was identifiable and sued news.com.au, Network Ten and The Project for defamation.

Lehrmann’s action eventually failed, with Justice Michael Lee finding, on the balance of probabilities, that Lehrmann had raped Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in 2019.

Lehrmann was ordered to pay Network Ten’s costs and he is currently appealing the decision.

Panda-monium 

Chinese-born Australian journalist and writer Vicky Xu appeared on the program in June 2024 to discuss Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s current visit in Australia and his recent announcement of a panda swap at Adelaide Zoo.

Ms Xu was asked by panellist Sam Taunton if she was excited about Adelaide Zoo getting new pandas.

‘I think… no, I am not… I am not,’ Ms Xu admitted. ‘I think pandas they’re too lazy to f*** and to the point that they’re going extinct.’

‘And and look, look at me this outfit… I am so much cuter than those giant fat, not f****ing pandas,’ she added.

Ms Xu’s comment was met with shock and laughter by The Project hosts.

Racism Row  

AFL star Heritier Lumumba called out the show in 2021 after he was interviewed by hosts Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar. 

The former Collingwood star had been in the headlines following claims about racism at the club including the use of the nickname “chimp”.

But his claims were called into doubt by Peter Helliar during a discussion with other panellists after the interview aired.

‘Heritier has the opportunity to become a really strong, significant voice in the battle against racism with the AFL and Australian sport,’ Helliar said.

‘My only thing — it would be really helpful if we heard more detail, specifically with the nickname.

‘We can’t find anyone who would speak to us who knew of that nickname over a playing career of 10 years.’

Helliar eventually issued an apology, saying: ‘I am truly, unequivocally sorry, Lumumba. I should have believed you. I will do better.

‘I urge all fans and members to demand better from Collingwood.’