political academic and political commentator, Peter Van Onselen, has gone viral over his comments on Grace Tame refusing to smile next to Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.
If you haven’t seen the photos of Tame unsmiling next to Morrison – then you may actually be living under a rock.
But the photos went viral quickly and took over the national conversation – forget case numbers, Tame wasn’t smiling!
Grace Tame is all of us at the moment… pic.twitter.com/7HouFL8zee
— ZaneBarb (@BaneZarne) January 25, 2022
Tame’s reaction did seem to divide Australia. Some people argued it was rude (mostly men) others argued Grace had every right not to smile, (mostly women).
Naturally, Peter van Onselen penned an opinion piece in The Australian, where he argued Tame’s response to Morrison was, “ungracious, rude and childish.”
Then when he appeared on 10’s The Project, he doubled down and said: “If you can’t be polite in some form, just don’t go.”
Carrie Bickmore responded with, “But why she should have been silenced and quiet? Why can’t she go and make a statement in her behaviour about how she feels about what has happened over the last year?
Onselen, said: “I don’t think she’s being silenced by not going. I think it would have made a big statement if she hadn’t gone and she didn’t speak at the event.
“So, I just think if you can’t have basic courtesy to the Prime Minister. I don’t like Scott Morrison particularly but if you can’t show basic courtesy, don’t go – I just think it’s immature.”
If you missed it, here is THAT moment from #TheProjectTV tonight. pic.twitter.com/9D0lac85Vt
— The Project (@theprojecttv) January 25, 2022
Of course, Van Onselen’s opinions have made him go pretty viral.
Twitter has had a big response.
If Grace Tame was a man would Peter Van Onselen have written that article?
— Liz (@LizSward) January 25, 2022
"The footage of Peter van Onselen being ripped to shreds by Carrie Bickmore and Amy Remeikis tonight was embarrassing, for him that is.
He didn’t have to say anything smarmy. Just be a decent human being, that’s all. If that wasn’t possible, why bother to attend at all?"
— Rachel Withers (@rachelrwithers) January 25, 2022
It’s pretty funny that arrogant men like Peter van Onselen have rushed out to show they don’t understand the symbolism of Grace Tame’s steely glare at the Prime Minister. PVO doesn’t understand Grace is all us women staring at MEN LIKE HIM, WHO DESERVE NO RESPECT.
— Victoria Fielding (@DrVicFielding) January 25, 2022
Project viewers ask why Peter Van Onselen refused to smile during last nights roast, ‘he came across very rude’
— The Interns (@ChaserInterns) January 26, 2022
Men like Peter Van Onselen are why we need women like Grace Tame.
— Raves 🖤💛❤️ (@RavenZech2) January 25, 2022
Ultimately it was good television to see Bickmore and Onselen get stuck into such a big conversation and really have it out.
