Aussie music legend provides fans with an update on Molly Meldrum’s health

Australian singer-songwriter Russell Morris has provided fans with a health update on television icon Ian “Molly” Meldrum, telling fans “he’s doing ok”.

Morris’ comments come after concern grew for Meldrum following a series of incidents in which he exhibited odd behaviour. Earlier in the year, footage was shared by The Daily Mail which allegedly showed the former Countdown host exposing his genitalia and urinating on the floor while attending a Rod Stewart concert

Meldrum also made headlines in January when he was brought up on stage during Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road show in which he proceeded to expose his bare buttocks to the crowd.

Molly Meldrum’s guest appearance at Elton John. pic.twitter.com/LKXutluwOe

— mitty (@oz__6413) January 13, 2023

While speaking with 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Morris offered fans some insight into Meldrum’s recent antics.

“He’s not young anymore, he’s 80 years old, and I guess I’ll be doing worse things than that by the time I’m 80, I haven’t got too far to go,” he said.

“So, yeah, it just happens. And, um, he wants to live his life, that’s the problem, he doesn’t want someone to put him in a home or something, so he just decides to go out.

“And if you’re with him, and you’re a carer or something, and you’re in awe of him, and he says, ‘I’m going on stage!’ and you go, ‘No, no, no, no, I don’t think you should!’ he goes, ‘Get away from me!’ and he pushes and they all back off.

“He just does what he wants to do. And consequently, it’s a train wreck sometimes. And I do love him, he’s a fantastic guy, and I owe him a lot.”

Despite the outrage that followed Meldrum’s behaviour, entertainment reporter Peter Ford has been quick to remind the public that Medlrum “has an acquired brain injury” and that his “judgment has been impaired”.

Meldrum was severely injured in a fall in December 2011. After being found unconscious in the backyard of his Richmond home, he was placed in intensive care at the Alfred Hospital and received surgery for head injuries. In addition to his head injuries, he suffered a broken shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung, and cracked vertebrae and was in a coma for five weeks.

In a 2021 interview, Meldrum told New Idea that the accident made him “realise that life is short”.

“I was very lucky that I had many wonderful people caring for me at the time of the accident and afterwards, which was a real godsend. I also learnt a lot from the patients in the hospital. Hearing their stories, the hardships they’ve had to go through, it was humbling,” he said.

Meldrum is well known for his long-standing career as a music critic, journalist, and record producer. He is best known for his work as an on-air interviewer and music news presenter for the former popular music program Countdown.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1986 for “service to the fostering of international relief and to youth” and in 2014 was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, making him the first non-artist to receive the honour.