Entertainment reporter Peter Ford has rushed to the defence of television icon Ian “Molly” Meldrum after footage emerged allegedly showing the 80-year-old exposing himself at a recent Rod Stewart concert.
Footage of the incident was shared by The Daily Mail which allegedly showed the former Countdown host exposing his genitalia and urinating on the floor while watching Stewart perform.
Despite the outrage that followed, entertainment reporter Peter Ford was quick to remind the public that Medlrum “has an acquired brain injury” and that his “judgment has been impaired”.
“We have to accept that,” Ford said during a segment on 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live
“Molly’s always been given to sort of odd behaviour, but since that fall – which he almost died as a result of – his judgment has been impaired.”
As Meldrum’s behaviour came under increased public scrutiny, his assistant Alan Evers-Buckland told the Herald Sun that Meldrum is “embarrassed and of course sorry”.
“I took Molly along with my mother and a friend who helps with Molly (a paramedic) to the Rod Stewart concert last week,” Evers-Buckland said
“We have a dedicated and wonderful team of people that care for Molly.
“Unfortunately you can’t control everything or see everything no matter how dedicated you are or vigilant you are.
“He has given so much. He needs our love and support.”
Meldrum’s latest antics come mere months after he made headlines when he was brought up on stage during Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road show on Friday, January 13.
During the performance, Elton delivered a moving tribute to the legendary music critic.
“I’ve known Molly ever since I’ve been coming to Australia,” Elton told the crowd.
“He’s helped me so much in Australia, he’s helped every single musician who’s been here.
“He’s honestly a national treasure. I want to thank him for the love and loyalty he’s shown me over the years. He’s an amazing man. Molly, thank you so much, I love you.”
Meldrum later took to the stage, joining Elton for a performance of The Bitch Is Back, where he proceeded to expose his bare buttocks to the crowd.
Following the incident, Meldrum later admitted that he “got carried away” once he took to the stage and that his “belt buckle broke”, his “pants were falling down” and “one thing led to another”.
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.