On Monday, millionaire businessman John Singleton had a boozy lunch that spiralled into him threatening to glass one of his mates (it was just a joke!), then ended with a string of similar “jokes” about bashing women.
It was an ugly incident, that has earn’t ‘Singo’ a $550 fine for ‘offensive behaviour’. But it took ABC presenter Richard Glover to say straight up what we were all thinking: There’s nothing about this incident that’s funny.
Here’s the background: Singleton (radio station owner, businessman and lover of long lunches) had a argument with his mate, billionaire hamburger baron Jack Cowin, at an upmarket restaurant. Some say it was over wrestling, others about Singleton’s decision to drink a particular wine (something about a ‘rose and gay’ remark). Either way, it led to Singo picking up the stem of a broken glass and threatening his best mate with it. Singo’s son – who was at the lunch with his father – insists it was just a joke.
Richard Glover followed up with a story about the ugly incident. The reaction it sparked from listeners showed just how much we normalise appalling behaviour.
Listen to the segment below.
That was the story Richard covered on 702 – but it wasn’t what upset him. What did, was a video taken as the mates left the restaurant. You can watch it here.
Or to spare your revulsion, here’s the showreel highlight – Singelton jokes the fight was about dining companion Jon Stevens and says, “He (Stevens) was trying to find a woman to belt”. Hilarious right? Singo’s mates think so, having a good old guffaw.
Jon Stevens was charged earlier this year with assaulting his ex-fiancé Jodhi Meares. The charges were later dropped.
The video also features more: dicks, sexism, sex changes and violence, with Singelton yelling, “Oh I do, I f—ing love it, I f—ing love it, I f—ing love it!”
