Kim Williams has lashed Austen Tayshus after it emerged the once-prominent comedian continues to invoke the ABC chair’s name in heated messages, this time to a former staffer at the broadcaster.
More correspondence was revealed by 2GB on Friday morning, two months after Media Watch exposed the comedian’s use of Williams’ name to pressure ABC staff to give him air time. This time, Tayshus, real name Sandy Gutman, refers to himself as “mate of Kim Williams” in a message to former Radio Sydney host Josh Szeps.
Comedian Austen Tayshus (left) and ABC chair Kim Williams.Credit: AP, Alex Ellinghausen
The message, which was sent on Facebook Messenger to Szeps, appears to be in relation to an opinion piece written by Szeps in The Sydney Morning Herald. Gutman, who is Jewish, called Szeps’ a “half-Jew” for critiquing Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.
“What you did is dangerous to others. You can sleep well. Just shut up and keep these opinions to yourself at this dangerous moment,” Gutman wrote.
The opinion article by Szeps – who no longer works for the ABC – bears no relation to Williams.
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Gutman signed off his message as “Austen Tayshus. Difficult conversationalist and mate of Kim Williams”, perhaps a reference to Szeps’ podcast Uncomfortable Conversations.
Williams labelled the message and Gutman’s ongoing use of his name for his own benefit “disgusting”, saying that the comedian is no friend of his.
“He is not, has never been, and would never be a friend of mine. It is disgusting,” Williams said.
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