Casual sexism veered too close to violence for some viewers of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! when Merv Hughes threatened to cut off a female contestant's head when she suggested the men cook dinner that evening.
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On the Monday edition of Channel Ten's reality program, former Test cricketer Hughes became angry when he learnt he might have to help with dinner preparation that evening.
Lawyer and Bachelor Australia winner Anna Heinrich was discussing the dinner arrangements with TV and radio presenter Chrissie Swan and mentioned some of the male team members had offered to oversee dinner preparation that evening.
Hughes, who had been sleeping near by, became annoyed and told Heinrich to "sit down and relax, woman".
When Heinrich stood her ground and explained one of the guys said they would cook dinner, Hughes lashed out.
"Shut up or I'll chop your head off with this machete," he said.
The camp watched on in silence as a visibly upset Heinrich asked what had gotten into Hughes, before moving away.
Swan later apologised to Heinrich for staying silent during the attack and said she was too shocked to say anything. Joel Creasey described the comments as "disrespectful" and "disgusting".
The threat ignited vigorous debate on social media.
So telling a woman half your age and size that you'll cut her head off with a machete is meant to be funny? I don't get it.
#ImACelebrityAU — AliCat in Oz (@AlisonGrills)
February 23, 2015
Looks like offensive things are coming out of every end of Merv tonight.
#CelebChrissie -
@adamrichard
#ImACelebrityAU — Chrissie Swan (@ChrissieSwan)
February 23, 2015
#ImACelebrityAU
#celebMerv Machete comment not appropriate and really didn't have to be shown. — Chelle (@OrientalLilly)
February 23, 2015
Many also defended his behaviour.
Cut Merv some slack he's just old school. He's got a heart of gold and means no harm
#ImACelebrityAU
#mervtowin — Lisa McAlpine (@LisaMc1985)
February 23, 2015
@ImACelebrityAU OMG what
#celebmerv said was absolutely harmless!!! His tone was non threatening! Go Merv keep being urself
#ImACelebrityAU — COL235 (@ColleenParnell)
February 23, 2015
If Hughes apologised, it is yet to be aired but later said he had been an "annoying prick" who had "driven people a bit hard at times".
While Hughes' threat, which he and several teammates described as "pot-stirring", was the first of the show, the 53-year-old has made a series of sexist comments throughout the season.
Earlier in the series, he told a group of his female teammates it was "bloody good woman who knows her place" while they were washing up, and said cleaning is something "women do best".
Contestant Lauren Brant, a former Hi5 singer, spoke of Hughes' sexism after she was voted off the show.
"Merv's biggest problem is that he's from some sort of old school generation where there's a bit of sexism going on still."
Fairfax Media
