Tom Gleeson roasts Logies after winning gold: 'Lighten the f**k up'

After months of active campaigning it was a night of true victory for TV presenter and comedian Tom Gleeson, who won the ultimate Gold Logie on Sunday night.

The Hard Chat host defeated the likes of Amanda Keller, Waleed Aly and Costa Georgiardis for the coveted gong at Australian television’s night of nights.

Over the past few weeks the comedian has raised eyebrows with his apparent efforts to turn the TV Week Logie Awards into a ‘joke’, so he decided to address just that in his highly controversial acceptance speech.

“There has been a lot of concern that I'm turning this award into a joke,” he said on stage at The Star on the Gold Coast.

“But what you are forgetting is I'm a comedian. I love jokes.

“This award has meant so many things to so many different people and that doesn't cease to exist. It has done a lot of great things for a lot of different people.

“In the past it has represented trying to get more diversity on the screen or launching charities and that's fantastic,” he added, referring to the likes of previous winners Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore.

“But for me it represents a joke, but I love jokes. I really enjoy them. I really think we should all lighten the f**k up. I really do.”

It seems that last statement was absolutely unexpected, as Channel Nine didn’t manage to beep out the swearing in time for the broadcast.

“The aim of my campaign was just to have fun with the whole thing,” Tom then explained.

“Because it all doesn't really matter... We can have fun and just be entertaining. People get concerned about people campaigning for the award.”

He then said, “I would like to take this as a win for comedy... And taking the pi*s and not giving a sh*t”.

But if he were to take the victory more seriously, he’d say it’s a big win for comedy as a category.

“I'm taking it as a win for comedy because comedy to me is really important. In the past it hasn't even been a category for years for the Logies. To me it should be a staple,” he said.

Tom defeated fellow Gold Logie nominees: The Project host Waleed Aly, Doctor Doctor star Rodger Corser, Sunrise presenter Sam Mac, The Living Room’s Amanda Keller, Neighbours actress Eve Morey and Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiardis.

But not everyone was a fan of Tom’s victory:

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