In defence of Kyle and Jackie O's Intern Pete

A SELF-confessed cheat holds a press conference. The PR spin is in full flight; there are tears, remorse and a plea for forgiveness.

Cricket is our national sport and while many were quick to condemn Steve Smith’s part in the ball tampering saga, as a nation we are also desperately ready to forgive. And anyone who gets in the way of the narrative be damned.

EXCLUSIVE: Intern Pete explains what he was thinking during press conference

We now have a villain, someone who dared to interrupt our make-up sex with cricket.

Intern Pete has now become the target of hate, the kind of hate that only social media can generate.

And what did this bloke do that was so bad? Did he attack Smith, call him out for shaming our international reputation?

No, he didn’t.

Did he demand that Smith never be allowed back in the game?

No, he didn’t.

In fact, the bloke made a joke defending Smith.

This is the full transcript of what Intern Pete (Peter Deppeler) said:

“Mate I’ve got to tell you ... hold your head high for what you have done because what’s actually been worse is what Davina and Dean did on Married At First Sight.”

Have I missed something?

What exactly did he say that is worthy of the level of hate being thrown at him by TV stars and the public alike?

Many say that it was inappropriate for him to make a joke at that time, but Australian comedians have always made inappropriate jokes. That’s what comedians do.

Remember when we could take a joke?

On the steps of old Parliament House in Canberra in 1975, on the day Gough Whitlam was dismissed as prime minister, an actor by the name of Gary McDonald found himself in the middle of an event of national significance. Playing a character named Norman Gunston, McDonald interacted with senior politicians and the crowd and created comedy gold.

Over 40 years later we look back on his audacity and laugh.

When The Chaser breached APEC security zones in the heart of Sydney in 2007, their stunt might have been condemned by Government officials, but most Australians admired their tenacity.

Flash forward to 2018 and it would seem our attitudes have changed.

Other critics of Deppeler argue his actions will add to the mental health struggles of Smith, who is having to deal with the fallout of his actions.

Will those same critics show the same level of care if Deppeler has a mental breakdown, caused by the hatred shown to him on social media? Will people with pitchforks then turn on the people who criticised him?

Outrage seems to come easy in the digital age and everyone claims to hold the moral advantage, but it’s a dangerous cycle.

Next time, maybe we just need to laugh (or not) and move on without so much hatred.

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