James Mathison has slammed Channel Nine for ‘glorifying alcohol‘ after Ash Barty encouraged the panel to enjoy a beer with her live on-air, after her Australian Open win on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the former Australian Idol host, 44, made his feelings clear in a Twitter post, where he suggested ‘glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can’t even celebrate success without booze on live TV’.
Barty, 25, encouraged the commentary team including Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik to have a Corona with her after her win against America’s Danielle Collins.
Controversial: James Mathison, 44, SLAMMED Channel Nine on Sunday for ‘glorifying alcohol’ in a Twitter post after Ash Barty encouraged the panel to enjoy a beer live on-air after her Australian Open win. Pictured in April 2019
‘Our glorification and glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can’t even celebrate success without booze on live TV,’ Mathison wrote.
‘It’s bizarre. Imagine if this was in Canada and the broadcaster hoisted a joint onto their new champion?’
Mathison’s controversial Tweet was received with mixed reactions, with a debate ensuing online.
Celebratory drink: Barty (pictured), 25, encouraged the commentary team including Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik to have a Corona with her after her win against America’s Danielle Collins
His view: On Sunday, the former Australian Idol host made his feelings clear in a Twitter post, where he suggested ‘glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can’t even celebrate success without booze on live TV’
‘It was so uncomfortable to watch,’ one agreed, along with one who said it was ‘incredibly jarring’.
Another joked that Channel Nine was ‘staying classy’, while one said it felt ‘bizarre and unnecessary’.
However Mathison copped some backlash with one writing, ‘didn’t look or feel awkward to me, it’s a celebration after all!!’
Panel: Barty is pictured with the Channel Nine panel following her victory
‘Looks like Ash quite enjoyed her beer. It was her best friend who offered it,’ one also added.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.
In September, it was revealed Mathison is now working in an Amazon distribution warehouse following years in the spotlight.
The married father-of-two was pictured pushing trolleys at the warehouse on Sydney’s Northern Beaches at the time – a stark difference to life in the early 2000s, where he co-hosted Australian Idol for six years alongside Osher Günsberg.
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Fierce debate: Mathison’s controversial Tweet was received with mixed reactions, with a debate ensuing online
Mathison was pictured working at one of the retail giant’s distribution centres alongside other casual employees.
He rarely discusses his personal life on social media and has not disclosed his employment at Amazon, which opened its first Australian ‘fulfilment centre’ in Melbourne in December 2017.
He instead uses Twitter to share his political opinions, including advocating for action on climate change and the legalisation of psychedelics.
Mathison’s career change comes after he called fame ‘hollow’ and ‘dangerous’ in an interview before stepping away from the spotlight.
Reflecting on the cut-throat TV industry in 2017, he also told the You’ve Gotta Start Somewhere podcast there weren’t many opportunities once he quit Australian Idol.
![Household name: Mathison began his television career as a reporter for the now defunct music station Channel [V] 2001. He was appointed co-host of Australian Idol in 2003, alongside Günsberg, then known by his stage name Andrew G, saying until 2009. Both pictured in 2005](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/25/00/40761568-10019733-Household_name_Mathison_began_his_television_career_as_a_reporte-a-14_1632525799673.jpg)
Household name: Mathison began his television career as a reporter for the now defunct music station Channel [V] 2001. He was appointed co-host of Australian Idol in 2003, alongside Günsberg, then known by his stage name Andrew G, saying until 2009. Both pictured in 2005
‘Say you’re a plumber or an accountant and you lose your job, you go to Seek and look for another job. Try doing that when you’re a radio [or TV] presenter,’ he said.
Mathison began his television career as a reporter for the now defunct music station Channel [V] 2001.
He was appointed co-host of Australian Idol in 2003, alongside Günsberg, then known by his stage name Andrew G.
Mathison quit the Channel 10 singing competition in 2009 and became a part-time panellist on The Project during the show’s early years.
Politics: Mathison tried to enter politics in 2016 by running as an independent candidate in the federal seat of Warringah, which was held by then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but failed to win with just 11.4 per cent of the primary vote
He defected to Channel Seven in 2012, becoming a film critic for Weekend Sunrise.
Over the years, he has made appearances on Celebrity Apprentice, Studio 10 and most recently SBS’s Celebrity Mastermind.
Mathison tried to enter politics in 2016 by running as an independent candidate in the federal seat of Warringah, which was held by then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, but failed to win with just 11.4 per cent of the primary vote.
He is married to Carlie Fowler, the head of brand at fashion label Camilla and Marc, and they have two children together, Luca and Celeste.
Family man: He is married to Carlie Fowler (left), the head of brand at fashion label Camilla and Marc, and they have two children together, Luca and Celeste
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