Matt Okine Uses ARIAs Acceptance Speech To Blast Awards For Lack Of Female Representation

Triple j’s Matt Okine of Matt & Alex fame has used his ARIA acceptance speech to call out the Australian Recording Industry Association for gender inequality.

After scooping the award for ‘Best Comedy Album’, the radio presenter took the ARIAs to task for its notable lack of female awards nominees and performers.

During his acceptance speech, which at the time of writing has not yet aired on TV (if the ARIAs let it air at all), Okine noted (via Pedestrian TV) “I don’t think there were any women nominated in ‘Best Comedy Release, and there’s not even any female featured guests!”

He was referring to this year’s list of ARIA performers, which is pretty male-centric (with the exception of Owl Eyes joining Flight Facilities and Tina Arena’s Hall Of Fame performance).

“I didn’t feel great reading that list of people,” he said.

After departing the spotlight, Okine also answered some more questions backstage, with Music Feeds tweeting some of his responses live:

Matt Okine calling out #ARIAs for not featuring any women in the Best Comedy nominations rn. Shots bloody well fired.

— Music Feeds (@musicfeeds) November 26, 2015

Onya @mattokine for using your award win to speak out about the lack of female representation at the #ARIAs. You’re a real gem ????

— Music Feeds (@musicfeeds) November 26, 2015

.@mattokine backstage now talking about his speech “I was just flipping through the program and realised how few women there were.” #ARIAs

— Music Feeds (@musicfeeds) November 26, 2015

"What am I supposed to do, just be passive about it?” – @mattokine on his #ARIAs acceptance speech where he called out the lack of women.

— Music Feeds (@musicfeeds) November 26, 2015

"You know being a guy you can be like 'I don’t hit women, I’m doing my part' but it’s not enough.” @mattokine backstage at the #ARIAs

— Music Feeds (@musicfeeds) November 26, 2015

Producer KLP also commented on Okine’s speech on Twitter, calling it “the best speech I think I’ll hear all night.”

Omg @mattokine won Best Comedy Release at the #ARIAs – also gave the best speech I think I'll hear all night ???? pic.twitter.com/cf7JGHCD7I

— KLP ? (@klpmusic) November 26, 2015

More screams for a boy band than a speech about equality says it all. We can do better Aussie musos! #ARIAs

— KLP ? (@klpmusic) November 26, 2015

The one female standout among the male-dominated list of nominees in all categories was Courtney Barnett, who was given 8 ARIA nods and at the time of writing has scooped 3 awards.

Okine also made headlines earlier today for he and co-conspirator Alex Dyson’s Drake-tastic ARIAs ensemble.

If there was an ARIA Award for Most Legendary Male, Okine would be a shoe-in.

Stay up to date on all the ARIA happenings as we announce the winners of tonight’s Awards in real time, live from the ceremony itself.

Check out some footage of Matt Okine chatting gender equality backstage, below.

UPDATE 26/11/15 8.39pm: The ARIAs have skipped Matt Okine’s speech in their official broadcast on Channel 10.

UPDATE 26/11/15 9.15pm: The ARIAs have now uploaded Okine’s speech on Twitter. Watch it below.

UPDATE 27/11/15 9.15pm: Tine Arena has used her ARIA Hall Of Fame acceptance speech to call for commercial radio stations to play more Australian music and ditch ageist programming, imploring them to acknowledge that “ladies over 40 are still in the game.” See more here.