Grant Denyer ‘confronts’ comedian over joke about ‘drug issue’ joke

Grant Denyer has long denied rumours that he once suffered from a major addiction to the drug methamphetamine. 

So it’s no wonder the Family Feud host, 44, was left unimpressed after watching a young comedian joke about his so-called ‘drug problem’ during a live standup routine. 

Speaking to I’ve Got News For You podcast this week, Sydney comedian Sam Taunton, 30, recalled the mortifying moment he was confronted by Denyer after telling a crass joke about him onstage. 

‘Nice set, mate’: Aussie comedian Sam Taunton, 30, (right) has recalled the mortifying moment Grant Denyer, 44, (left) ‘confronted’ him after he joked about rumours the TV star once had a major ‘drug issue’

‘There’s so many jokes I regret saying onstage, but I used to do a bit years ago about Grant Denyer when he was in the papers for, let’s say, experimenting with drugs that keep you awake for long periods of time,’ Taunton said.  

On one occasion, however, the joke spectacularly backfired when Taunton noticed that Denyer was sitting in the audience.   

‘I saw [Denyer] after the show, I had to look face-to-face with him, and he said, ‘Nice set mate. Maybe work on a few of those’.’

Grant’s not laughing: Speaking to I’ve Got News For You podcast this week, Taunton (right) said he ‘regretted’ joking about false rumours Denyer (left) was ‘experimenting with drugs that keep you awake for long periods of time 

Denyer was forced to deny drug use allegations back in 2014 after Woman’s Day magazine falsely claimed he and wife Cheryl (known as Chezzi) had checked into a Thai rehab facility to address a ‘$200,000-a-year meth addiction’.  

The magazine’s ‘source’ described Denyer as a ‘mess’ and went on to claim, ‘He was 45 kilos, really drawn around his face and looked sick. It was a shocking sight.’  

While Denyer admitted that he and his wife did visit The Cabin in Thailand, he strongly denied they were there to treat meth addictions and threatened to sue Woman’s Day magazine.   

‘I saw [Denyer] after the show, I had to look face-to-face with him’: On one occasion, however, the joke spectacularly backfired when Taunton noticed that Denyer was sitting in the audience 

At the time, Grant released a statement via his then-manager Titus Day denying the allegations made by Woman’s Day.

‘Claims that the couple have a drug addiction and that Grant recently lost his Channel Seven contract are both false,’ the statement read.

‘Grant and Chezzi Denyer are saddened by the highly defamatory article in this week’s Woman’s Day magazine. The couple have been under immense stress in recent months due to Grant dealing with chronic fatigue brought on by exhaustion and an ongoing unknown stomach illness,’ it continued. 

Claims: Denyer was forced to deny drug use allegations back in 2014 after Woman’s Day magazine falsely claimed he and wife Chezzi (left) had checked into a Thai rehab facility to address a ‘$200,000-a-year meth addiction’

‘Chezzi has also been dealing with PTSD and anxiety issues resulting from Grant’s condition,’ the statement concluded.  

Denyer’s threats to take legal action against Woman’s Day never eventuated, however. 

Just 18 months after the scandalous story hit newsstands, the publication and the couple seemed to have kissed and made up.

Denial: While Denyer admitted that he and his wife did visit The Cabin in Thailand, he strongly denied they were there to treat meth addictions and threatened to sue Woman’s Day magazine 

In October 2015, Grant and Cheryl took part in an exclusive photo shoot and interview to mark to arrival of their daughter Scout.  

The Woman’s Day article saga came years after Denyer battled a highly-publicised painkiller addiction, after breaking his back during a freak monster truck accident in 2008. 

The monster truck crash left Grant with a vertebrae that was shattered in 11 pieces, and doctors feared he may never walk again. 

Scary time: The Woman’s Day article saga came years after Denyer battled a highly-publicised painkiller addiction, after breaking his back during a freak monster truck accident in 2008

However, the popular presenter made a remarkable recovery, triumphantly returning to TV screens and eventually winning a Gold Logie. 

Denyer previously spoke about his addiction during a discussion with his campmates on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year. 

The TV star explained that he once pelted eggs at his wife when he was hungry during his recovery.  

Candid: Denyer previously spoke about his addiction during a discussion with his campmates on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year

‘I decided to crash off it which was… when I went missing…’ he told Abbie Chatfield, Alli Simpson and Toni Pearen.

‘Mate, I pelted eggs at her [Chezzi] one night. I cracked it for some reason. I was hungry and was in pain and was confused and I just started throwing eggs at her.

‘She doesn’t deserve this but you just can’t stop.’  

‘I cracked it for some reason’: The TV star explained that he once pelted eggs at his wife when he was hungry during his recovery