Comedian Lawrence Mooney has issued a grovelling apology after being caught holidaying Byron Bay during Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown.
The Triple M radio host, who should be in lockdown at his home in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, has been staying at the popular tourist town for almost two weeks.
After being questioned by The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, the 56-year-old said he’d breached lockdown by accident, as he didn’t think Sydney’s stay-at-home orders applied to him.
‘I feel like an absolute goose’: Comedian Lawrence Mooney, 56, (pictured) has issued a grovelling apology after being caught holidaying Byron Bay during Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown on Thursday
‘I know how serious this is and the impact lockdowns are having across the state and am very embarrassed by my misunderstanding and stuff up,’ he said.
‘I feel like an absolute goose for not realising I wasn’t permitted to travel to Byron Bay during my break.’
Calling the situation an ‘honest mistake’, Mooney explained that he was under the impression that because he merely worked in metropolitan Sydney – rather than living there – he didn’t have to follow lockdown orders.
Idyllic getaway: The Triple M radio host, who should be in lockdown at his home in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, has been staying at the coastal enclave for almost two weeks
‘I mistakenly believed because my home is in a green zone and Byron Bay is in a green zone I could travel there,’ he said.
Since his interview, Mooney has cancelled his holiday plans and returned home.
Mooney also noted that he’d taken a Covid-19 test before travelling to Byron Bay, and now plans to take one upon his arrival home in light of his ‘mistake’.
‘Honest mistake’: Mooney explained that he was under the impression that because he merely worked in metropolitan Sydney- rather than living there – he didn’t have to follow lockdown orders
It comes after Mooney sparked controversy after he told the hosts of Today Extra that he wasn’t vaccinated because he ‘didn’t want to die’.
During Mooney’s appearance on the show last month, host David Campbell asked him: ‘Have you been vaccinated Lawrence?’
‘No, I have not,’ Mooney responded, explaining that he was ‘hesitant’ to take the jab.
‘This is an intervention’: It comes after Mooney sparked controversy after he told the hosts of Today Extra that he wasn’t vaccinated because he ‘didn’t want to die’. Pictured: Today Extra’s David Campbell, Belinda Russell
When asked whether he was ‘worried about the AstraZeneca vaccine?’ Mooney simply replied: ‘I don’t want to die.’
This prompted a frenzied reaction from the Today Extra hosts, who both tried to reassure Mooney by saying, ‘you’re not going to die!’
‘This is an intervention,’ asserted Lawrence. ‘I know the stats!’
‘You’ve been vindicating me for my hesitancy’: A day later, Mooney took to his Triple M’s Moonman in the Morning breakfast radio show to rant about his appearance on Today Extra
‘You’ve got a higher chance of dying from flying than you do from AstraZeneca,’ guest contributor Michelle Stephenson insisted.
A day later, Mooney took to his Triple M’s Moonman in the Morning breakfast radio show to rant about his appearance on Today Extra.
‘All eyes turned to me and asked me if I’d been vaccinated. There was a pile-on that ensured,’ he said, before insisting that there in fact wasn’t a higher chance of dying from flying – maintaining that Qantas have ‘never lost a life.’
‘You can’t pile onto me when the government immediately moves the goal posts, you can’t!!’ Mooney pointed out that the Government had changed the recommended age limit for the AstraZeneca jab to 60 just two hours after the Today Extra debate
Mooney pointed out that the Government had changed the recommended age limit for the AstraZeneca jab to 60 just two hours after the Today Extra debate.
‘You’ve been vindicating me for my hesitancy,’ Mooney continued.
‘Dave Campbell, Belinda Russell, Michelle Stephenson, Today Extra, you can’t pile onto me when the government immediately moves the goal posts, you can’t!!’ he said.
Mooney felt the government’s decision validated his concerns and was frustrated over the TV ‘pile-on’.
Hitting back: Mooney felt the government’s decision validated his concerns and was frustrated over the TV ‘pile-on’