Molly Meldrum ‘abandoned’ by friends after Rod Stewart concert incident: Meshel Laurie

The silence from Molly Meldrum’s ‘good friends’ is deafening after alarming footage surfaced of the Countdown host exposing himself at a Rod Stewart concert.

That’s according to outspoken TV host Meshel Laurie, who believes 80-year-old Meldrum has been abandoned by the countless people he helped out over the years.

Laurie said yesterday the ‘historical recipients of Molly’s generosity’ – including the children of his straight friends whom he lavished with money and gifts as an honourary godfather – ‘need to step up and care for him, like a father, a grandfather’.

She said Meldrum is experiencing the same fate as many gay men of his generation who do not have children of their own to take care of them in old age.

Laurie argued that instead of ‘cancelling’ the music legend for his inappropriate behaviour – including exposing himself in public on multiple occasions – his ‘former minders and friends’ should be held accountable.

The silence from Molly Meldrum’s ‘good friends’ is deafening after alarming footage surfaced of the Countdown host exposing himself at a Rod Stewart concert. (Pictured last month)

That's according to outspoken TV host Meshel Laurie (pictured), who believes 80-year-old Meldrum has been abandoned by the countless people he helped out over the years

That’s according to outspoken TV host Meshel Laurie (pictured), who believes 80-year-old Meldrum has been abandoned by the countless people he helped out over the years 

 

 

Laurie said the 'historical recipients of Molly's generosity' - including the children of his friends whom he lavished with money as an honourary godfather - 'need to step up and care for him'

Laurie said the ‘historical recipients of Molly’s generosity’ – including the children of his friends whom he lavished with money as an honourary godfather – ‘need to step up and care for him’

‘Forget cancelling Molly Meldrum. Cancel all the former minders and friends who have abandoned him,’ Laurie wrote on Instagram.

‘There has never been a more generous human being. It’s disgraceful to blame him for the lack of dignified care he has in his old age.

‘For decades, so many proudly said they “took care of Molly”. Literally hundreds said they were “good friends with Molly”.

‘So where are they now, now that Molly can’t do anything for them?’

She also said Meldrum’s decline is indicative of the wider social problem of gay seniors facing the indignity of old age without grown-up children to support them.

Laurie (left, with Waleed Aly on The Project) argued that instead of 'cancelling' the music legend for his inappropriate behaviour - including exposing himself in public on multiple occasions - his 'former minders and friends' should be held accountable

Laurie (left, with Waleed Aly on The Project) argued that instead of ‘cancelling’ the music legend for his inappropriate behaviour – including exposing himself in public on multiple occasions – his ‘former minders and friends’ should be held accountable 

She also said Meldrum's decline is indicative of the wider social problem of gay seniors facing the indignity of old age without grown-up children to support them

She also said Meldrum’s decline is indicative of the wider social problem of gay seniors facing the indignity of old age without grown-up children to support them

‘Welcome to old age in Australia for people without kids – a.k.a. gay people of Molly’s generation,’ Laurie wrote.

‘He was “godfather” to many straight friends’ kids – as in, he spent lots of money on them. So again, where are they now?’

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Meldrum’s actual godchildren are neglecting him. Laurie was instead referring to the many people for whom he was an honourary ‘godfather’ and family friend over the years.

Laurie also called for ‘some compassion’ for Meldrum, saying many Australians ‘have navigated this time of life with relatives’.

‘I know people who’ve chosen to be present in this time despite toxic relationships, just to preserve some human dignity for the elder,’ she added.

‘So many people could and should be doing this for Molly Meldrum. It’s definitely shameful, but definitely not for him. Someone needs to get their s**t together.

‘To summarise: some historical recipients of Molly’s generosity need to step up now and care for him like a father, a grandfather, an uncle – the way he treated them like children and grandchildren.

‘Now he needs just a fraction of what he gave throughout his life.’ 

Molly Meldrum breaks his silence after exposing his private parts at a Rod Stewart concert after ‘disgusted’ onlooker called him out – and gives an explanation for his behaviour

By Nic White and Tita Smith for Daily Mail Australia

Music legend Molly Meldrum has apologised and is ’embarrassed’ after Daily Mail Australia revealed video of the TV star exposing himself at a Rod Stewart concert.

The clip shows the 80-year-old TV star with his private parts removed from his pants near the end of the pop singer’s set at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena last Wednesday night.

The former Countdown and Hey Hey It’s Saturday star appeared to urinate on the floor while looking up at the stage and wearing his famous Stetson cowboy hat.

Meldrum’s assistant Alan Evers-Buckland said the music legend was ’embarrassed and of course sorry’ about his behaviour.

‘I took Molly along with my mother and a friend who helps with Molly (a paramedic) to the Rod Stewart concert last week,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We have a dedicated and wonderful team of people who care for Molly.

‘Unfortunately, you can’t control everything or see everything no matter how dedicated you are or vigilant you are.

‘Molly is embarrassed and of course sorry. He has given so much. He needs our love and support.’

Mr Evers-Buckland said despite being all around him, the team looking after Meldrum was unaware of the incident until Tuesday morning and didn’t see it coming.

‘It was 20 seconds in four hours, you can’t be watching him exactly for the whole time,’ he said.

‘He has a fantastic team… how much safer can we keep him? You can only plan for so many things and we never saw this coming.’

The alarming episode is the latest in a string of increasingly bizarre antics by Meldrum, who was a mainstay on Australian TV for decades and friends to some of the biggest names in music.

Entertainment commentator Peter Ford raised concerns the TV legend has not been adequately supervised since he fell from a ladder in 2011 and suffered head injuries.

‘His judgement is impaired, that’s a fact. I’m not making excuses for bad behaviour,’ he told 2GB on Tuesday. 

Radio host Ben Fordham sympathised with the TV star admitting Meldrum faced ‘challenges’.  

‘Someone needs to step in who’s close to Molly and say, ‘Hey, Molly. We need to look after you mate’,’ he said. 

Molly Meldrum was captured on film exposing himself at Rod Stewart's concert in Melbourne last week

Molly Meldrum was captured on film exposing himself at Rod Stewart’s concert in Melbourne last week 

A witness said Meldrum urinated on the floor but no one rushed to clean it up

A witness said Meldrum urinated on the floor but no one rushed to clean it up

‘Sometimes it’s hard when you’re dealing with someone as famous as Molly Meldrum, they’re used to getting their own way.

‘But someone close to him has to say, ‘Molly, we need to keep you at home’.’ 

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were in the dancing area near the front of the stage when they noticed Meldrum sitting nearby with two friends.

‘He pulled out his penis… then began urinating.’

‘There were people everywhere. It was disgusting.’ 

Meldrum’s management has been approached for comment.

In the video, a woman is seen standing behind him, casually tapping her hand on the back of his chair in time with the music, seemingly unaware of what was happening in front.

The reveller said they alerted security guards to the urine on the floor.

But the guards were ‘more concerned about people filming Meldrum’ than about cleaning up the mess. 

‘It was a disgrace,’ the witness said.

‘We all grew up with him and it is a shame he has morphed into this.

‘The people with him…..instead of telling him to put it away, they were just enjoying the show.’

Molly Meldrum has been filmed exposing his privates - just weeks after 'mooning' thousands of people (pictured) at Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Melbourne

Molly Meldrum has been filmed exposing his privates – just weeks after ‘mooning’ thousands of people (pictured) at Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Melbourne 

Sir Elton brought Meldrum up on stage for a performance of The B**** Is Back

Sir Elton brought Meldrum up on stage for a performance of The B**** Is Back

In January, Meldrum caused a stir after dropping his pants during his old friend Sir Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

During his final act, the I’m Still Standing hitmaker brought Meldrum on stage for a rendition of The B**** Is Back. 

‘He’s quite honestly a national treasure,’ Sir Elton said as he welcomed Meldrum to the stage. 

‘I want to thank him for all the love and loyalty he’s shown me over the years. I love you’.

But once on the platform, Meldrum turned around and flashed his derrière in front of the 30,000 strong crowd – sending Sir Elton fans into a frenzy online. 

‘Expect the unexpected (Molly Meldrum) at the Elton John show tonight lmfao,’ one fan later wrote on Twitter. 

‘Not entirely sure why. Not sure Elton was thrilled. I know I wouldn’t. But Molly will always be Molly!’ another person said. 

Just two days later, Meldrum apologised for the bizarre stunt – blaming the ordeal on a wardrobe malfunction.

‘At the start of the night, my belt buckle broke and my pants were already falling down,’ Meldrum told the Herald Sun.

‘And on stage, one thing led to another.’

However, old footage soon resurfaced showing Meldrum performing the same bum-barring antics in front of spectators at the 2022 ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, Victoria.

Samuel Johnson pictured with Molly Meldrum during the actor's Logie Award acceptance speech in 2017

Samuel Johnson pictured with Molly Meldrum during the actor’s Logie Award acceptance speech in 2017 

In the clip, Meldrum could be seen pulling down his pants and slapping his bare behind. 

The TV personality’s has also recently embroiled in a public feud with actor Samuel Johnson – who played Meldrum in an acclaimed 2016 miniseries. 

The longstanding rift dates back to 2017 when Meldrum crashed Johnson’s Logie speech, but reared again in the wake of the flashing at Sir Elton’s show.  

Johnson had been accepting an award for his role in Molly when Meldrum – despite promising not to – got on stage and dominated his speech time with a rambling spiel, which the actor had intended to use to promote donations to a cancer charity. 

In a radio interview, Johnson responded to the mooning incident by airing their bad blood and vowing to never speak to Meldrum again.  

‘I’m sick of him doing this, I’m sick of it,’ Johnson told 4BC’s Afternoons’ Sofie Formica in January. 

‘He needs to hang up his hat. Now.’

Entertainment commentator Ford recently raised concerns about Meldrum’s condition following his fall from a ladder in 2011.

‘I’m not a close friend of Molly, but I think anyone who knows him is concerned and everybody wants Molly to be happy and safe, and everybody wants his legacy to be kept intact,’ he told news.com recently. 

‘He has played such an extraordinary role in the evolution and growth of the Australian music industry and nobody wants his legacy to become all about wild and crazy antics and questionable behaviour.’ 

MOLLY’S CONCERNING MOMENTS

Fight with Samuel Johnson

Actor Samuel Johnson revealed in January he had a falling out with Meldrum in 2017 after the music icon commandeered his Logie Award acceptance speech. 

Johnson said he had intended to use his acceptance speech to ask for donations to a cancer charity.

However, despite asking Meldrum not to get on stage, Johnson claims the tv host ignored his wishes.

Following the January mooning incident, Johnson slammed Meldrum, saying ‘he needs to hang up his hat. Now.’

Mooning crowds at Elton John concert 

After being welcomed onto the stage at Sir Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 13 January, Meldrum mooned the crowd.

He apologised two days later, claiming the incident was a wardrobe mishap. 

ChillOut Festival incident  

A few days later, footage resurfaced of Meldrum barring his butt in front of crowds 10 months earlier at the ChillOut Festival, in Daylesford, in March 2022.  

Exposing genitals Rod Stewart concert 

Meldrum was filmed exposing his genitals then urinating during Rod Stewart’s concert at Rod Laver Arena on 15 March. 

Witnesses say he appeared to be with two carers and no one rushed to clean up the puddle he left on the floor.  

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk