Tom Gleeson mocks Pete Evans and Kerri-Anne Kennerley during 2020 AACTA Awards opening monologue

Comedian Tom Gleeson took aim at disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans and former Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley during his opening monologue at the 2020 AACTA Awards.

Speaking at the ceremony in Sydney on Monday evening, the 46-year-old mocked conspiracy theorist Pete for his string of controversial views which ultimately saw him dropped from the upcoming season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Kerri-Anne also copped a serve by the funnyman who joked that there were was ‘more people’ at the awards who were socially distancing than those who would watch her on Studio 10. 

Tom kicked off the ceremony saying: ‘I’m your host for this evening, I’ll be taking you through the night, and I’ll be choosing my words very carefully because TV shows used to get cancelled, now people get cancelled… like Pete Evans.’

‘He was dropped from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! It’s a missed opportunity for Channel 10 though – the first challenge could have been “try this vaccination” or “stand under this 5G tower “or “be credible”.’

Pete has seen huge backlash after sharing his controversial and misleading views on vaccinations, 5G and the coronavirus pandemic.

Taking no prisoners, Tom continued: ‘Studio 10 on Channel 10 had a big cleanout. Joe Hildebrand gone, Natarsha Belling gone. Kerri-Anne gone.

‘After getting a gold Logie, Kerri-Anne called me a wimp for not going to Studio 10, so I’d just like to say to Kerri-Anne, who is probably watching from home because she’s not invited, or on-air.’

He hilariously explained: ‘I’d just like to let you know Kerri-Anne that I didn’t go on Studio 10 because I enjoy performing to an audience.

‘There are more people in this room socially distanced than who watch Studio 10. Going to Studio 10 is like yelling your opinions into an empty shoebox. It’s pointless behaviour.’

He added: ‘If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it fall, you’re on Studio 10. G’day Kerri-Anne, I know you like being mentioned.’

Kerri-Anne was brutally sacked from Channel 10 in August as a result of budget cuts across the network.