Pat Sharp says he is ‘truly sorry’ for ‘humiliating’ woman with vulgar remark at awards show
‘I made a joke on stage, which was not well received,’ the ‘Fun House’ star said
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pat Sharp has said he is “truly sorry” for a vulgar remark he made to a woman while hosting an awards show.
The Fun House presenter, 61, was presenting the Conference News Agency Awards on Friday (3 March), when a comment he made, designed to be a joke, fell flat in the room of approximately 400 people.
Sources in attendance at the ceremony claimed that Sharp handed a woman a T-shirt that had a picture of his face and mulleted hair, from the 1980s, alongside the phrase: “Looking Sharp since 1982.”
When the woman joined Sharp onstage, these sources told Deadline that he made an inappropriate comment about his image being on her chest.
According to Sharp’s rep, he told her: “That’s the only way I’m going to get on your t***.” The rep added that the joke was meant as a double entendre for the phrase “get on your nerves”.
Sources said the woman left the room in tears, and Sharp was admonished by another woman in the audience.
In a statement, Sharp said: “Last Friday, I made a joke on stage, which was not well received. I upset one individual in particular and for that I am truly sorry.
“I apologised at the event to anyone who was offended and I have apologised to the individual personally too.”
The “humiliated” woman who the comment was aimed at has seemingly addressed the matter on her LinkedIn page, stating, without naming Sharp: “I was belittled, sexualised and objectified in front of hundreds of people I respect.”
MashMedia, who organised the event, said in a statement: “Conference News disavows the statement made by Pat Sharp. It was unscripted and does not represent the ideals that we want to promote as a business. We’re doing our part to support the affected delegate in the aftermath and have requested both a public and private apology from Sharp.”
Almost a week later, the Bauer Media Group radio station he was employed by, Greatest Hits, said that Sharp would be leaving to “explore other opportunities”.
A Bauer spokesperson told The Independernt: “Due to the introduction of new weekend programming, a decision had already been made not to renew Pat’s contract which comes to an end later this month.
“However with this issue now having been brought to our attention, we have agreed with Pat that he will not return to the station with immediate effect."
Sharp, who has been on the station since 2019, will be replaced by Mark Goodier. Greatest Hits Radio said they ”wish him well”.
The Independent has contacted Sharp, MashMedia and Bauer Media Group for additional comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments