The best reactions to Grace Tame's bong blunder

Aussies have rallied to the defence of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame after a photo emerged of the  then 19-year-old sitting next to a bong with a beaming smile on her face. 

Grace was pictured in the Instagram photo from 2014 sitting on a lounge with a water pipe used for smoking marijuana, as a friend next to her appears to be rolling a joint. 

After the Daily Mail published the now-deleted photos, a slew of celebrities, journalists, comedians and politicians took to Twitter to voice their support for Grace. 

The Project host Peter Helliar said, "Fair chance that bong photo gets Grace Tame nominated for Australian of the Year again", while Victorian councillor Tim Baxter defended, "I'm the Deputy Mayor and I smoked bongs as a teenager. And I've still never been as cool as Grace Tame."

Fair chance that bong photo gets Grace Tame nominated for Australian of the Year again!— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) February 14, 2022

Oh no! Grace Tame once smoked a bong?!?!?

I'm the Deputy Mayor and I smoked bongs as a teenager. And I've still never been as cool as Grace Tame.— Cr Tim Baxter 🏳️‍⚧️ (@BaxterTim) February 14, 2022

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Grace Tame held a bong when she was 19. Scott Morrison, at 53, just told indigenous people they have to forgive for all they went through. If the former is more concerning to you, you may want to reevaluate your life. #auspol— Hayley Down (@hayleyjdown) February 14, 2022

People need to realise that every Tasmanian is constantly sucking on a massive bong merely to keep warm, and also to blot out the existential despair inherent in living in this awful place I would not recommend coming here.— Jon “Semi-Fungible Airships” Kudelka (@jonkudelka) February 14, 2022

Activist Felicity Reynolds also chimed in on the debate, saying, "To anyone who may be troubled by the idea of Grace Tame (or anyone) using a mind altering substance….just a quick reminder that every time I see video of the PM at the footy, he’s holding a beer."

TV host James Mathison also had something to say, sharing a photo from Grace's recent controversial meeting with Scott Morrison saying, "Here’s Grace Tame with an empty vessel full of hot air and here’s Grace Tame with a bong."

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To anyone who may be troubled by the idea of Grace Tame (or anyone) using a mind altering substance….just a quick reminder that every time I see video of the PM at the footy, he’s holding a beer.— Felicity Reynolds (@FlickReynolds) February 14, 2022

Here’s Grace Tame with an empty vessel full of hot air and here’s Grace Tame with a bong. pic.twitter.com/laZ1Pi7d6r— James Mathison (@jamesmathison) February 14, 2022

I've upgraded my life goal of "have a beer with Grace Tame" to "rip a massive cone with Grace Tame"— Jim Malo (@thejimmalo) February 14, 2022

Re the Grace Tame bong story... Malcolm Turnbull admitted in 2008 that he had smoked pot, and went on to become prime minister ... who cares?— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) February 14, 2022

id rather see grace tame with a bong than scott morrison with a ukulele literally any day of the week— andie (@anndeejam) February 14, 2022

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson said the attacks on Grace online for the photo in question were "utterly deplorable" as she encouraged people to donate to the Grace Tame Foundation, which helps fund initiatives to prevent and respond to sexual abuse. 

As well as sharing words of support, many journalists also decided to share photos of themselves under the influence of substances in order to normalise Grace's predicament, and call for recreational marijuana to be legalised throughout Australia. 

Image credits: Getty Images