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“Completely harmless”: Alan Jones pictured in blackface

<p dir="ltr">An historical photo of Alan Jones has caused a stir online, with the snap depicting him in blackface.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo was taken in 1986, with the moment taking place at the Wallabies team function in New Zealand, back when Jones was the coach for the Australian rugby team. </p> <p dir="ltr">The radio shock jock decided to paint his face black as he was impersonating 1920s vaudeville singer Al Jolson.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some of the biggest names in Australian rugby who witnessed Jones's recital have leapt to their old coach's defence, saying his performance was part of a night of harmless fun.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bledisloe Cup-winning Wallabies captain Andrew Slack was quick to defend Jones, as he questioned why the photos, which were taken 37 years ago, would resurface now. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If we turn this into something offensive the world has gone crazy,” Slack told <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to explain that his controversial costume was part of a night of harmless fun, as players and coaches took part in a talent show. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We all had to do various things,” he said. “It was basically a fancy dress party to loosen up.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That would be a reasonably regular thing on a tour in those days, that you'd have some sort of internal party, no one else involved, just the boys.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Someone putting themselves out to sing when they can't sing or read a poem.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Alan did an Al Jolson number. He had the hat and the cane and whatever. It was fun.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That's what it was, completely harmless and good fun. If we turn this into something offensive the world has gone crazy but that's what it was.”</p> <p dir="ltr">You can view the pictures of Alan Jones <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-12651343/Alan-Jones-blackface-Al-Jolson-New-Zealand.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Magda Szubanski labelled a "hypocrite" after blackface photos emerge

<p>Magda Szubanski has been called out for being a "hypocrite" online after photos of her doing blackface in a comedy sketch have resurfaced.</p> <p>The comedian had taken to Twitter to express her annoyance at Gina Rinehart for failing to condemn the racist comments made by her father, after Hancock Prospecting, run by Rinehart, withdrew its multimillion-dollar sponsorship for the Australian Diamonds netball team. </p> <p>She said, "Lang Hancock went way beyond plain racism he suggested STERILIZING a race of people. So it's not virtue signalling - it's survival! Imagine being asked to wear his name on your back just so you can get funding for your sport."</p> <p>One Twitter user took issue with her comments, and shared a photo of Magda performing in a comedy skit in blackface. </p> <p>In the image, Magda is seen wearing a pink tunic and an afro wig adorned with hair clips, with dark brown paint covering her face. </p> <p>Twitter users were quick to label Magda a "hypocrite", saying she had no right to weigh in on the matter following her own racist mistakes in the past.</p> <p>"Magda you might need to sit this one out," wrote one commenter. </p> <p>"But I think you are failing to recognise that Gina didn't make those comments, you personally wore blackface," wrote a second, before another added, "Not a good look".</p> <p>Following the onslaught, Magda herself re-shared the photo, saying, "I've spent the 25 years since then listening and learning. And apologising."</p> <p>Some fans accepted her apology, with one person writing, "The world has changed, we have all learnt more since then. Glass houses people, no one lives a perfect existence without anything cringeworthy in your past."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Twitter</em></p>

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