The Project protest: Fred Nile dramatically breaks down at Channel 10 Jesus joke protest

Veteran religious campaigner Fred Nile collapsed dramatically shortly after giving a speech to Christian protesters outside Channel 10’s Sydney office on Saturday.

The New South Wales Legislative Council member, 88, joined more than a hundred demonstrators who demonstrated against a controversial clip aired on The Project last month.

He gave a short speech praising the crowd for rallying before his wife Silvana Nero delivered a longer speech calling on Christians in Australia to stand up for their rights.

However, the event took a dramatic turn when the veteran campaigner collapsed in the sun shortly after his speech.

Protesters and police rushed to help the stricken politician, put him in the recovery position and call an ambulance.

As the demonstrators prayed for Reverend Nile, he was loaded into an ambulance with his wife by his side.

Christian groups were furious with the broadcaster after comedian Reuben Kaye made an ‘offensive’ Jesus joke.

The comedian spoke about the hatred he receives from members of the public – and Christians in particular – for being gay and wearing drag, when he joked, “I love Jesus. I love any man who can get nailed three days in a row and come back for more!”

Ahead of the protest, protest group Christian Lives Matter said their “five goals” for the rally include “cancelling the project altogether.”

“We come to pray with one accord for the conversion of those who mock Our Lord,” they said in a Facebook post.

They are demanding a “sincere public apology on air, on all of their websites and a written signed media statement from The Project’s management,” as well as not airing the show during Catholic Holy Week and Orthodox Holy Week.

The group also asks for “an assurance that the mocking of any faith will never happen again and the sky will be cut off” if none of their demands are met.

A protester named Jo told Daily Mail Australia: ‘When I first realized what was being said I was surprised it was on the mainstream media.

“You pretty much get attacked by the media online for saying things to it.

“I’m more disappointed than angry. Anger is such a strong word because anger is related to hatred. We don’t hate people who are born the way they are. Everyone has the idea wrong.

Everyone should be able to come together and work together.

‘Everyone does their own thing in their private life. Leave it at that. Leave it there, leave the religion out, leave the kids out and everyone respects each other. That’s how it should be.’

Another participant, named Moray, told Daily Mail Australia she was “very disappointed with what happened.”

“We feel like our values ​​and morals have just been destroyed, especially when they say that back in the days when kids were awake. It was very inappropriate.

“We all need to stand up and say ‘enough is enough’.

‘It can’t go any further, we all believe in Christ.

“So if we follow God’s law, and we are peaceful, and we don’t harm anyone, why do people come to harm us?

‘This is our question.

“Absolutely 110 percent, Reuben and The Project need to apologize.

“The apology that was sent out is not enough. It was a mockery.

“We know it was not legit and formalized with proper documentation.”

A third, named Michael, said the protest was about “basic human decency and respect.”

“I believe that was a hate speech.

“We truly believe, we are followers of Jesus and anything disrespectful, derogatory and demeaning should be mentioned.

“It’s all about love and respect for other people’s beliefs. That’s, that’s, that’s the main message here.

“I don’t think they necessarily need to be punished. I think that’s the wrong word to use. We just need a sincere apology.

“I really believe that the media should be neutral and respect people’s beliefs and differences. And to proactively promote this kind of rhetoric is divisive.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has received hundreds of complaints from the public following the lewd prank.

Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris apologized for the crude prank the day after it aired.

“During an interview last night, our guest told a joke that we know deeply and needlessly offended many of you,” said Aly.

“We want to acknowledge the particular affront that has caused our Muslim viewers, but especially our Christian viewers.

“Of course I understand how deep that transgression was.”

Harris, who burst out laughing after the joke, also joined in the fawning apology.

“Live TV is unpredictable and when this happened in the last few moments of last night’s show it took us all by surprise, there wasn’t much time to react in a considered way,” she said.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month, the media watchdog confirmed: ‘The ACMA has received 203 inquiries regarding an episode of The Project airing on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 featuring comedian Reuben Kaye’.

It is not clear how many complaints have been received since then.

Rev Nile has been at the forefront of moral campaigning in Australia for over 50 years.

Nile has called for a ban on casinos, brothels and pornography, has sought to curb drinking and smoking and has urged police to crack down on organized criminals.

He has condemned homosexuality, opposed sex outside of marriage, and prayed to God every year for torrential rain to fall on the Gay and Lesbian Mardis Gras.

The right-wing politician has also called for a ban on Muslim migration.

Nile has served in the Upper House of the Parliament of New South Wales almost continuously since his election in 1981 and is the longest-serving member.

In 2017, he was denied a US visa to attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration because he was considered a “security risk.”