A host of The Project has led a public backlash against the decision to name rocker Jimmy Barnes and his son David Campbell as Fathers of the Year.
The duo received the honor Thursday from the father advocacy organization The Fathering Project, marking the first time the award has been given to two recipients.
David and Jimmy were estranged for years and the TV star only found out his father’s identity when he was ten, but they now have a close relationship.
In a statement about the award, Today Extra host David Campbell, 51, said sharing the honour with his father, rock icon Jimmy Barnes, 68, was “special”.
However, not all Australians were happy with the news and many criticised the decision, arguing that they should not have received the award just because of their fame.
The Project’s Nick Cody led the charge for “furious” Australians by admitting the divisive decision nearly made him “kick his phone” across the room in a fit of rage.
“If Jimmy Barnes can win Father of the Year I’ve got a good chance of winning the Brownlow Medal. What’s going on? I was furious,” the fumed father-of-two told Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick.
“I’m not saying I’m Father of the Year, I’m not in the top 10,000, but I’m a better father than Jimmy Barnes. I have to be better than Jimmy Barnes as a father. My ears are ringing with rage.”
Furious Australians have taken to social media to criticise the decision to name rocker Jimmy Barnes and his son David Campbell as joint Fathers of the Year.
He went on to thank Jimmy for “changing his life” and reconnecting with his son David, but argued that there were struggling suburban parents who deserved that title more.
“I understand Jimmy had a brutal childhood and he’s worked very hard to turn his life around. All credit goes to Jimmy Barnes – he’s an incredible musician, he’s incredibly talented, he’s a great guy, but he’s not Father of the Year,” the comedian added.
‘There are probably men in the car listening right now – single fathers, their wives may be ill and they’re working three jobs to keep a roof over their children’s heads, but Jimmy Barnes, four mothers, seven children, is the Australian Father of the Year.’
Her anger was shared by many people who took to social media to share their displeasure at the decision.
“Why famous people? Where is the recognition for the real heroes, the real fathers of the year?” wrote one person on Instagram.
Parents who quietly work multiple jobs so their children can do better than them? Parents who support, encourage and help in their communities?
“Parents who invent? Parents who have given their lives to care for disabled children? I could go on and on. Why are these two celebrities so special?”
David and Jimmy were estranged for years and the TV star only found out about his father’s identity when he was ten, but they now have a very close relationship.
Others criticized the decision considering that David did not know Jimmy was his father until he was ten years old.
“So you can be a good parent if, for the first ten years, you don’t tell your child that you are his or her parent,” one critic wrote.
Another chimed in: “Jimmy Barnes, father of the year. Imagine the ego you have to have to think, ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll take it.'”
One follower added that he thought his own father was a better candidate than Jimmy for the award.
“There are at least 5 million fathers in Australia who deserve that award more than Jimmy Barnes,” they said. “My father was light years ahead of Jimmy Barnes.”
However, it wasn’t all criticism for the duo, as many took to social media to praise the decision.
“What a duo,” one fan wrote on Today’s post. “They are absolutely beautiful human beings.”
The Project’s Nick Cody led the charge of “furious” Australians criticising the divisive decision by admitting the news nearly made him “kick his phone” across the room in a fit of rage.
Not all Australians were happy with the award, with many taking to social media to criticise the decision, arguing that they should not have received the award just for their fame.
I’m A Celebrity host Julia Morris chimed in on David’s post to offer heartfelt congratulations: “Congratulations, darling. You certainly walk the talk.”
Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac also sent his best wishes, saying, “Just a quick congratulations, gentlemen.”
David, who shares son Leo, 14, and twins Betty and Billy, 9, with wife Lisa, gushed about how honoured he was to share the award with his own father.
“Being able to share this award with my father is extremely special on many levels,” he said.
“He is the role model I have followed in my life as a mother. Although it seems premature to receive this award (my twins are in elementary school and my son is only in eighth grade), it means a lot to me nonetheless.”
Father-of-seven Jimmy added that fatherhood had brought abundant “joy” to his life and admitted he had “made mistakes” in a heartfelt statement.
“From the moment you look into your baby’s eyes to the day they’re about to walk through the door to venture out into a life on their own, joy flows freely,” the Cold Chisel frontman said.
‘I’ve watched David on his journey, growing from a little boy to a clumsy young man. Along the way we both made mistakes, but nothing we couldn’t work through with patience and love.’
David, who shares son Leo, 14, and twins Betty and Billy, nine, with wife Lisa, was thrilled to be honoured to share the award with his own father.
Jimmy shares his son with Kim Campbell, but David only learned his identity at age 10, previously thinking he was just a family friend, and the pair speak candidly about their estrangement over the years.
“I used to go and see David when I was young, but he didn’t know who I was. It must have been very strange for him,” Jimmy admitted earlier this year on The Apple & The Tree podcast.
‘I was on tour with Cold Chisel and I turned up hungover and wearing a leather jacket.’
David was raised by his grandmother, whom he believed to be his adoptive mother, while he thought his teenage mother, Kim, was his sister.
“I found out when I was 10. It was very overwhelming,” David previously shared.
‘I was anxious and didn’t know who to talk to, but this was the easiest part because realizing my sister was my mom (was hard).’
Jimmy also shares four children with his wife Jane: Mahalia, 42, Eliza-Jane, 40, Jackie, 39, and Elly-May, 35. He is also father to daughters Amanda Bennett and Megan Torzyn.
Jimmy added: “He was feeling unwell and he was having migraines and we didn’t know what to do to calm him down. But there’s no way to ease his pain.”
The singer admitted he was relieved when he told David he was his father and said it wasn’t long before they developed a relationship.
Jimmy also shares four children with his wife Jane: Mahalia, 42, Eliza-Jane, 40, Jackie, 39, and Elly-May, 35.
The rocker is also the father of Amanda Bennett and Megan Torzyn, whom he learned of in 2010 following a paternity test.