Vegan joke, Piers Morgan uncensored: Boy, 10, who told viral gag on Today Show, says he didn’t mean to offend him – as he now turns to new career
EXCLUSIVE
A cheeky 10-year-old Australian boy whose impromptu joke about vegans went viral around the world says he didn’t mean to offend her.
After delivering the joke on Australian breakfast television on Tuesday, young Byron Kirk is now sought after by media outlets around the world, including a pre-recorded interview for Piers Morgan. Uncensored.
He told Daily Mail Australia his conversation with the polarizing British presenter went well because they shared the view that anyone who is offended “needs to learn to laugh”.
“Mom kept telling me he was a really great person,” Byron said.
“He didn’t ask me any tough questions but we were on the same page.”
Byron, who lives in the mining town of Mount Isa in outback Queensland, said he was now considering a career in comedy after receiving so much global attention, but admitted he didn’t hadn’t invented the joke: “I just heard it somewhere.”
Byron won over British broadcaster Piers Morgan who dubbed the youngster “a star”
Byron’s mother Melissa agreed with Piers Morgan that her boy was “destined for stardom”.
“People we don’t know started talking to him about it and came up asking for a photo,” she said.
The joke first aired on the Today show as Byron spoke about his experience competing in the 2023 Youth Bull Riders World Finals in Texas.
After discussing the rodeo, Byron thought he would interject with a joke.
“A vegan and a vegetarian jump off a cliff to see who hits the bottom first. Who wins?’ he asked hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.
“I don’t know,” Stefanovic said. ‘Who wins?’ » asked Abo.
The boy didn’t miss a beat when he replied: “Society!
The punchline angered the hosts, and after being posted to the Today show’s TikTok account, it quickly attracted millions of views around the world.
Although the 10-year-old does not have a TikTok account, nor a social network, to measure the extent of his fame, he is enjoying the attention.
“I want my name to continue to spread and people to continue to know me,” he said.
“Meeting a lot of people who know who I am and who I don’t know has been cool.”
Immediately after being released on TikTok, the clip blew up and Americans commented that such a moment could never happen on American television.
American commentator Benny Johnson called it “the greatest moment in television history”.
The joke first aired on the Today Show, where Byron appeared to share his incredible experience competing in the 2023 Youth Bull Riders World Finals in the US state of Texas.
Co-host Karl and Sarah Abo were caught off guard by their young guest
An American viewer commented: “This kid has more wit and humor than a lot of comedians today.”
Another added: “The male host’s reaction was so genuine. I have tears in my eyes.’
“I’m not even the father of this child, and he still made me proud! a third wrote, while a fourth remarked: “This kid just won the internet.” »
Even some vegans and vegetarians were forced to admit that, despite being the butt of the joke, the young man’s comedic timing was exemplary.
“As a vegetarian, I laughed like crazy,” one wrote.
