Opinion: Leo Molloy v Guy Williams backlash - TV interview was comedy but showed Auckland mayoral candidate as he is

Leo Molloy running for mayor appeared on New Zealand Today on TV3. Photo / Dean Purcell

OPINION

On Thursday night, New Zealand Today went to air on TV3 with roughly half of its show dedicated to an exchange between the show's host, Guy Williams, and Auckland mayoral candidate, Leo Molloy.

The piece was funny if not especially edifying. Even for the minority of us who do engage with local body politics, Leo Molloy is probably better known for his character rather than his policy positions.

Leo Molloy spent the vast majority of the segment teasing and insulting Guy. He used various low-level juvenile slurs and repeatedly accused Guy of being woke and soft. It ended with the pair having a boxing fight with novelty gloves before Guy recorded a parody endorsement video for Leo's campaign.

Guy Williams is now facing a backlash for the piece. He's been accused of platforming a mayoral candidate, of normalising offensive behaviour, and of ultimately helping Leo's campaign. These are ridiculous critiques that only serve to further entrench the things they're criticising.

Context is important. New Zealand Today's audience is looking for a laugh. I can't imagine many of the viewers tune in to what is clearly and obviously a comedy programme, expecting serious and robust analysis of local body politics. New Zealand Today is a comedy. It isn't Q+A.

Anyone who watched will have been left in little doubt as to the sort of mayor Leo Molloy might be. He's rambunctious. Entertaining? Sure. But he can also be crude, volatile, childish, and offensive. This comes as no surprise to those who have been following the campaign. Only a few weeks ago, Leo Molloy lost his temper at a mayoral debate and challenged a member of the audience to fight him. Are these the qualities you want in a mayor? Maybe not. But they're qualities that make for funny TV, which is surely why Guy Williams chose to film with him.

People have compared Guy's piece to late-night comedians' treatment of Donald Trump in the lead-up to the U.S election. The comparisons are unfair. Last I checked, Leo Molloy is running on a platform of local body infrastructure issues. He isn't advocating banning Muslims. The piece has been compared with the media treatment of Toronto's late scandal-ridden former mayor, Rob Ford. Last I checked, Auckland voters will elect the mayor, not Guy Williams. If New Zealand Today helps Molloy and proves to be a turning point in the campaign, voters will frankly be electing the mayor they deserve.

Comedians everywhere operate in an environment in which they're constantly monitored and regularly hammered for offending people.

Leo Molloy at Meet the Mayoral Candidates, Takapuna. Photo / Dean Purcell

It's true, I view the world from a position of privilege. Nonetheless, I err on the side of wanting a society where comedians are free to push the line. I want comedians to offend from time to time. Not because I find comedy funny – although I do – but also because I think those who are too readily offended ultimately hurt their own kaupapa.

New Zealand Today is the perfect case in point. In the grand scheme of things, Guy Williams' segment wasn't offensive or problematic. It was comedy. Love him or loathe him, it showed Leo Molloy as he is.

As part of the piece, Leo himself reminded Guy that the more attention he gets, the more he thrives. He's right. Those who've kicked up in offence at the segment are only giving him more.