‘Uncomfortable’ Grace Tame walks out of Australian Open event about ‘inspirational’ women’s achievements
- Grace Tame had been a guest at Australian Open’s Inspirational Series dinner
- Dinner was to celebrate woman’s achievements but Tame left after 15 minutes
- A spokesperson said she had felt uncomfortable before deciding to leave event
- Keynote speaker Bruna Papandrea told public to support Ms Tame, not criticise
Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame was seen leaving an Australian Open event before it even started because she was ‘uncomfortable’.
Ms Tame had been invited to the Australian Open’s Inspirational Series dinner on Thursday, which was put on to highlight women’s achievements.
She reportedly left the event 15 minutes in, having only spoken to Tennis Australia officials.
Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame had been invited to the Australian Open’s Inspirational Series dinner on Thursday which highlighted women’s achievements but left after 15 minutes because she felt uncomfortable
Award-winning Australian film and television producer of Big Little Lies, Gone Girl, and Nine Perfect Strangers Bruna Papandrea (right), told The Age that Ms Tame should be supported, not criticised for her behaviour
A spokesman for Tennis Australia said Ms Tame had felt uncomfortable at the event and left.
Keynote speaker of the event, Award-winning Australian film Bruna Papandrea, told The Age Ms Tame should be supported, not criticised for her behaviour.
‘We need to stand up and support her, support her in the way that she’s supported thousands and thousands of women and men,’ she said.
The National Australia Day Council is facing backlash for not providing the support ms Tame needed in her role following the event
‘Her job as an activist is to talk truth to power and so she must. We rely on people like Grace to help make real change and she has made real change, she’s made institutional change.
‘I think it is really important to continue to tell the stories from the past and the present.’
Ms Tame was awarded Australian of the Year in 2021 for her work in advocating for victims of sexual abuse after she was groomed and assaulted by her teacher at 15.
Since accepting the role Ms Tame has had to constantly re-live her trauma while giving public addresses to advocate for her cause.
Ms Tame and her fiancé Max Heerey later attended the wheelchair tennis final to support this year’s Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott
Dylan Alcott (above) lost his Australian Open final on Thursday night 7-5 6-0 to Sam Schroder
In April she revealed she’d called a suicide prevention hotline to help her cope.
Now the the National Australia Day Council is facing backlash for not providing the support ms Tame needed in her role.
Earlier this week Ms Tame found herself in a media storm after she gave prime minister giving Prime Minister Scott Morrison the cold shoulder at an event.
Ms Tame had faced controversy earlier this week as well for giving Prime Minister Scott Morrison the cold shoulder at an event
At the event Mr and Mrs Morrison kept a smile on their faces as Ms Tame gave them a less than friendly handshake and several icy looks
Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny had received Ms Tame at The Lodge in Canberra on Tuesday to mark the end of her period as Australian of the Year.
At the event Mr and Mrs Morrison kept a smile on their faces as Ms Tame gave them a less than friendly handshake and several icy looks.
Throughout her term in the role Ms Tame has openly criticised Mr Morrison.
Several people slammed Ms Tame’s actions as an immature attempt at a political statement while others applauded her for staying true to her cause.
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