Ex-Project star Em Rusciano slams show over segment: ‘Frankly dehumanising'
Rusciano, 46, was incensed with a segment about the overprescription of medication to treat ADHD – a condition she herself was diagnosed with four years ago.
The Project hosts spoke to Professor Ian Hickie, co-director of the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre, who claimed that 'we should really worry about inappropriate prescribing'.
'There's quite high figures and the figures have been going up, particularly in teenagers in Australia,' he warned.
'So, there's a real concern about the appropriateness – who's getting medications? Are they the kids in most need, and are they having the desired effect in educational and behavioural outcomes?'
Rusciano, who was a regular panellist on the show between 2011 and 2022, took issue with his claims, posting an angry reaction to her 240,000-plus Instagram followers.
'Why does The Project continue to target the ND (neuro-divergent) community with these s***house, clickbait, and frankly dehumanising segments,' she wrote over a screenshot of the interview.
'Actually, get f***ed.'
It's not the first time Rusciano has publicly criticised her former workplace.
Back in 2023, amid a furore over a controversial Jesus joke by Reuben Kaye, she accused Network Ten of having 'thrown' their guest 'under the bus'.
The queer comic, appearing as a guest on The Project in late February, spoke about the hate he had received for his sexuality and for dressing up in drag – particularly from the Christian community – before making the X-rated remark.
'I love Jesus, I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more,' Kaye quipped on Tuesday night, prompting a stunned reaction from host Waleed Aly and a giggle from co-host Sarah Harris.
The pair issued a grovelling on-air apology to their viewers the following day.
But Rusciano took to Twitter in the aftermath to criticise the network for its handling of the issue.
'I find it pretty hard to believe that (Reuben Kaye)'s joke that stopped a nation wasn't script approved,' she tweeted.
'I've worked on The Project – VERY little is off the cuff! A tiny, tiny amount. They've flat out thrown him under the bus (in my opinion). Sorry, but someone had to say it.'
Rusciano, 44, followed up with another tweet in support of Kaye.
'They honestly don't deserve him and his talent. I dunno if Australia deserves him! In the end, we always seem to champion the non-threatening and the mediocre.'
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