He’s been haunted by footage of himself awkwardly attempting to kiss Rebecca Judd for over four years.
And former Today Show sports presenter Tony Jones has finally reached the end of his tether.
Speaking to TV Tonight on Wednesday, the 59-year-old begged Channel Nine bosses to stop showing footage of his cringeworthy encounter with the WAG, insisting: ‘The Rebecca Judd kiss has had its day.’
‘It’s had its day’: Tony Jones, 49, (pictured) has begged Channel Nine bosses to stop showing footage of his awkward attempt to kiss Rebecca Judd four years ago
‘Okay, it’s an awkward moment, but let’s leave it there,’ he pleaded.
The incident took place in August 2016 during ex-weather presenter Rebecca’s final day on Nine News Melbourne before going on maternity leave.
Tony said ‘Good luck, Bec!’ before leaning in to try and give the AFL WAG a peck on the cheek.
At that moment, the WAG instinctively pulled away and yelped, before bursting into fits of giggles.
Realising he had just been rejected on camera, Tony crossed his arms and grumbled, ‘OK, good, this is going well,’ as his face turned red.
Rebecca took the faux pas in good humour and later agreed to give Jones a friendly kiss at the 2018 Brownlow Medal count.
Cringe! The incident took place in August 2016 during ex-weather presenter Rebecca’s (right) final day on Nine News Melbourne before going on maternity leave. Tony (left) said ‘Good luck, Bec!’ before leaning in to try and give the AFL WAG a peck on the cheek
Awkward! At that moment, the WAG instinctively pulled away and yelped, before bursting into fits of giggles
Just last month, a furious Tony stormed off the Sunday Footy Show during a live interview with Billy Slater after bosses replayed footage of his infamous kiss.
‘What did I say? Jones said. ‘I’ll show you how much of a joke this is. I told you. You can’t help yourself.’
Tony was seen on the phone back stage before leaving the set, while Billy Brownless, Nathan Brown and Mathew Lloyd finished Slater’s interview.
‘I’ll show you how much of a joke this is’: Just last month, a furious Tony stormed off the Sunday Footy Show during a live interview with Billy Slater after bosses replayed footage of his infamous kiss
‘We thought he was joking but he’s not coming back,’ Billy said.
Jones eventually returned to the program and was clearly unimpressed that the clip was aired, declaring: ‘I’m only back because management said I have to come back.’
During Wednesday’s interview with TV Tonight, Tony also spoke about the backlash he received from Today show viewers after his awkward live cross from Sandown racetrack in November 2019.
Uncomfortable: Tony also spoke about the backlash he received from Today show viewers after his awkward live cross from Sandown racetrack in November 2019. Pictured (left to right): Tom Steinfort, Deborah Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tony Jones
Bad mood? Shortly before 6am, Tony became visibly irritated with co-anchors Deborah Knight and George Gardner, rudely shutting down their attempts at making smalltalk
During the cross, Tony asked then-anchors Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight which Australian dishes they would include on a menu for French tourist
When Georgie replied, ‘a kangaroo burger, maybe’, Tony condescendingly retorted: ‘Oh, you’d just go and slaughter a kangaroo, would you, Georgie?’ Tony said.
Georgie then argued that kangaroo meat is widely available across the country, to which Tony responded abrasively: ‘You can’t eat Skippy.’
Discussing the incident, Tony told TV Tonight that he was merely trying to ‘inject ‘inject a bit of fun’ into the breakfast TV show.
‘You try and lighten up the occasion and it backfires. The banter was a bit non-reciprocal in some ways,’ he lamented.
‘You try and lighten up the occasion and it backfires’: Discussing the incident, Tony told TV Tonight that he was merely trying to ‘inject ‘inject a bit of fun’ into the breakfast TV show