'Matt Okine Speech Wasn't Cut'; Best Comedy Award Never Airs Say ARIA

Many are asking questions as to why comedian Matt Okine's ARIA acceptance speech for Best Comedy Release did not air on the Ten Network last night in which he questioned the lack of female artists featured on the bill, but according to ARIA the entire segment was never scheduled to air. 

Just hours after Ten denied any involvement in Okine's speech being cut (as reported by Fairfax), a spokesperson from ARIA has exclusively told theMusic that it never would have been broadcast due to time constraints.  

"Best Comedy Release was never scheduled to go to air," the spokesperson said. 

"There are eight awards in total that don’t make it to the broadcast because of time restrictions, however each of these off-air awards have been posted on ARIA’s official Twitter Account."

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The other eight awards that also did not make the broadcast included Best Independent, Best Adult Contemporary, Best Blues & Roots, Best Urban Album, Best Country Album, Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album and Best Children’s Album.

Speaking in the ARIA media room last night Okine said, "I can think of so many artists or bands with leading women that could be on that bill. Then I thought about my own category and thought, 'hold on, there's no women in this either.'"

Speaking with his radio co-host Alex Dyson on triple j's breakfast show this morning, Okine stood by his comments. 

"It's literally the least I can do," he said.

"I feel like if it's there and I'm thinking about it, because I didn't have anything planned, that was the only thing that came to my head."