Religious campaigner and politician Fred Nile has collapsed during a protest outside of Channel 10 studio.
Reverend Nile, as well as the Christian Lives Matter group, were outside of the studio to protest The Project following a controversial joke about Jesus.
During the protest, Nile collapsed and needed to be taken away on a stretcher from where the group had gathered to air their grievances against the network.
He has since recovered and his wife stepped up to speak shortly after the incident.
The Christian Lives Matter group led a prayer outside of the network’s Pyrmont offices before the 88-year-old collapsed as he spoke.
Earlier this year, the Christian Democrat announced his intention to step down from parliament.
During his time he stood for conservative Christian values in the parliament and against reforms on same-sex marriage and decrimanilising abortion.
He also became infamous for praying for rain ahead of Mardi Gras each year.
Queer comic Reuben Kaye was speaking about the hate he receives for his sexuality and for dressing up in drag – particularly from the Christian community – when he made 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.
Waleed Aly looked stunned by the joke, made on prime time television, while co-host Sarah Harris burst into laughter.
However, on the following night’s broadcast, the stars were forced to apologise for what happened on air.
“During a live interview last night, our guest told a joke which we know was deeply and needlessly offensive to many of you,” Ali said.
“We want to acknowledge the particular offence and hurt that it caused our Muslim and especially our Christian viewers. Obviously, I understand how profound that offence was.”
Some viewers were unhappy about the joke.
“Absolutely disgusting comment about Jesus. He just insulted millions of people of faith,” one wrote on Twitter.
The joke has led to a series of backlash against the network, including a protest through Newtown, which has become synonymous with Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community, last Friday.
Around 30 men marched up a busy street chanting the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary in a protest slammed by the local Greens MP.
The men, associated with the anti-LGBT group Christian Lives Matter, were filmed marching on King Street in Newtown praying the rosary, as part of protests sparked by an offensive joke about Jesus by a queer comedian on The Project on Tuesday.
“Huge turnout with the boys praying powerful rosary in Newtown tonight,” the group’s founder Charlie Bakhos wrote on Instagram.
Videos showed the men, escorted by several police officers, forming a circle to recite the Lord’s Prayer before marching up the street, with a person at the front holding rosary beads above his head.