Hunder: Sebastian backflip “let down the entire industry”

Music journalists Mikey Cahill and Sosefina Fuamoli talk with music photographer Michelle Grace Hunder about how Guy Sebastian's COVID-19 vaccine backflip impacts the music industry.

Music photographer Michelle Grace Hunder has described Guy Sebastian’s backflip on the COVID-19 vaccination campaign as “so disappointing”.

“He just let down the entire industry, he let down his band – the people that would really be struggling,” Hunder said on Hit Different.

“I can’t believe that he can’t see that.”

Sebastian was originally onboard with Russel Howcroft’s initiative to get Australian performers to lead an ad campaign that encouraged receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but later claimed he didn’t know his team posted in support of it on his behalf.

Hit Different host Mikey Cahill was also outraged with Sebastian’s decision to remove his support of the campaign, labelling it “not good enough”.

“Musicians can’t make money, Michelle isn’t able to shoot concerts, Sose (fellow host Sosefina Fuamoli) and I can’t go to concerts, so now’s the time to really human up and be strong about this,” Cahill said.

“He did say one thing, that he personally didn’t believe it was his place to deal in absolutes to tell people what to do in regards to their personal health choices - this is a man who flogs multivitamins to children.”

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We covered it on Hit Different, a weekly podcast that puts music culture in context.

“So again, he’s only thinking about money, money, money.”

Despite all three members of Hit Different clearly being against Sebastian’s backflip and removal from the campaign, they all still refused to allow the Australian performer to be “demonised” for his actions.

“To me, it’s about not having a spine and being very people pleasing, but having said that, I don’t think demonising people is the right way to go,” Hunder said.

“I don’t think making fun of people is actually the way either – I’ve had conversations with people who were really scared and have now gotten the vaccination just through having empathy and listening to their concerns.”

“Demonising people sure isn’t what we should be doing, but he could’ve said it’s up to your personal health choices but these are the reasons I’ve been double vaccinated,” Cahill said.

“We need him and others like him to set a good example, it’s such a crucial time.”

Hear the full story on Hit Different, a free weekly podcast that puts music culture in context.