Mikey Graham has hit back at RTÉ presenter Kieran Cuddihy following an interview with his daughter, Sienna Graham, on Liveline.
The former Boyzone star took to social media to defend his daughter after she was asked about the criticism surrounding his appearance at Boyzone’s recent reunion concert at London’s Emirates Stadium.
Fans had voiced concerns following the performance, with Mikey appearing on stage for just the opening four songs before leaving the show.
Speaking to Liveline, Sienna shared how proud she was of her father for returning to the stage and performing in front of thousands of fans.
However, Mikey was left unimpressed by parts of the interview and launched a furious response online.
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Sharing a video of himself performing to a cheering crowd, he wrote: “I was told there was apparently some backlash mentioned on Irish radio. I can’t see any there, can you? Or is that just the usual media lust for bloodsport to gain listenership, even if it’s not true?”
“Shame on RTÉ NATIONAL IRISH RADIO. Try to kick a guy when he’s down!”
The singer didn’t stop there, later posting a second message in which he directly addressed the interview and defended his daughter.
“Woe is not me. I’m a quiet, private man, but when a stupid and cruel excuse of a so-called talk show host tries to insult my daughter on live radio about her father, you’d better be ready for backlash from me!”
“You’re no kind of man at all to ask that question to a young girl!”
Mikey then went on to name Kieran Cuddihy directly in a further post.
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“I’d like to see Kieran Cuddihy do what I did and see how he’d get on up there in front of a stadium,” he wrote.
“What a cruel fool and idiot of a man! How dare you speak to my daughter that way!”
The controversy comes after Boyzone reunited earlier this month for their One For The Road concert at the Emirates Stadium, with Mikey joining bandmates Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch on stage.
Following the show, Sienna spoke publicly about the challenges her father faced in returning to perform, previously saying that “no one will ever know the extent it took my dad to get on stage.”
Mikey has previously been open about his struggles with anxiety, depression and alcohol addiction following his years in the spotlight.
