On Sunday evening, the 37-year-old received a standing ovation from the audience following the huge announcement at the 58th TV Week Logie Awards in Melbourne.
Waleed delivered a stirring speech and dedicated his gong to “everyone with an unpronounceable name.”
“It matters to them for a particular reason. That reason was brought home, not so long ago actually when someone who is in this room, and I’m not going to use the name they use in the industry, came up to me, introduced themselves and said to me, ‘I really hope you win. My name is Mustafa. But I can’t use that name because I won’t get a job,'” Waleed poignantly added.
“There’s nothing wrong with the picture. If you are in the room I’m sure there’s an Instagram filter to return things to normal. It will be fine. This is happening,” he remarked, in reference to the fevered debate about the lack of diversity on national television.
Watch the star’s amazing speech in the player below. Post continues after the video…
In a beautiful touch, the former lawyer also thanked his wife Susan Carland.
“If she had my job she’d be much better at it than me,” the father-of-two joked.
“She’s sharper, wittier, funnier and infinitely more charming and likeable and I’m really glad she doesn’t have my job because otherwise I’d definitely wouldn’t have it.”
The presenter admitted he was humbled by the big win.
“I think it’s fair to say I never anticipated I would win a Logie, not in a ‘I thought I would fall short’ kind of way but I couldn’t conceive this happening.”
Waleed gave a special mention to his beloved wife, Susan Carland, during his acceptance speech.
“I was more likely to win an AFL grand final in my mind than to win a Logie and I’m still hoping for that. So that means I’m a little bit gobsmacked but I’m hugely appreciative that the audience has decided to throw me a bouquet in this way on this night.”
Earlier in the evening, the star also scooped up the Silver Logie for Best Presenter.
He took the opportunity to again thank his wife. “It’s a privilege to be able to share my life with you,” he said.
Congratulations Waleed on your incredible win!
