So Kyle Sandilands has lost one of his jobs. What next?
This story just won't quit. Last night, Channel 10 announced Kyle Sandilands had been dumped from his role as Australian Idol judge and as the dust settles from last week's disastrous and appalling breakfast radio stunt where a 14 year old was strapped unwillingly to a lie detector, quizzed about her sex life and revealed that she'd been raped at 12. You can read all the details of that here. But there are some more questions…
….that need to be answered. Or at least discussed. Let's kick off with today's editorial in News Ltd newspapers. In a story titled "King Kong Kyle's Uber-Ego", media journalist Marcus Casey writes….
FORMER Brisbane street kid Kyle Sandilands rose from a night time radio
brat hosting the Hot30 Countdown nine years ago to become a Sydney
shock-jock behemoth – and now someone who has disgusted a nation.
And much of the blame lies with 2DayFM and station owner Austereo, who have allowed the star's ego to rage out of control.
Even in 2000, Sandilands' ego could be a problem. Now it's reached
the point where he is unable to foresee potential disasters – of the
sort that might arise by asking a 14-year-old about her sex life.
As a result, Sandilands and co-host Jackie O have revolted a nation
and harmed the public image of Austereo and its national network of
Triple M, 2DayFM and Fox stations.
Austereo management has largely allowed it to happen. After years of
grinding away at executives with his "better" ideas, no-one now appears
capable of saying "no" to Sandilands or co-host Jackie O.
And Austereo's confused and limited response to the latest
Sandilands controversy – two short and vague statements in the past
week – indicates that the company hasn't quite worked out the
complexities of the gorilla-sized problem it's created.
According to Austereo, the show is "in recess" and not "suspended".
Huh? How does that work? Have they or haven't they disciplined
Sandilands and co? Apparently not.
The main problems are that Sandilands and Jackie O are now
surrounded by yes-people, and that the show isn't equipped with a
no-button.
Astonishingly, the show – which probes personal distress,
addictions, predilections, masturbation habits and more through the
prism of "entertainment" goes to air without a delay "dump" button,
used in case of – let's just say – a young girl revealing on-air that
she had been raped at 12.
It's the option which gives announcers seven to 10 seconds to stop such material.
"Every other station and show has a dump button and that one fact
alone is unbelievable and shows the animals are in charge of the zoo,"
one former Austereo executive said yesterday.
"Kyle has always hated them and that's an indication of how out of
control his ego is. He was already an ego-maniac back in 2001 when he
was a no-one doing the Hot30 night shift. He was angling for the
breakfast show and offering his opinion on other performers."
The result, says one of many producers who endured tenures on the
breakfast show Kyle and Jackie O have manned since 2005, is an
environment with a high turnover of staff and one in which everyone
bows to the boss: King Kyle…
It appears Austereo had no crisis plan for what both colleagues and
rivals saw coming 1000 miles away. Nor, it seems, did it know how to
control its biggest loud-mouth asset.
So now it finds itself in the vicious cycle of putting in "recess"
the company's biggest money-making show while its Triple M network
flounders towards irrelevancy. They need him back.
….And the breakfast fill-in is James Page. He scored his first ever headline two weeks ago when Sydney Confidential reported how he goaded MIXFM rival Todd McKenney on FaceBook by saying McKenney had "full blown AIDS".
It was utterly untrue, and greatly hurt McKenney and family. And Austereo fully knows that.
I think this is such an interesting viewpoint and one that I share. I can just imagine Kyle sitting at home, shaking his head in genuine confusion and disbelief. It's a bit like a child who has been able to get away with all sorts of reprehensible behaviour for years without any consequence or remonstration from Mum and Dad until one day, out of the blue, after doing something he's done 100 times before and got away with, he's suddenly kicked out of home.
Forgive the tortured analogy but it's time to stop focusing on Kyle and the events of last week and take a look at the bigger picture. Namely, how has this been allowed to happen? That stunt last week was not new. They've been doing such things – and worse – for years. Just a few weeks ago, there was a masturbation competition as Kyle, Jackie's husband and their newsreader all gave sperm samples to see who was the most virile. Anyone listening to that in the car with their kids?
Upfront I'll say I've met Kyle a number of times – although not for years – and he's not a bad person. I am appalled by many of the things he does and says and I agree that he has a colossal ego and is enormously arrogant. But that is simply because nobody ever says no to him. Not his bosses who allow him – and encourage him – to shine a light on the ugly side of human nature on breakfast radio every morning in the same way as Jerry Springer used to do.
And why don't they say no? Because people tune in. The show is #1 in the Sydney breakfast ratings and that means money. Breakfast is the most important shift of the day for a radio station and that's why, as long as his show is rating, Kyle has become a power of 1. Answerable to nobody. Immune to the normal contraints of management controls.
As I noted on Twitter yesterday, I'm certain he hasn't been suspended or reprimanded in any way by Austereo. Instead, I bet they tried to force him to use the 7 second delay button or asked to be made aware of the show's future content and he flat out refused to go on air with any conditions attached.
Which makes this brinkmanship a fascinating thing. Vast sections of public opinion have spoken very loudly about what they feel to be inappropriate radio content. Kyle and Jackie are clearly shocked because (if you take the rape revelation out of the equation), stunts like talking to a 14 year old about sex is nothing new for them. And until now, nobody has thought to challenge them on it.
Will Austereo bow to public opinion and media pressure (instead of bowing to the demands ratings) and sack them? Should they? And who is really accountable here? Kyle, his employers or the listeners who have hungrily lapped up every last sensational stunt for all these years?
EARLIER ON MAMAMIA…
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The anti-weight loss hero.
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Kyle tells Jacqui O she’s fat and makes her cry (and makes the rest of us want to punch the radio).
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Kyle and Jackie O’s lie detector test reveals a tragic rape – who’s to blame and what’s next?
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What do Kyle Sandilands, The Chaser, Matty Johns, Bill Henson and Gordon Ramsay have in common?
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This girl is auctioning her virginity. Bids anyone?
I love the Kyle and Jackie O show. It is fun and it’s is hilarious. I think Kyle is a crack-up, and he honestly makes my mornings. The house is alive when the two of them are on, they have perfect chemistry and are so in sync. So apart from me being a big fan of theirs, I can honestly say, that having heard the show with the 14 year old, it is NOT as bad as everybody makes it out to be. Jackie O aborted it straightaway, and was very sensitive and caring. Why don’t they EVER replay that?!! I am getting to trust the media less and less – honestly, if nobody had heard the show, they would believe, with all this media frenzy that it was Kyle himself who raped the girl. I do not believe that Kyle should be crucified the way he has been. And Jackie should be commended for her tact and sensitivity in the way she handled the whole issue.
A sad fact that a grubby parasite like this “mother” could put her daughter through this ordeal for the sake of some lousy concert tickets. Kyle and Jackie are just doing their jobs. The fact is that people love to suck up this garbage as entertsinment.
Sack Kyle from all of his jobs and that way, if he wants to keep producing shit, he’ll have to go to the bathroom like everyone else.
I understand the anger directed at the mother, but trial-by-media (or internet forums) wont help her daughter get the help she needs. If the police and DOCS have been called in, then she is being “dealt with”.
The issue at hand is how does a program like that make it air in the first place – and so the spotlight has turned on Austereo and Kyle & Jackie O and the other instances where their show has overstepped the mark. I feel though, sadly, that this will all blow over, and after a nice holiday somewhere warm, they will come back to their timeslot. Remains to be seen whether they change their ways.
I don’t care how or why he is off the air – just glad it’s happened. He’s a pig. And Jackie O should be ashamed of herself for allowing it to get this far.
This story made page 3 of the Guardian here in the UK today. Embarassing.
Well said about the mother Evermist.
Kyle is a bit of a wanker, especially to women. He called Jackie fat. Does he have a mirror at home? I’m glad he’s gone from the Australian Idol.
Oh I think the poor girl’s mother is the one who is to blame for this. What sort of mother would do that to her daughter. She needs love, support, understanding. I just cannot fathom why the mother would subject her child to this.
I still can’t understand how Kyle cops all the flack and Jackie seems to get none. I understand she’s not on the air either atm, but no-one seems to be talking about her!
Don’t get me wrong – I can’t stand Kyle!
Exploitation all ’round – the producers, the hosts, the mother and the people who listen in on this kind of “entertainment”.
Appalling – the very worst of the lowest common denominator.
I don’t listen to these kinds of programs and I stopped Aust Idol in our house last year because i was unhappy with the mean, nasty comments of Kyle to some of the kids on the show (I also can’t bear the adds about male erectile disfunction! So my kids listen to my ipod in the car or the ABC even though they want their music). I didn’t want my young children thinking that it was OK to put people down like that and try to get away with it because you have a “smart mouth”.
I think that’s why Master Chef went so well this year – everyone is tired of negative shows that exploit people, belittle them and treat the contestants / 14 year old kids as commodities to get ratings.
I am glad Kyle has been sacked – it’s long overdue
About 6 weeks ago while listening to 2Day as I was driving into work i commented to hubby that the show was seriously heading into smut-ville territory. This had to happen. Only sorry it was at the expense of a 14 year old.
what kyle and jackie o, the producers, the mother and austereo did was wrong. plain and simple. the 14 y o should NOT have been there in the first place! they are all equally to blame.
i find it more so disgusting that the mother “smiled” at her daughter when she asked her if she had had sex. she asked her mother to stop smiling cause she knows the answer! WTF? what kind of mother does that?
and lastly- the media is smashing all parties involved, but it is they who are talking about the sex life of a 14 yo girl almost a week after it was broadcast. how do u think she feels when she tunrs on a tv or radio? completely hypocritical of media to judge when they have been reporting on it daily.
I agree with what you are saying Mia.
I have never listened to the radio show but have seen him on tv on idol and I was not particularly a fan. He was an asshole to get ratings for the show and even though people hate him hes there because he gets ratings.
Fans love to hate him hes been kept on for ratings and its his continuous viewers and listeners that have kept him alight. Now he has said something that people dont like and he is the scum of the earth. Go figure.
Does anyone else think we’re actually giving Kyle, Jackie O, and the Austereo network a bunch of free publicity?? Though most of the opinions towards them and the issue at hand are negative, I can’t help but wonder how many people are going to be tuning in to see what they do next… It’s like that Corey Worthington kid- everyone said what an idiot he was and all this negative stuff- then they put him on TV an gave him lots of money…
On the issue at hand- I’m another one who thinks that Kyle’s being blamed for something that is the fault of many.
Totally off topic but – Knight Rider, I just saw your comment and I hope you are ok. xx
Putting my very low opinion of Kyle Sandilands aside for a moment, I find Austereo’s delay in taking action to discipline him to be the most telling and sad part of the whole sorry affair.
Austereo obviously sat back and waited to see how the public would react before deciding on a course of action. There was no moral compass (corporate or otherwise) applied here, and absolutely no corporate responsibility taken. The Austereo message is abundantly clear: Kyle and Jackie’s behaviour is only inappropriate if people say it is, so why not keep pushing it until the public pushes back?
Any action the company takes from here will be a pissweak response to public pressure.
Marcus Casey nailed it. While Kyle and Jackie O are raking in the advertiser dollars, getting their stupid stunts reported as ‘news’ and winning in the ratings, they can pretty much do whatever they please.
Love him or hate him, the buck shouldn’t stop with Kyle.
Had there been no rape revelation we wouldn’t even be having this conversation and life at 2DayFM would be business as usual.
The fact that the Kyle & Jacquie O show is the number 1 breakfast spot tells us there is an audience for this type of ‘entertainment’ and any listener who is now throwing their arms up in disbelief over last week’s segment is a hypocrite.
I, in no way, condone the events that transpired on Kyle and Jackie O’s morning radio show. However, I am very confused as to why no body has commented on the shameful actions of the mother of this young girl.
Yesterday, in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper, Sally Morrell questioned why Jackie O had not received any of the scrutiny that has been thus far directed at Kyle.
She says that
“Sandilands’ giggling co-host was just as guilty as he was…”. She goes on to claim that “If anything, she betrayed the girl even more despicably and yet is almost excused, while Sandilands gets the rap”. I would say that, if anything, the mother of this young girl committed the biggest betrayal of them all, appearing on the show, knowing that her daughter had been raped two years prior, and that the nature of the impending questioning had the potential to reveal such matters. How has she managed to escape any ‘rap’? I am disgusted at this mother for allowing her daughter to get involved in such a predicament.
I repeat that in no way do I condone the events that transpired during the radio segment in question and of course take issue with Kyle, Jackie O and the Austereo network’s practices. There will always be controversial and questionable marketing gimmicks presented on the radio. As listeners, consumers, potential participants, we should ALSO know better than to allow such things to continue.
WATCH MEDIA WATCH – 3/8/09 EPISODE IF YOU CAN ABC – it demonstrates the appaling and chavaunistic behaviour of Kyle Sandilands and the 2Day FM station and its exploitation of people.
No big miss if Kyle is off the air, that man has huge problems and is revolting.
There are are a few people here that should also be held accountable so i hope he is not the only one who takes the blame.
Ok, so Kyle is off the air. Just a few thoughts at this point:
- The content of the program needs a serious look at. The nature of content is highly innapropriate considering radio is such an easy to access medium (for kids, for e.g.)
- What about Jackie O? It’s HER show too and she was in on this ’stunt’. As a woman, you kind of expect more from her. However she seems to be not taking any of the blame.
- What about THE MOTHER!? What a moronic woman. That poor kid. That poor, poor kid.
I’m making a formal complaint to ACMA and Austereo because I think the stunt was appaling and really, they need to take complaints very seriously.
Anyone want to join me?
I’ll post up the links when I’m back in the land of the living…
I also am no Kyle fan and can’t stand to hear his voice but am wondering why all the backlash is focused on him when I feel the mother should have never let (or forced?) her (underage) daughter on the show in the first place if she already knew the answers to her own questions. Where is the duty of care there?
Good..
Well I work in commercial radio and I used to work at Austereo.
Kyle’s ego is way out of control and he is probably quite bemused right now wondering why this particular segment has got him in such deep crap, seeing he’s been able to get away with so much in the past.
Put aside the morals, or lack thereof, of the mother and the distress you feel for the girl for a moment.
Kyle and Jacki O and their employer have a lot to answer for. K and JO have complete control over their show. Kyle wanted the dump button removed because he thinks it makes things edgier, more spontanious. The seven second delay used to be mandatory for radio stations who take live talkback. It was once illegal to put calls to air without it. It’s necessary in case someone calls in and says something defamatory. It’s also necessary if a caller starts using four letter words.
Yes, Kyle and Jacki O surround themselves with yes men, they have final say on what goes to air and what doesn’t, but Austereo has to take responsibility for allowing this to escalate to it’s curent level. They have created the monster, it’s up to them to bring it to heel and do more than just put the show in recess or whatever they’re calling it these days.
Austereo deserve to lose ratings over this. They have a history of focussing way too much money and attention on perceived “stars” while sacking those who don’t fit their nice little mould, despite being ratings winners. I am of course talking about the sadly no longer Get This team from MMM in 2006/2007. They won their time slot pretty much from the start, they had loyal listeners following them around the schedule, they even had listeners obsessed enough to hold rallies all over the world but because their humour wasn’t commercial enough they were given the boot.
I’m glad to see all those “commercially viable” radio teams are now causing Austereo grief.
I can only see positive in this situation, the fact that Sandilas has been sack from Australian Idol, and that Australians are not puttin up anymore with this kind of rubbish, is a clear message, both to the radio station and everybody involve, and radios and television stations in Australia , I can see only good come up of this, and of course Sandilas and Jackie will plenty of the time to ponder, what happen and learn from their mistakes, love to all ooxx
I don’t think it is fair to assume that just because the mother has not been in the headlines as much as Kyle and Jackie O, and she hasn’t got a high profile job to get fired from, that she has got off scot free in all this. She now has the police and DOCS to answer to, and just because there is no public name or face to point the finger at, does not mean she hasn’t been well and truly made aware of the general public opinion of her role in all this, and her capability as a mother. She will no doubt be feeling the repercussions of this for a long time to come, which is more than can be said for the radio presenters – who will more than likely be back on the air before too long.
I think everyone is a bit to blame, the radio station, Kyle, Jackie O, the mum, the listeners. I feel really sad for the young girl, her Mum seems not to have had the skill and resources to look after her properly. Maybe some good will come out of the situation and the young girl will gain access to some counselling and help.
I am a bit confused about the dump button, I don’t think it would have helped. The situation would have still occurred only we would be unaware of it and Kyle and Jackie O would still be on air awaiting their next victim.
Oh please. Poor Kyle…he was so unaware, because all those evil people around him never ever let him know what a naughty boy he has been.
He is an adult. He should be held accountable to the same standard as the rest of us, whether we’ve had people stand up to our antics or not. He should have applied acceptable moral standards – that’s just general knowledge, what’s wrong and what’s right – to his work. I am glad he is off the Idol. I could not stand to watch him.
In the end, it is not like he has been charged with a crime. He is simply off air. Like some people mentioned, it is all supply and demand. If people wanted him – he would be on air and on Idol. If people are appaled by him and don’t want to hear any more from him – he will be gone. I imagine entertainment business is a harsh world where you are only as good as your ratings.
I loathe commercial radio, it makes me want to self harm. This is just another reason why I never ever, ever listen to it.
How Jackie O has escaped persecution in this situation is beyond me!!
Well said Jaz – very true.
I agree Mia and also watched Mediawatch. Kyle is out of control, he shouldn’t have gotten away with it for as long as this. Luckily I live in Melbourne so don’t have to listen to his rubbish in the mornings but am appalled often if I flick on the radio in the evenings by their content. But I also agree with Margee and others that lots of the responsibility rests with the Network, Content Makers and Managers. Will be interesting to see if Austereo will grow a spine about this one. Surely Hamish and Andy would do a way better job and much more breakfast appropriate show?
Perhaps if we took up a collection, we could buy Kyle a brain…………….
Stop blaming the mother for this sick scenario. Kyle & Jackie O’s show have a history of doing these types of stunts. Kyle & Jackie O’s radio station gave the platform to the mother to do this. They had the power to say no to her. They run the station not her. The mother needs help with her parenting skills and not condemnation. The mother is not paid millions a year to determine what goes on a radio station. If that woman had approached me (as a radio producer) ready to strap her young daughter to a lie detector machine I would have given her the phone number for a good family counsellor. But then again I don’t torture two young woman who are about to be reunited live to air (see Media Watch).
I noticed Marcus Casey said the breakfast fill-in is James Page, his name is infact Chris Page. I know this because I used to work with his father Ian (lovely guy). He proudly and excitedly told me on my first day at this particular work place that his son was a radio presenter on 2day FM weekdays 9-12, so I naturally asked about Kyle and Jackie O. He immediately said Kyle was an absolute asshole to his son. Kyle would often try to make Chris look foolish and amateur by purposely catch him off guard by throwing to him when he wasn’t ready (the breakfast show would often run over its time slot)and he would do other things to demean Chris and put him down.He said he was just plain nasty to Chris. This stuck in my mind as I always thought Kyle wasn’t a very nice guy but then also considered maybe that is just his “public persona” for the radio & tv to get ratings. But no, apparently he is an all-round complete dick. No wonder so many of his contempories and Industry fellows hate him. I agree with what Gillian said he shows no regard for his colleagues or listeners. He deserves what he gets now.
correction!
The “love of money” is the root of all evil.
Not money.
We used to listen to that station because my children like the music. No more. Last time I listened to them was last year. I had my kids in the car, we were driving to school and it was just shocking.
The competition was that a woman had to ring her best friend and make her cry. To win tickets to some lame act that was touring at the time. Anyway, the woman rang her best friend and told her that she had slept with her husband. Of course she cried. I didnt listen to the rest of it because I felt sick for her (even though it wasnt true) and it wasnt appropriate listening for my children. If you find it entertaining to hear other people being made to feel like shit you really have a problem.
I am sure Jackie O is a very nice woman outside the radio show. But the simple reason she tags along and does nothing is because she is paid millions! Yes money – the root of all evil. She sold her soul to the devil and now she is paying for it with her integrity. Very simple.
Ah, Kyle. He has been allowed to develop into a full-blown ego-maniac through improper management. I don’t like him, and I wouldn’t have watched idol this year had he been on it. An awful lot of the “fun segments” on the kyle and jackie o show have been questionable – the masturbation sperm test that Mia refers to, tormenting Jackie about her weight (which was perfectly fine), those sad story segments where if some greedy person rings in they can have the help the person in need was going to get… I mean it’s all gone too far. What ever happened to treating people like people and not as fodder for entertainment?
Agree with everything you said Mia. Kyle’s ego was out of control. His employers played with fire and they got burnt. It was fun to play while he kept within the boundaries. But that is the risk you take when you hire or continue to listen to people with no morals or ethics. One day they will overstep the mark and everything blows up in your face.
The only question I have is there a code of ethics out there in the radio industry for these type of stunts? I suppose not if Kyle’s radio show got away with what they did over the years. I have worked in universities for years and when we want to do research on humans we have to submit our research proposal to a University Ethics committee. We then have to wait for their approval before we can administer our research. Even paper surveys have to get approval (although it will have a low risk rating). I suppose universities care more about people than radio stations do (it seems).
Looking back at the track record of the Kyle and Jackie O show, this most recent stunt is obviously just the straw that broke the camel’s back. The poor young girl’s rape was what brought the program to the attention of a wider audience (obviously many of us who have never listened). Sandilands and Jackie O are not being punished because of the rape disclosure, but because of the whole premise behind their show that is only now being scrutinised by a wider public, and the sponsors are getting antsy.
It seems from the article Mia posted above, that Sandilands is a HUGE factor in determining the content and direction of what goes to air, and Austereo must be kicking themselves for letting things get to this point, but they only have themselves to blame. As for Sandilands being alone in the censure, well sure, Jackie O hasn’t been sacked from anything but does she currently appear on any TV shows to even be sacked from? She’s in “recess” too, don’t forget.
I don’t listen to the radio so I’m not commenting from a listener perspective.
First up… totally agree with why Jackie O hasn’t copped it as much.
Second.. it is my understanding that Kyle was doing the show from New Zealand (on his belated honeymoon?) via the internet/phone and webcam etc. I think this should be taken into account in considering his instant reply because I think if you are not in the room with these people in the studio it would be pretty easy to be misunderstood etc and not actually pick up the vibe of what’s going on.
I think it’s all abhorent… but I think the NZ factor does change the context a little.
I watched Mediawatch last night and in BOTH examples of the stunts on their show – this one and the one where the aunt and niece were hoping to meet for the first time, I was shocked to hear Jacqui O in particular laughing at people in both instances who were clearly distressed. It was a lesson in how to be an effective bully really.
I think Kyle and Jacqui O are equally to blame for this , as is their production team.
I don’t think anyone would disagree that the mother is to blame for her daughter being put into this situation. What most of us are outraged about is the fact that a radio station and its 2 star presenters would allow this to go to air. Why would they think it’s OK to chat to a 14 year old about sex? Who the hell do they think they are? It’s just crazy!
What needed to happen has… I don’t feel sorry for Kyle or Jackie O, they should have known better.
The word scapegoat implies that the person on the receiving end of the blame game is an innocent (or even mostly innocent or naive doesn’t it?) Both Kyle and Jackie O are not in any way innocents.
Yes the mother of this poor girl deserves a pshycological slap in the face & back into the real world, but these two (and their production staff) let it go to air, let it become the huge shit fight that it has. To bear witness and not do anything about a crime is to take the blame on oneself – and rightly so! They were enablers, they were ready to revell in this poor girl’s shame & embarrassment and equally to blame is Austereo who ok’d the air-time to cause the pain & humiliation to her daughter! And yes every person that tunes in, downloads a podcast, leaves a message on their guestbook also contributes to this mass circus of shame.
Jackie O – bores me to tears, as for the stunt they pulled years ago on B105 and Kyle being more experienced -wasn’t she on the radio first? With her first (and secret at the time) husband Ugly Phil? Another idiot btw- she does seem to attract the wankers doesn’t she… or perhaps she is as devious and heartless as the guys she co-hosts with and just disguises it behind the idiot men and the angelic colouring she has?
I haven’t commented or been to Mamamia for ages, but I really can’t let this one pass without some sort of analysis.
I think the constant barrage of vitriol directed toward the mother is warranted, because clearly she has direly failed in her duties as an emotional and spiritual guide to her daughter. She willingly led her daughter into a traumatic situation for her own self serving interests. She let her daughter down.
And yet is it really her fault? Isn’t this a classic case of the haves and the have nots? I have two children aged 8 and 9 and in our house there are very strict rules that my kids know they have to adhere to. Television is minimal, they don’t eat junk food. The only radio I listen to is 702, so they’re never exposed to the sort of crass exploitation that Kyle is infamous for. But my background is staunchly middleclass, where my parent’s values were ones of respect and integrity and education. So I therefore pass those values onto my children.
This woman, clearly not very bright and blinded by the white light of celebrity, led her daughter like a lamb to the slaughter, and is now facing the angry lynch mob of society, baying for her blood. But it’s not her fault. There is a large swathe of society that is under educated, poorly nourished and highly aspirational; people who look up to someone like Kyle and see themselves in him; one day street kid, next day millionaire.
Kyle knows his appeal to the common person and uses them as canon fodder. He exploits them for his own radio ratings. He knows that the majority of his listeners are not organic vege eating, library-going, Greenpeace members. They are poorly educated and therefore easily manipulated into taking part in his crass and tacky stunts.
The mother in my eyes is innocent. Kyle is the real perpetrator here and should be sacked immediately.
I just finished watching last nights MediaWatch segment and it broke my heart. While one commenter (sorry can’t remember who) said it was a “beat-up” I would have to wholeheartedly agree – they way they manipulated both young women into this situation was abhorrent. Totally disgusting and I really question who are the people making these decisions thinking it is quality radio – And more importantly, what values are we giving to our young people who tune in morning after morning thinking stunts like this are funny and worth listening to.
If this show rates, it means people are tuning in and obviously enjoy what they hear – How have we dumbed down our society that this is the number 1 radio program in sydney? What values and morals do these listeners have?
Jess, I think it’s about taking responsibility for the contributions we make on society. If you enjoy the show, that’s fine, but you must also accept that in doing so you are supporting (or at the very least condoning) this sort of behaviour. This is what Kyle and Jackie O are about and, as others have said, it’s a huge ratings winner, which is how this sort of crap gets allowed. If you don’t like this sort of behaviour, make a conscious decision to say NO, irrespective of whether or not you enjoy the other things, like the music.
As for the blame-game – of course the mother has acted appallingly and needs some serious counselling about her parenting skills, but as far as I’m aware, she hasn’t done anything illegal (?) so nothing is going to happen I’m afraid. There are countless hopeless parents out there, and if THEY won’t protect their children, then the rest of society must try to – in this case that includes the show’s producers, Kyle AND Jackie O – ALL are responsible for this catastrophe.
I haven’t spent a lot of time listening to Kyle Sandilands or watching him on Australian Idol. I don’t find the crass persona he adopts appealing, but it would seem there are many people out there that do. He appears to have created a very happy little niche for himself, being Australia’s bad boy shock jock, and let’s not get confused about the fact that this is exactly what he is hired to be. Austereo, as his employer and the producer of the breakfast show, is to blame in equal measure with Kyle for this whole fiasco. As is Jackie O. I am not sure how she has escaped so lightly, I guess because Kyle is the bigger personality. Without him, there would be no show.
As I said, I have never listened to the radio show, but I feel like taking a shower after just hearing about the types of stunts they put to air. Who seriously wants to listen to that?! Now I’m certainly not pretending to be some intellectual giant, I have several trashy reality tv shows as guilty pleasures – but even I couldn’t stoop so low as to find that kind of dribble entertaining.
Maybe because I am boring and old and I have three kids, but I have never liked anything that comes out of that man’s mouth. Not on Idol, not on the the radio, nowhere.
I’m embarrassed for the pair of them and the entire program – I hope they realise they’ve been morons.
All I can say is..this has been a LONG time coming.
He continued to push and push the boundaries. He is like a 3yr old who constantly tries to see how much he can get away with before he gets a big smack.
As for Jackie O? She needs to grow a spine.
The fact that for so many years, listeners have tuned in and helped sustain this business is what surprises me. Kyle and Jackie wouldn’t have a program or a contract if they weren’t so popular. They are, without a doubt, a success within this business and that is disturbing. Here’s hoping that this incident has helped audiences to re-evaluate what is considered entertainment.
I agree with many of your comments Mia – Kyle has a big ego, noone ever says no…but as much as i dislike him, i really dont think he is to blame.
What sort of mother who knows her daughter has been raped puts her on a national radio show strapped to a lie detector? Surely the mother knows that this isnt the best way to approach sex. I really think that the mother needs to be blamed and reprimanded appropriately.
As a former Employee of Austereo who has witnessed first hand the goings on in relation to this show, I agree wholeheartedly with Mia. You have hit the nail on the head. Nodody ever says no to him and now it’s come to this. It was always going to happen and because of the type of person he is, people are gunning for him. If this incident had happened to Merrick & Rosso or Jonesy, it would have blown over.
Austereo need to take responsibility for this. They may not have created the monster but they have allowed him to grow. The people working on the show are young, inexperienced and trained to say yes.
He was hired to be the despicable, bad taste presenter he is. But if his own bosses can’t keep him reined in, he has to go. Kyle Sandilands cannot be allowed to roam free on our airways and cause any more damage than he already has.
MediaWatch *was* good last night. And that other incident they discussed was almost more sadistic than this most recent one.
By the way.. Did anyone else see the story they did on Media Watch about it last night?
It was very Today Tonight-esque… Completely beat up and ridiculous.
Can everyone stop having a go at the people who listen to the show.
The show does allot for charity/people in need and have great interviews and co-hosts, and the music is what i like, its not all about the pranks etc. I only listen from 8am-9am so maybe im missing the majority of vulgar stuff, but what ive heard hasnt been that bad.
I’m not condoning the pranks but i don’t see why i should be crucified for listening.
He’s been a total scapegoat.
I don’t believe he deserves to lose his job/s. I really don’t. Their policies need to be reviewed – no-one under 18 should be allowed to participate in their competitions, stunts and whatever else… If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. Simple.
Kyle is nothing more than a wart on the genitals of society’s lowest life forms. What he did was not out of character. I just can’t believe there are people in Australia stupid enough not to see through him. It’s been painfully obvious for years that he is a talentless, arrogant fu**tard.
One can only pray that he disappears into obscurity. Somehow I doubt that we will be that lucky – I’m sure there’s a really poorly written book just dying to make its way of that feeble brain.
For the love of God, if he does stay on the airwaves, or makes it back onto the tele, switch channels! The people who pay him millions aren’t the problem, it’s the people who support his career by adding to his ratings. Every year Australia gets dumber.
Yeah, we discussed the mother last week guys. This is about how a radio show that is so scummy is so popular. I’d like to point out though, they are only popular with a certain demographic.
I find Jackie O just as reprehensible – more so because she pretends to be the ‘nice’ one. The two of them are like mean girls, bullying but occassionally being fake nice. We should be worried that this sort of behaviour is so popular…Also, while the producers are completely responsible, make no mistake, Kyle and Jackie O are in charge on this show. If they don’t like it, they won’t do it.
Sue, its quite concerning you suggest there was some sort of obligation on the girl to speak up beforehand? She stated that she was “scared” and didn’t want to do it, which should have been more than enough for any responsible adult to stop the interview (not that any reasonable or responisble adult would interrogate a child about their sexual experiences on live radio).
I agree her mother’s actions were reprehensible, but I also haven’t seen anything to suggest that the mother is now getting sympathy.
Like a few other comments here I don’t believe that all the blame should lie with Kyle. Yes, he has to shoulder some of it and he comment immediately after the girls revelation were inappropriate and obviously devastating to her.
However why is he being the “fall guy” all on his own?
What about the mother? She KNEW that her daughter had been raped and still subjected her to this and now the mother is getting sympathy. I’m willing to admit that maybe she didn’t know how to deal with the situation but anyone with any sense of human regard would know that doing it on national radio is not the answer.
What about the “pre” interview of some sort they apparently did? Why didn’t this get uncovered? the questions were about sexual experience shouldn’t have been there some checkbox at the least to say “if you have experienced a trauma of sorts please tick this box” (obviously worded a little better).
And the girl, I’m not having a go at her but she maybe should’ve spoken up before? Sure she went through a traumatic experience, but it still concerns me that she allowed it to get to that point.
Jackie-O has escaped unharmed through this, she put a stop to the segment when required but she was a willing part of it.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not a Kyle-Fan, but I’m not dead set against him either, I just don’t have an opinion on him. I just think that someone (whether it’s Kyle or not) should not publicly shoulder the blame for something that is not entirely there fault when there are clear and obvious other issues involved.
1. Where is Jackie O in all of this ?
2. What has happened to the girls mother ?
3. Why is Kyle the only one under the gun ?
Really – it’s all pretty simple – if you don’t like what you hear – don’t listen.
It’s unfortunate that this radio show is number 1 in the breakfast time slot – it’s just proof that there are bogans aplenty in this fair city!
Kyle is the scapegoat. What has happened to the mother of the child – who knew about the rape – and invited this attention in the first place.
Perhaps Sandilands will go overseas, to pursue another career. Could we be THAT lucky ?
I love Mediawatch, and if being responsible with professional standards of journalism makes them wearers of fawn cardigans and granny undies- then bring on middle age. I can’t stand bullying ‘fun’ of K and JO and the kids emulate the cruelty at school the next day. After all, the adults are all doing it are’nt they?
If Kyle (and Jackie O – she’s no innocent bystander here) are sacked, it would help demonstrate that self-regulation by the media is a workable solution to the difficult conundrum of media content regulation.
I think its a very positive sign that this episode has been such a topic of public debate – showing that vast sections of the population are willing to speak out against truly offensive incidents such as this and use their spending power to send a clear message to advertisers and producers. This demonstrates public awareness and debates rather than regulatory bodies are far more effective and representative ways to regulate content.
Rant over from this freedom-of-speech/anti-regulation-type
I do sometimes feel listening to Kyle that he feels has to live up to that persona and that he is a puppet of Austerio. It’s obviously bringing in the ratings so why would you fix what isn’t broken … until you cross the lines of human decency which has occured with cross examining a 14 year old about her sex life. He is the product of his own ego but Austerio have happily fed that ego. I can’t help that feel that he is not this heartless person everyone makes him out to be. He was obviously quite shaken when the 14 year old revealed she had been raped.
I dont know who listens to them in the first place – I can’t stand either of them! Merrick and Rosso are heaps funnier!
I feel bad for the girl – I wonder how she is feeling right now? I hope she is getting the help and support she needs.
Kyle reminds me of my 2 year old! Throws tantrums when he cant get what he wants, and tries to get away with all sorts of naughty behaviour.
Have to say that in regards to Jackie O, i kind of lost respect for her when I saw that post on Mamamia about Kyle saying she was fat and had to lose 4 kilos, instead of sticking up for herself and telling him to shove it she went on a diet! She needs to get some self respect and stop bowing to king Kyle (who is about 25 kilos over weight!!!)
Media Watch wasn’t just good barb-q, they were brilliant. Of course there are some cynics that believe all of these stunts are played on paid actors.
While I completely agree that to even put this type of “entertainment” on air is reprehensible, and that yes.. Kyle has a huge ego. May I simply ask this.
What mother would chose this way to confront her young daughter about sex and drugs?
and
What mother would not have taken her daughter to counseling following a rape.. at ANY age.. let alone as a twelve year old?
There would be no need for dump buttons, or entertaining massive egos.. if there were no willing public participants.
I dunno. I’m a bit torn on this one. Absolutely agree what happened with the 14 year old girl was APPALLING and showed an horrendous lack of judgement from everyone concerned, but…as someone tweeted this morning (ironically, one of the Chaser writers)”So, Channel Ten fired Kyle for being exactly the prize asshole they hired him to be.”
What I can’t believe is that people listen to them! Media Watch reported about this last night, I can’t believe some people enjoy listening to this utter rubbish. So offensive and banal. That’s what worries me . . .
My friend was an announcer at 2Day FM and good friends with Kyle when he was working on the Top 30. He said one day Kyle just snapped him for no apparent reason and he stopped talking to him. Kyle shows no regard for his colleagues or his listeners. He is like a little boy who is allowed to break the rules and Austerio condones his behaviour because he brings in the ratings. However, Jackie O is not the innocent bystander in all this and I’m tired of all the focus just being on Kyle.
What about Jackie O in all this?
I read an article yesterday saying she’s come out as the ‘good one’. She would have had just as much input as Kyle.
I think that Austereo is to blame. They never should have allowed Kyle and Jackie O to go on air without the ‘dump’ button in the first place and this would have never have happened.
I’m not a fan of them. Personally I was appalled when Kyle asked Jackie O to lose weight. They are only ever after a reaction and they get one. This time I don’t think they realised the consequences and now they are paying for it.
Maybe they will learn their lesson?
let me first say – I do not like breakfast radio – never have, never will…
secondly I need to say that as much as I dislike the ‘Kyle’ personality – that is what it is- an act – or seems to be, he is not surrounded by scandal outside of the show, is he? or am i just totally out of the media loop and he too is getting drunk and glassing his girlfriend, and has started using hotel corridors as toilets?
why does no one think that he is a human and maybe, MAYBE this has pushed him one step to far and he is questioning himself…?
JackieO I love as a person and personality from the little i know she is kind and thoughtful.
Yes I think Austereo should be punished by a higher media authority – there is NO WAY kyle could have set this up on his own.
Sigh – if he was that bad a person wouldn’t he have done something AWFUL outside of the TV or radio stations by now?
(this in no means condones the 14yr old stunt – that sickens me)
ah, I am no fan of Kyle Sandilands but when I listen to his response when the girl revealed her rape, you could hear the “oh crap” in his response. What I want to know is, why would a mother put her daughter into that situation in the first place? And where is the blame on Jackie O equally to Kyle? She is part of that show too and as someone who is trying to become a mother herself, I am appalled that she would even participate in such a segment. Why is Kyle taking the rap for them all??
I’m not a fan of Kyle, never have been but my sympathies lie with the girl.
All I can say is the mother of this daughter should be very ashamed, she knew her daughter had been raped and instead of getting her the support she needed she strapped her to a lie detector and humiliated her in national radio. I think that’s the true shame of this story.
mia..you rock!!!!!
I agree Margee, Kyle has totally become the scape goat on this one.
People fail to realise is that it is the public who have allowed this sort of rubbish radio to continue, not the ego of one man. And realistically, is it in his job description to maintain the integrity of the show? No, thats up to the producers.
These people surround themselves with yes-men/women who seem to be happy to sell their souls to be associated with celebrity. I wonder what ideas they come up that are quashed!?
And it’s not the first time Kyle has been caught out….
http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv–radio/not-the-first-time-kyles-been-caught/2009/07/30/1248546805031.html
unfortunately it’s ‘public pressure’ that put kyle there in the first place, and gets him paid the millions – supply and demand.
guys like kyle don’t get paid millions unless they’re popular. and they don’t get popular unless the audience wants them to be right where they are.
people listen to this show (and others like it) just waiting for something like this to happen. when it does, they fake their indignation for a short time, say the right things in a public, while secretly waiting with baited breath until he hits the airwaves again.
those of us who are genuinely appalled (and always have been) are, despite the collective noise we can make from time to time, in the minority. both television and radio ratings confirms this.
at the risk of being called a pro-censorship pinko, what role should regulation be playing in this scenario? i don’t know either, it’s just a question.
Media watch on this was good last night. http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/
What happened was sad and wrong.
But it seems Kyle is the scapegoat – he has taken the blame – rightly or wrongly. We will probably never know how or who approved the segment to go to air.
I think LOTS of the responsibility rests with the Network, Content Makers and Managers.
I live in Adelaide and I doubt such segments would work here. Many of my friends live in NSW and say such content on the morning program often crosses the line.
I hope – like with all such situations – something is learned.
What happens in the media is often a reflection of society.
So for the program to be rated Number1 must mean something.
So we as consumers of media need to step up to.
As we turn off Big Brother and turn up (family friendly) MasterChef, maybe we are?