
— With AAP.
1. Radio boss threatens to sack Alan Jones following Jacinda Ardern comments.
Radio bosses have threatened to tear up Alan Jones‘ multi-million dollar contract as advertisers boycott his breakfast show over his comments about New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate issued a warning to the controversial broadcaster on Saturday, threatening to sack Jones if he continues to use offensive and violent language about women.
Alan Jones, 78, criticised Jacinda Ardern on Thursday after she said “Australia has to answer to the Pacific” on climate change at a forum in the island nation of Tuvalu.
He said Ms Ardern was a “joke” for preaching about climate change and suggested to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that he “shove a sock down her throat”.
The breakfast radio host later recognised his comments were “careless, unnecessary and wrong”.
“In the radio game you have to choose your words carefully and I didn’t do that. There is no excuse,” Jones wrote.
“I have written privately to Prime Minister Ardern to sincerely apologise for what I said.”
Chairman Russell Tate acknowledged the comments had caused offence to many people.
“He indicated that he had apologised sincerely to Prime Minister Ardern for any offence given, and had certainly not intended to suggest any harm through his comments,” the chairman said on Saturday night.
“Notwithstanding his apologies, I have today discussed the matter with Alan and advised him that any recurrence of commentary of this nature will result in the termination of his contract.”