It's 2025 and comments like this are still getting airtime.

UPDATE: Since publishing this article, Triple M and Marty Sheargold have released a statement announcing that they have "mutually agreed to part ways".

Triple M's parent company, Southern Cross Austereo, said that it "takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience."

Calling it "a moment for reflection and review", the statement went on to say that they would "continue to take all necessary steps to support staff" and that a new Drive show would be announced in the future.

"Triple M acknowledges Marty's contribution over the past four years, and we wish him well for the future," it concluded.

In the same statement, Sheargold addressed his comments.

"Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments," he said. "I'd like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in."

Original article below.

"You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls," laughs Triple M's Marty Sheargold on his prime-time radio show.

He's talking about the Australian women's soccer team, the Matildas, after interrupting a sports news report referencing a tough few days for the Aussies, currently participating in the SheBelieves Cup in America.

"All the infighting and all the friendship issues, 'The coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle's being a bitch'. I'm sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that's what I think of it, so you can stick it up your arse," Sheargold continues, live on-air.

Watch the trailer for Matildas: The World At Our Feet. Article continues after the video.

"So, we're playing in the SheBelieves Cup..."  co-host, Will Ralston, responds, attempting to continue the news report. 

"Oh She Believes — in what?" Sheargold chortles. "It better be men!?" 

Ralston tries to go on again, referencing the upcoming Asian Cup. 

"Oh God, the Asian Cup…" Sheargold scoffs. 

"I'd rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that. 

"Got any men's sport?" he bellows. 

Ralston then moves to baseball. 

This is so far beyond disgusting I don’t have the proper words. It’s 2025 ffs. If there’s any accountability left in this world then heads should roll. pic.twitter.com/3lEBTykkLk

— Steve Smith (@steve__smith__) February 25, 2025

The DJ's brazenly sexist remarks didn't land as he'd hoped though, triggering a slew of complaints from angry listeners. 

"I'm genuinely surprised that in 2025 this stuff is still happening," says Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, Sarah Styles. 

"People might think this was a poorly planned joke about The Matildas, but it's more than that. It links to the broader attitudes around women and sport. 

Sarah says while genuine criticism and critique of women's sport is actually a good thing, this was something entirely different. 

"Critiquing performance, tactics, even sporting organisations when they're not stepping up to the bar is a sign of growth, because historically the commentary was limited to 'wow, women are playing football'. 

"This is not criticism. Even in his apology, he said this was humour that didn't land. There is never a reason for humour to go into the space of denigrating women. Whether it's women's sport or women in general."

"This is not at 10pm at night. This is a very open audience who can listen to this. There are children who have heard that, that now have an impression that that type of stuff is okay.

"It's normalising disrespect towards women. So, in that respect, it's not just about sport. It's about, how do we as a country tolerate this kind of conversation in 2025?"

Listen to The Quicky discuss the state of women's sport in 2025. Post continues below.

On the plus side, high-profile individuals are speaking up about it. 

"Athletes who are stepping up saying, 'That's not on, and that's another sign of progress," says Sarah. 

Football Australia (FA) also released a statement condemning Sheargold's comments.

"Football Australia is deeply disappointed by the unacceptable comments made by Marty Sheargold on Triple M regarding the CommBank Matildas. Such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women's national football team but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society," FA's statement said.

Sarah says the incident should be used as a "teachable moment", providing an opportunity for parents, teachers, and coaches to speak to children and teenagers in their care about respect for women and girls in sport.

"Especially, male coaches, as men still hold the majority of coaching roles whether we're talking elite level or community level – it's an opportunity to talk to kids who are forming their view of the world to say 'this is not okay, and here's why'," she says.

Despite sport dominating our news headlines, only around 15 per cent of sports news is actually about women, says Sarah. 

"So you have this megaphone that is already shouting, 'Men are the most important thing here'. Men are who we celebrate. Men are who we as a country, put up on a pedestal as heroes."

But there's been some amazing progress, she says, particularly around opportunities for women in male-dominated sports. 

"The opportunities for women in traditionally male sports have transformed over the past decade. The Matildas are selling out stadiums. They are absolutely capturing the excitement of a nation. 

"But what we need to remember is that progress is happening alongside a moving train, which is men's sport.

"And men's sport has seen huge progress, particularly in the investment and the financial growth of men's leagues. 

"So yes, 100 per cent progress has been made. We need to celebrate that. But we can't pretend that this is a fight that has been won."

Sheargold has since apologised for his on-air comments, saying: "Any comedy including mine can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence at my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise."

This article was originally published in February 2025 and has since been updated with new information.

Feature image: Getty.