How people power and the web took Kyle off the air

Julie Coker-Godson says:

08:58pm | 02/08/09

Congratulations Punchers on an excellent outcome.  Couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple I’de say.  In an ideal world I would wish they not return to the airwaves.

Bryce says:

08:59pm | 02/08/09

David,
Congratulations to the Punch team. This is an excellent example of the new media space we are operating in and the Punch has demonstrated the power and agility of its own platform.

GV says:

09:04pm | 02/08/09

Money talks Penbo.

It’s just that the actions and thoughts of the sponsors weren’t in the public domain.  Who in corporate Australia would hitch their brand to Kyle?

It’ll be interesting to see how Idol on Ten works out.

Cathie says:

09:14pm | 02/08/09

Despite the dubious nature of the whole Lie Detector segment - I think it’s pitiful that the poor girl’s mother would exploit her child for 15 minutes of fame on a bloody radio show.  To make things worse, she revealed that her daughter had received no counselling following the rape.  All I’ll say is that our society makes people who have dogs licence them, but allows all sorts of humans to breed.

Don'tcomeback says:

09:21pm | 02/08/09

Social media at its best. It feels like we finally have a real voice that will damage companies that don’t listen.

Richard Tuffin says:

09:22pm | 02/08/09

I’m suprised it too 2Day this long quite frankly.  I wonder if the execs. at 2 day ran a raffle to see who got to make the phone call to Kyle!!??!

FJDempster says:

09:26pm | 02/08/09

Great! If only it could work on ‘dancing with the stars’ judges as well. Do you think “people power” can get rid of other hosts too? What about getting rid of opening titles, voice-overs and too-obvious music cues?

amber jamieson says:

09:30pm | 02/08/09

there is a god.

Shane From Melbourne says:

09:59pm | 02/08/09

What’s the difference between this example of public endorsed censorship of the radio program and the chinese government’s attempt to censor the Melbourne Film Festival? Look, I think that Kyle’s program was in extremely poor taste and shouldn’t have gone ahead in the first place. But the positives are that now it has been aired, any alleged criminal activity can be investigated and the girl can receive counselling.  Defacto bans on the freedom of speech such as this example or in the case of Chasers are basically an attack on the foundations of civil society. Yes there are certain exceptions such as the incitement to commit crime or defamation (maybe), but these are rare exceptions.

realto says:

10:28pm | 02/08/09

Your comment:I think I’ll buy a radio station if I win Lotto. I’ll put on Kyle & Jackie, The Chaser, Matthew Johns and Sam Newman and anyone else who is likely to cause kneejerk reactions and columns of tabloid outrage. I reckon it’s a business plan.

Bruce says:

10:41pm | 02/08/09

Whilst I agree with the action taken. Is this more about “media power” than people power?? Could the media organise a campagne to get ridd of “This Day Tonight” and “A Current Affair” for insulting our inteligence???? Bring back the 3 Stooges or Buggs Bunny I say !!

Dil Andau says:

10:45pm | 02/08/09

I hope Vile Sandilands and Tacky Ho arent seen or heard from again.

Leo says:

10:48pm | 02/08/09

But do you have to call it a “rape scandal”? A bit hypocritically salacious. And you even have this term as a tag! Search news.com.au for rape scandal gossip! Makes me ill to see media vultures treating real people like this.

Peter says:

10:48pm | 02/08/09

Its my understanding that Kyle took himself off the air with the “unable to perform his duties on-air at this time” comment.  At least that is how I see it.

What I want is for the mother to be raked over the coals and perhaps jailed.  She did nothing at the time 2 years ago and now used her own daughter in such a horrific fashion, that it is the least the public should do. 

Anne says:

10:49pm | 02/08/09

My understanding is that this was Kyle’s decision - he hasn’t been ‘pulled off the air’ but made the decision himself, as a result of being very upset by the public response to a stupid mistake. If he had just agreed that it was a stupid thoughtless thing to do, we would probably have let him off the hook. But in my opinion, the Chaser and others have done much worse and gotten away with it.

Jonathan says:

10:59pm | 02/08/09

Shane from Melbourne: you’ve missed the point entirely.

dean says:

11:05pm | 02/08/09

I posted in the strongest terms about the premise of the show and the Austereo culpability in allowing sexually charged content to be targated at teenage school children. i was not profane nor defamatory yet my comments were not published. I wonder if the brutal focus on the lack of moral compass was too raw in the early stages of this debate. Glad to see some principles and policies are now being considered due to the pressure from clear thinking people.

Sam says:

11:07pm | 02/08/09

People power ??? I think you mean a few jealous media types. Anyone with any brains could see this problem arose because of a pathetic mother and Kyle and Jackie were just the scapegoats. Alls well that ends well as they say, the girl will now get councelling and the police will investigate the rape and of course Kyle and jackie will get a nice holiday before returning down the track a little.

Seumas Hyslop says:

11:08pm | 02/08/09

From how I read it, it looks to me like Austereo went to Mr Sandilands with a set of conditions (possibly things like the 7 second delay, etc.) and Kyle refused to agree to them.  Ergo, he says he will not be able to work under those conditions, and the show is suspended.

I’m not sorry to see the show suspended, even for a while.  Austereo and Kyle Sandilands/Jackie O’Neil’s sophistry in discussing only their regret that the rape revelation went to air, but never actually discussing or admitting that it was a horrible lapse of judgement that led to them discussing a young woman’s sexual activities in a manner that aimed to disempower and publicly shame her.  If they’d admitted fault on this, they might have gotten a better run in the media.

John says:

11:09pm | 02/08/09

This is all a bit fishy. I want to believe that it’s people power or the station finally saying enough is enough, but I just don’t buy it. Would like to know more about the motivation and whose decision it really was.

Drew says:

11:16pm | 02/08/09

I agree with Ann - Kyle made the decision not to go to work during all this storm.. And past experience has shown that Jackie will not do radio solo when Kyle has not been available.  Quite simply - the show has not been suspended - Kyle and Jackie are simply refusing to go to work until the media storm dies down.  Without the other - the show is a dud.  The two together are dynamic, entertaining radio.  Which is why they are number one.  You dont have to agree with what they are saying - but it is entertaining.

Goran says:

11:20pm | 02/08/09

This is a perfect example of political correctness gone wrong. This is entertainment, and as it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, we al have the power to change the radio station every morning. Leave the only entertaining and funny show on extremely poor Australian airways alone.
For those who love to complain, you have AM stations and they will be willing to listen to you.
We have been robbed of the only good thing on Australian radio.

TERRY KAY says:

11:35pm | 02/08/09

GOOD WORK…. GET RID OF THEM AND THEIR KIND.
FIRST THE CHASERS TEAM WITH THEIR SICK STUNT ON SICK KIDS AND NOW THESE TWO… ...ADIOS AMIGOS
TK MELBOURNE

Karin says:

11:37pm | 02/08/09

Kyle has NEVER taken responsibility. He is quite manipulative with heaps of excuses and always blames someone else. Then if he is cornered he plays the victim ‘poor me’, and gets sick too. Comes down with a migraine or the flu. He is the ultimate bully and abuser.

Aleg says:

11:38pm | 02/08/09

No charges have been laid against the Austereo network, the producers or the presenters. Since it seems that there is no legal issue then, This must really be a moral issue.

Why then should the values of one portion of the public dictate what the other side chooses to listen to? It seems to not be enough for those protesting the actions of this station to simply tune out. No, true satisfcation only arrives when NOBODY is allowed to listen and decide for themselves.

Sure, it could be argued that the liberties of this girl may have been violated when she was cornered by the presenters and mother and pressured to answer personal questions. Hence why it seems fitting that the liberty of the station to broadcast such a segment (or any segment) should be removed.

Personally I believe that while young, this girl still had a choice to partake in the lie detector test, pressured or not. But I won’t argue that case here.

I hope that many of the detractors here today will see my point of view when, one day, their favourite program is removed from the airwaves because others deem it immoral.

Alistair says:

11:48pm | 02/08/09

Im sad that Kyle and Jackie O are being kicked off the air out of “moral outrage” as opposed to the sensible and long lasting fantasy of mine—that people just stop listening to that garbage and tune to any other station. How any of that dross is popular in the slightest amazes me, but they shouldnt be made infamous for their poor taste, they should be removed coz their overall product is appalling.
Such a shame.

Rick says:

12:07am | 03/08/09

Peter/Anne - that’s like saying Nixon voluntarily left the Whitehouse because that’s what the spin-doctors said in the media spin. Lets get real people.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

01:24am | 03/08/09

@Seuman Hyslop:  I think you may just be right here.
@Drew:  This is NOT entertainment whatever you may think; it is NOT good radio and there ARE other better stations to listen to if you are prepared to look.
@Goran: see above as for Drew.
@Aleg:  if you cannot see what was morally & possibly legally wrong about this whole episode & why it should never have been aired in the first place, then I have serious concerns about you.

Peter (Adelaide) says:

01:34am | 03/08/09

Ahh but he did leave voluntarily, under duress of course.  I think it was better then being impeached, at least in Nixons mind.

My point was less to vilify the radio station and concentrate on the mother for doing what she did for her own reasons.  And society that is set up in a way that victims of crime feel they cannot come forwards.

Barry O Rourke says:

01:38am | 03/08/09

All good, trash radio show anyway, now let’s see people do it one more time and get rid of the Garbo the self elected premier of NSW Nathan the Dill Reese and his gang of selfserving hoons.

John says:

01:39am | 03/08/09

Is ‘The Punch’ taking a little too much credit? Seriously, Kyle was the one that didn’t want to work first - you can hardly call that ‘people and the web taking Kyle off the air’

Rothu Nedmac says:

01:52am | 03/08/09

To all the Kyle supporters, you just don’t get it.
This was an appalling act of exploitation of a minor for ratings to satisfy Kyles obvious perchant for public humiliation and bullying. And he’ll even allow a 14yo girl to be victimised by him for his own grand standing. Not only that, he’ll allow personal private details of her (under the age of consent) sex life (in a morning show??) to be COERCED by all that were there, even laughing at her distress.. Despicable!

Ben says:

01:56am | 03/08/09

The public should not stop at this. A core value of a modern society is to protect the most vulnerable and not to profiteer from their misfortune. Vile, Tacky-O, the associated producers and managers at Austereo need to be charged with the crime of committing child abuse. Only then will justice prevail. They were all complicit in committing a serious crime.

Paul says:

02:16am | 03/08/09

Goran, CHILD ABUSE IS NOT ENTERTAINING.  I detest censorship of all kinds but it is not censorship to object when someone commits a crime for teh sake of making a headline. And Aleg, I don’t agree that’s its not a crime just because no charges have been laid yet. Criminal investigations can take weeks and even months bfore charges and a court appearance.

Aleg says:

02:55am | 03/08/09

@Julie Coker-Godson
I’ll quote myself here - “it could be argued that the liberties of this girl may have been violated when she was cornered by the presenters and mother and pressured to answer personal questions”.

I can see what was morally wrong. I just don’t think the show should be axed because people feel bad about it. It wouldn’t solve anything.

For someone who hates the show so much I would assume you don’t listen to it. Why, then, are you wishing that they never return? You never listened to them in the first place, so nothing would really change would it?
And if you do listen to them, is your radio broken? Tune out.

@Paul
True, but I doubt it’ll happen.

This entire scandal has been blown way out of proportion.

Marge Innovera says:

08:44am | 03/08/09

@Aleg: When the event is characterised as a ‘rape scandal,’ yeah- it’s over the top.

Mind you, it doesn’t in any way excuse allowing a skit to go to air which targeted a 14-y-o girl about her sex life. That was stupid from the get-go. That it imploded SO spectacularly with the poor girl’s rape admission is evidence of why running the skit involved such very poor judgment.

Sandilands’ non-apology on The Punch made it so much worse. He SHOULD go hide for a while.

Don says:

09:20am | 03/08/09

hahahaha, really…. this is win for people power? You’ve got to be kidding me. This is a win for people to become sheep swayed by biased media reporting and opinion. That’s if “people” even had a hand to play in this. The media is probably exagerating those claims as well, just like it’s giving it’s self a pat on the back over getting Kyle off the air. And no im not a Kyle fan, I dont even listen to his radio show.

Bracelets says:

09:23am | 03/08/09

Great article . Will definitely apply it to my website

Luke James says:

09:38am | 03/08/09

So they pull Kyle and Jackie O off air - sorry “in recess” only to replace them with presenter Chris Page who spent the week prior in the headlines after incorrectly saying Mix 106.5 presenter Todd McKenney had AIDS. Nice one Austereo.

MB says:

09:51am | 03/08/09

Sydney’s collective IQ raises a few points whenever these two are off air – hopefully the break is a very, very long one. Poor Jackie must be thinking “But, like, OMG! Who is going to keep Sydney informed about, like, Brangelina and other really totally important world issues?!”

n says:

11:31am | 03/08/09

“the girl’s mother, who is being investigated by the Department of Community Services.”  Thank God.

Jubal of Booragoon says:

12:01pm | 03/08/09

You guys are kidding yourselves if you think you had anything to do with it… or that Austereo has any interest in your opinions!  Kyle is a bully working who takes no responsibilty for his actions - which is why he’s a perfect fit for that network!

Christie says:

12:11pm | 03/08/09

The biggest indicator that these two may stay off the air was the claim that Optus was appalled by the stunt.
Austereo can’t afford to lose this sponsor, so if you want these two to stay off the air for good, go to http://www.optus.com.au and click on Contact Us at the bottom of the page, then go to Compliments and Complaints. Let them know the message they’ll be sending to the Australian public about child abuse if they continue to sponsor this show.

Steve says:

12:29pm | 03/08/09

Slight headline beat up alert. So what happened first? Sandilands says he “can’t perform his duties”, then Austereo “puts the show in recess” ? That’s not actually being pulled off air. Either way if it keeps these idiots a safe distance away from a microphone it’s a good thing. Love to see what Austereo’s crisis management team is cooking up. They’ll probably wait until the fire storm dies down, bring their “talent” back with some B.S. emotional apology, the mea culpa PR campaign will kick in, TV interviews, magazines will regurgitate Kyle’s homeless past to show his “every man”, compassionate side, etc etc, and the advertiser’s cash registers will sing once again. Can you imagine the production meeting to set this sordid affair up:  “We’ve got this woman who thinks her 14 year old is having sex and drinking. She wants to put her on the lie detector and ask her on air…” Talk about alarm bells.

jimbo says:

12:33pm | 03/08/09

what a bunch of haters. They must play some great music on 2day as none of you seem to be able to change the station. Lately we have had Big Brother, Gordon Ramsay, The Chaser, the Footy Show all being judged by half wits that think they have a bit of power if something gets censored they don’t like. Thats why visitors think we are a backward nation, we have a bunch of wowsers living in the 50’s have the final say. Also anyone in the media should be against all forms of censorship!!

Ray of Bris says:

12:48pm | 03/08/09

Anne: “My understanding is that this was Kyle’s decision” - when and how did you come to this assumption? Has Kyle Sandiland’s ever been recitant to show his face (or voice his opinions) in face of public outcry? Has he suddenly developed a shyness for the public spotlight? It isn’t as if it was the first time he has ever let his mouth get the better of him, and was probably the culmination of his public image and previous incongruities.

Samantha says:

12:54pm | 03/08/09

What’s happening with the “mother” (I use that term loosely)???
At least Kyle took himself off of the air. I think the segment was an exploitation of a child for ratings but Jackie and Kyle recovered quickly, offered any counselling the child needed at their expense and cut short the interview.

You need a licence to have a dog, maybe they need to make that applicable for children too. Disgusting parenting.

Michael says:

01:01pm | 03/08/09

People power? I doubt it.  People power is what gets stupid shows like this one listened in the first place.  It’s more like sponsors’ power in this instance.  As in: the PR officers of the station’s sponsors (notably Optus) heard about it, maybe read a couple of comments saying “Boycott the station or their advertisers,” and the phones at 2Day FM started ringing.  Whether Kyle jumped or was pushed is immaterial.  On the other hand, I don’t think it was an overreaction to do this - for all the stupid wannabe American civil libertarians out here who keep screaming that it was an imposition on freedom of speech, there’s a few things to remember:
(a) this isn’t America;
(b) freedom of speech here is confined to political issues; and
(c) another “American” freedom—notably, the girl’s right not to incriminate yourself—was being infringed upon here.  By the girl’s mother, and by the radio station.
Besides that, it was gravely immoral to put that girl through the interrogation, whether it was the mother or the radio hosts who were asking the questions.  As an analogy, criminal law says that where you help someone commit a crime, you’re just as responsible as the person who actually commits the crime; a getaway driver is charged with armed robbery, just like the guy who goes into the bank with the loaded shotgun.  Same goes here.

As for accusations of kneejerk reactions: any person who listens to the interrogation—and it’s widely available online, so nobody has the right to say “You don’t know what happened”—knows that the line for acceptable conduct on radio was crossed, and crossed in a big way.  There was no grey area here.  The warning signs—lack of consent to the interview, a 14 year old girl, an agenda which included her sexual activities—were all there, and the producer/presenters chose to plunge ahead anyway.  This was immoral conduct which deserved condemnation in strong terms from the station, the sponsors, or the ACMA, and that’s exactly what was dished out.  (Albeit it’s highly ironic that a big, faceless nonhuman corporation - Optus - was the catalyst for a moral decision.)  And it was entirely appropriate that it was dished out straight away.  When a small, immature child throws a glass on the floor in anger, you don’t wait two weeks and then impose punishment.

More relevantly, if we don’t as a society make it clear that some forms of behaviour are not to be tolerated, then it just makes it easier for idiots to say “Everbody does it and nobody cares about it.”  That is what morals are for, and regardless of the wannabe “rebels” amongst us who might argue that society has no morals these days, we do.  We have to be able to publicly condemn something that is so wrong it must be addressed straight away.

John Fenech says:

01:24pm | 03/08/09

Good One Punchers and David P,

Don’t you just love people power & common sense?

Just imagine had common sense been in the studio?

Would it have gone to air? NO

Had they have stood themselves down for a week?

Would the Media frenzy happened? NO

What Vile & Tacky Ho need is 20/20 hindsite not rose coloured glasses.

))

Ps Viles’ gig on Idol is looking shaky.

-The word from Producers - more guest judges this season can only mean one thing.

Peter says:

01:33pm | 03/08/09

Is this a ploy by 2DAYFM who are hoping this appalling stunt will be forgotten when Vile and Tacky Ho get back from “recess” ?
No it won’t Austereo - people are VERY angry about this issue and these two booffheads

John Fenech says:

01:35pm | 03/08/09

Hi Jimbo,

There are 2 things here; Morals & Good Taste.

What Vile & Tacky Ho did was morally reprehensible. :(

What Gordon Ramsay does is Bad Taste.;(

I hope Australians & Punchers understand the difference between both?

Rob says:

02:00pm | 03/08/09

Sandilands is merely giving his dopey listeners what they want to hear every morning. A point that has escaped the attention of most keyboard warriors - both professional and amateur - on this subject.

In the end, no amount of foaming, high-brow and hypocritical opinion pieces in tabloids such as the Daily Telegraph are going to change the fact that Kyle Sandilands and his girly sidekick, “Jackie O”,  prop the Austereo network up in the same way that Alan Jones does with 2GB. Different demographics, but the same commerical ends. He won’t be “suspended” for long.

jimbo says:

02:01pm | 03/08/09

Hi John, Obviously people have different ideas what is good taste thats why it should not be up to someone to tell me what I can watch whether it is good taste or not. I think the music on that station is bad taste but I don’t want it banned..The mother is being investigated so something good has come out of it. Overseas the debate over Gordon was years ago, and he won, thats how behind the times we are

Craigo says:

03:42pm | 03/08/09

This was always going to end badly. Jerry Springer is the reason I go to work every day and only take a sickie when I have to. This is where it has taken us. It was always (IMO) in bad taste and requires the complicit action of viewers or listeners to keep tuning in and keep supporting by way of ratings and surveys. Commercial radio encourages controversy because it gets ratings. Kyle gets ratings. Bad taste draws crowds like rubberneckers at an accident. The Elephant Man to Idol - people don’t change much. As long as someone will pay, someone will put on the show.

I don’t endorse his action’s and find it offensive. But then I don’t listen to his show or others like it either. What I also find offensive is how he is now being scapegoated for something that he is only part of. If Optus enjoyed the attention before, they should wince at the pain. If the radio station enjoyed the income before, they should share the pain. Giving Kyle a sickie isn’t really going to fix the other 80% of the problem. And yes that includes you if you listen to Kyle and lets face it - lots of somebodies listen and obviously enjoy the show. So as Rob of 1:00pm says - he’ll be back!

blue tongue says:

04:39pm | 03/08/09

Even though I voted with my ears and never listened to 2day FM, I did find myself walking out of a shop the other other day because there was an awful noise going on which turned out to be 2day FM playing in the back ground. Apparently my parental instincts kicked-in automatically.

I’d like to think beavis and butthead have been taken off air not because of their public demonstration but for all the aural pollution they’ve served up from day one. Just because there are people stupid enough to listen to them, doesn’t mean they should be on air.

C says:

04:42pm | 03/08/09

I personally like Kyle I think he’s a nice guy from seeing him on Australian Idol.  I wouldn’t let my daughter go on radio to do a lie detector but hey maybe this is a good thing it’s out in the open the girl can receive counselling instead of bottling it up for years and end up with depression and maybe suicidal.  I hope this has a happy ending for everyone.

PL says:

04:58pm | 03/08/09

People power? What a joke. Real people power brought down corrupt and Commie regimes. Here, we’re crowing about the temporary removal of two bit shock jocks. And wowserism is too alive and well for my liking. Too many people demanding the removal of this and that and trying to determine what I can watch and hear. Get a life.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

05:45pm | 03/08/09

@Aleg:  I don’t listen to their show.  I listened to the video of the segment which I found appalling.  I don’t want them to return on air because I don’t believe they deserve to be given another chance given that KS in particular has past form for this kind of behaviour.

CF says:

05:59pm | 03/08/09

People Power? It was Kyle’s decision not to return to work this morning and I am sure there is a great deal as to why. They have not been ‘taken off their air’ or ‘suspended’. They are currently not on the air temporarily, a ‘recess’ as they call it.

Bocanakal says:

08:04pm | 03/08/09

You guys should not judge a person based on the way he/she entertained people.  He is there for you so that you can LOVE him or HATE him. It is this unique personality that makes you being entertained. Mistake is a mistake. Bad luck is a bad luck and we are all going through it. You can be the first to throw rocks into him if you have never been through this.

Bartman says:

08:09pm | 03/08/09

Don’t think that I have ever seen a description as good as that posted by Cathie - “Despite the dubious nature of the whole Lie Detector segment - I think it’s pitiful that the poor girl’s mother would exploit her child for 15 minutes of fame on a bloody radio show.  To make things worse, she revealed that her daughter had received no counselling following the rape.  All I’ll say is that our society makes people who have dogs licence them, but allows all sorts of humans to breed. August 2nd, 2009 at 08:14pm” Well said Cathie. Couldn’t have put it any better.

Emma from Sydney says:

09:30pm | 03/08/09

I don’t listen to Kyle & Jackie O… I find their idea of entertainment very tasteless. This just confirms my opinion.

I just hope the poor little girl doesn’t get forgotten in all this upset.

D says:

10:30pm | 03/08/09

Sandilands can spend all his “spear” time looking into space with that crazy weird stare he’s got! Weird weird dude.

Caiper says:

10:52am | 04/08/09

This is proof that the pen is mightier than then sword. It seems all the responsibility of this has fallen onto one person. There are so many people responsible for this whole mess but it seems that most journalists will only print what they want, and target who they want. This was the highest rating breakfast program, surely that accounts to some people liking the show, all we have heard is from are the haters. Come print both sides print both sides of the argument. Of course I think the whole incident was poor taste but as a mother of a daughter I would never have put my child in that situation. No body is now remembering all the things this program has done to help people in need.

Johnv_au says:

10:53am | 04/08/09

If I was on a radio show and had input into the content i would have run a million miles from this. I hope it send message out to all other media glory hunters what Australia will not put up with 4 million a year down the drain that is a start

lee says:

11:49am | 04/08/09

There are a lot of comments stating Kyle decided to withdraw from the show.

Do people not get the point that discussing sex on a breakfast radio show with an underage girl is WRONG.  no matter what level.  What has happened before the show went to air?  they must have known some back ground on the maother and daughter as putting two randoms on the radio live would be as equally negligent.

The whole episode is a disgrace and the KS & JO are reaping what they deserve.  A sick stunt that offers nothing in the way of entertainment.

Michael says:

02:42pm | 05/08/09

As for the commentary along the lines that “Oh, Kyle and Jackie O have done some wonderful things”—so what? If you give 50 cents to a beggar in the street, is that meant to excuse you smashing someone over the head with a beer bottle? It is their own personal choice and their own personal responsibility that they have a negative public image—the stupid radio stunts aren’t created by their critics, they’re done by these two.  If you don’t want to look like a tool before the media, stop doing the things that give you that label.  As for their good deeds, let’s remember these two clowns weren’t out there curing cancer or running charities out of their personal bank accounts—I’m sure all the charities they “support” could’ve found a much better use for the cash Kyle spent on that Rolls Royce he drives.  Let’s also remember, whatever their supposed compassion these two had for the downtrodden, the poor, etc, they have a track record for taking advantage of people in desperate situations or under pressure and being goddamn cruel about it when they do - check out this week’s MediaWatch for more on that.  But the real answer to the assertion that their good deeds excuse everything is this: “You are only as great as your lowest act.”  Guess where Kyle and Jackie O fit on that spectrum?

Morgan says:

02:23pm | 11/08/09

Lets try Kyle and Jackie O’s style (?)of entertainment on themselves and see how they like it

Lets start with them hiring a private investigator to follow someone around and then expose their finding on National Radio..how isnt that a breach or privacy? Ok for Kyle to spend thousands on guards for his house to protect his privacy. Lets get a PI to follow them both around and then report on National Radio. See how they like it

Then the poorest form on entertainment. Taking people who are in the worst possible times ( like a woman who had both daughters battling cancer , one terminally) and offer them money to help with medical costs or a holiday to relieve the pressure. Who wouldnt want to donate to that. BUT no, these guys set up a competition where anyone can ring in 60 secs and take that prize away. Jackie would say I cannot believe you are taking that…what we are thinking is we cannot believe you are playing with people at their most vulnerable to feather your own ratings and coppers.!! How low and to replay it all day long…how do you sleep at night? So, lets give these guys their high paying careers back , as long as we open phone lines and no one rings to take it away from them. Can you imagine how that might feel…and in this case its just your jobs, no one you care about is dying !