Australian shock jock sues radio network over ‘royal prank' hoax call that led to nurse's suicide

The Guardian

4 hours ago

A 'shock jock' who made a prank call to a UK hospital caring for Princess Catherine claims he was not supported by his employer in the fall-out of a nurse's death by suicide.
Michael Christian and Mel Greig were presenting on 2Day FM on 4 December 2012 when they made the phone call to the King Edward VII hospital in London.
The then-Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to the hospital for severe morning sickness ahead of her first child's birth.
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Christian alleges he was ordered by 2Day FM's production team to make a prank call to the hospital and impersonate Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth to try to gain access to the duchess.
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha took her own life days after the prank call, leading to widespread backlash against the radio hosts and broadcaster.
Almost 13 years later, Christian has sued 2Day FM's broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo in the federal court, claiming the firm promised to provide support if the content put out by its 'shock jocks' ever went too far.
The former radio host – who was made redundant in February – says he believed these claims, but was let down by the organisation.
The broadcaster did not 'step in' but rather let its radio presenters take the blame, negatively impacting their careers, court documents seen by AAP allege.
Christian and Greig called out Southern Cross Austereo and tried to prevent the company from crossing the line but were left in the cold after the suicide, the documents say.
'SCA did not immediately take public accountability for the incident, but rather allowed Mr Christian and Ms Greig to be left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats,' his lawyers wrote.
'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance.'
Greig made a tearful apology to Saldanha's family at an inquest into the nurse's death in 2014, placing the blame on the radio station and commercial radio culture.
Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive at the time of the incident, told the ABC in 2024 he suffers anxiety about it.
'I have always felt completely and utterly responsible for this,' he said.
Christian says he started as a 2Day FM presenter just two days before the prank call, which he alleges breached the Australian Communications and Media Authority code of practice.
He claims he was told in early 2013 the broadcaster would help restore his reputation and rebuild his career.
He remained working for 2Day FM and did not pursue legal proceedings against them because of this promise, court documents say.
However, the firm failed to provide meaningful health support, did not start a public relations campaign to rebuild his brand, and failed to offer meaningful opportunities or pay rises to reward his loyalty, he alleges.
Instead, he claims he was 'gradually marginalised' within the organisation.
Christian did not sign a release preventing him from speaking publicly about his time at the broadcaster, instead retaining lawyers after learning of his impending redundancy in February.
'Mr Christian claims that the redundancy was not genuine, particularly in circumstances where SCA still requires Mr Christian's former role to be performed,' court documents allege.
Christian is seeking penalties, compensation for economic loss and damages.
The matter is yet to appear before the federal court.
Southern Cross Austereo has been contacted for comment.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [e-mail] or [e-mail]. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org