Co-host breaks her silence after shock jock sues radio network over 'royal prank' call that led to nurse's suicide
Christian and Greig were presenting on 2Day FM on December 4, 2012 when they made the phone call to the King Edward VII Hospital in London, who was caring for Princess Catherine.
The then-Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to the hospital for severe morning sickness ahead of her first child's birth.
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 died by suicide days after the prank call, leading to widespread backlash against the radio hosts and broadcaster.
Breaking her silence on Christian's decision to sue 2Day FM's broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo in the Federal Court, Greig shared a statement on Instagram.
She wrote: 'I understand why Michael is choosing to go down this path.
'Whilst there are various reasons we may never be able to speak our entire truth on all that occurred, I do hope that the continued attention on this tragic incident results in substantial reforms in the way media produce content and support their staff, so that something like this never happens again.
'My thoughts and supports as always are with the Saldanha family.'
Almost 13 years after the incident, Christian has claimed his former employer 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 Ms 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.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Southern Cross Austereo for comment.
Help is available 24/7
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
16 minutes ago
- Reuters
Spanish teenager investigated over AI naked images of classmates
MADRID, July 27 (Reuters) - Spanish police said on Sunday they were investigating a 17-year-old on suspicion of using artificial intelligence to deepfake nude images of female classmates for sale. Sixteen young women at an educational institute in Valencia, in southeastern Spain, complained about the AI-generated images of them which were circulating on social media and online. In December, a teenage girl complained to police that AI-generated video and faked photos resembling her "completely naked" were posted on a social media account started under her name. 'Photos of various people, all of them minors, appeared on this account. All these photos had been modified from the originals, which had been manipulated so that the people in them appeared completely naked,' the Spanish Civil Guard said in a statement on Sunday. A 17-year-old boy is under investigation for alleged corruption of minors. The Spanish government said in March said it would put forward a law to treat such deepfaked sexual imagery created by AI without consent as a crime but the bill has so far not been passed by parliament. In September 2023, Spain was shocked when 15 minors in Extremadura, in southwest Spain, were investigated for using AI to produce fake naked images of their female schoolmates. They were later sentenced to a year's probation.
The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
Lucy Letby ‘acts like Queen Bee in jail' and ‘gets hair & nails done in salon with killer pal Sara Sharif's step-mum'
BABY killer nurse Lucy Letby acts like the "Queen Bee" in prison due to the level of privileges she's afforded - angering other prisoners, it is claimed. The 35-year-old is serving 15 life sentences after being convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital. 5 5 5 Letby is reported to have struck up a bizarre friendship with Beinash Batool, who murdered her 10-year-old stepdaughter Sara Sharif. The ex-neo natal nurse is said to be chaperoned by prison guards wherever she goes, and special areas have to be cleared whenever she wants to visit - due to the high risk of her being attacked by fellow lags. The Sun reported last week how the evil pair play card game Uno for hours in their cushy jail unit after being given 'enhanced' privileges at HMP Bronzefield, Surrey. They also have "a lot of freedom" and can buy foods that others can't - often in the kitchen making cheese toasties together. Letby allegedly moans she's the "fattest I've ever been" due to her diet of junk food, including chocolate. Sources have since told The Mirror other female murderers in Houseblock Four are fed up with Letby and Batool - who is serving 33 years - getting special treatment. They say the government's Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme, which is designed to encourage good behaviour among prisoners, is being used by Letby who manipulates prison officers to get what she wants. The source said: "She turns on the tears at the drop of a hat, she gets all her visits in the family room which is really lovely even though she doesn't have children, it's meant to be for children and they've made it really nice. Her parents come to see her," our source said. "She walks around like she's Queen Bee, she stops other enhanced prisoners going to the library because she says 'I'm scared, I'm scared, I don't know what they'll do to me' but what about other people who are enhanced and want to use that library, they can't. "When she and Beinash go to the salon, the whole salon has to be shut down, because they are scared that other prisoners will attack them and obviously there are scissors and stuff there." The source said the pair go to the salon "at least once a month" and Letby is "always getting" her hair and nails done, adding the wing is "like an upside down world". Lucy Letby cops arrest 3 senior members of leadership team at hospital where killer nurse murdered 7 babies Letby and Batool, 31, have also reportedly been awarded "positive behaviour comments" by prison officers as part of the IEP scheme. This means they get extra perks like visiting the prison staff restaurant, called Vita Nova, which has two qualified chefs, and inmates can be trained barista and knife skills, it's claimed. And when Letby attends the likes of the salon or Vita Nova, it is closed to others to protect her, but she chooses to take Batool as her plus one guest, according to reports. One prisoner told The Mirror, there is "so much hatred for her" because she's "treated like she's Queen Bee". As reported by The Sun previously, the killer nurse works three different prison jobs and blows her wages on sweets and crisps. Letby has jobs as a laundry worker, earning £8 a week, a kitchen worker - another £8 a week - and a library worker. Lag sources say she's put on so much weight "you wouldn't recognise her". Unit 4 of 527-inmate Bronzefield, which is run by private firm Sodexo. Letby and Batool both have TVs with Freeview channels and a DVD player, along with books and films, which they can order from the library. Others on the unit include Sian Hedges, jailed for life in 2024 for killing 18-month-old son Alfie Phillips. Shamed prison officer Linda de Sousa Abreu, who romped with a lag, was also held there until her release last month. Letby — convicted of the murders of seven babies and attempted murders of seven more while a neonatal nurse — has regular legal meetings as she plans her appeal. Batool was sentenced last December for the murder of her tortured stepdaughter. Sara's dad, Urfan Sharif, is serving at least 40 years for murder after she was beaten to death at the couple's home in Woking, Surrey. 5 5
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
New EastEnders star is a nepo baby as famous family members who have also starred in BBC soap are revealed
Max Murray has landed a role in EastEnders alongside legendary stars but it has now been revealed he comes from a long-line of actors and singers in his family. The youngster has been portraying character Joel Marshall since February this year but it turns out he is actually following in his famous mum's footsteps. Max is the son of actress Gina Murray, who has starred in a number of well known programmes including The Bill, Doctors and The Hunt for Raoul Moat and appeared in the BBC soap back in 2014 playing Helen. Gina's character Helen arrived in Albert Square as a hair specialist to help Carol Jackson, who was struggling with losing her hair as she fought off cancer. It was Helen's role to help Carol find a wig. Max is also the nephew of Mazz Murray, who is a successful TV and theatre actress, starring in Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia and Chicago to name but a few. In 2004, Mazz also starred on EastEnders as a waitress called Miranda who had a brawl with Heather Trott and Shirley Carter. The youngster has been portraying character Joel Marshall since February this year but turns out he is actually following in his famous mum's footsteps In 2017, Mazz returned to Walford but this time was playing a character called Julie, who was a divorced woman who hired Keanu Taylor as a male escort for a night of fun and frolics. Max's character Joel is the step-son of Vicky Fowler, who returned to the square for the funeral of her uncle Martin Fowler. Her new boyfriend Ross is played by Alex Walkinshaw. At the time when Max's role was announced, he told the Mirror: 'It's an absolute privilege and honour to be joining such a wonderful production full of a lovely cast and crew. 'I'm really looking forward to introducing Joel to EastEnders viewers and telling his story.' It comes as EastEnders favourite Nicholas Bailey will make a shock return as Dr. Anthony Trueman to the soap, more than a decade since he was last seen in Walford. The character – son of Patrick Trueman (played by Rudolph Walker) – will be back on screens in scenes to air in the summer. Anthony first arrived on the Square in 2000 and quickly made waves, thanks in part to a steamy romance with Kat Slater (played by Jessie Wallace). Now, 11 years on from his last stint, the GP is set for a dramatic reunion with his dad this summer as Patrick and Yolande prepare to tie the knot. Anthony last appeared in EastEnders in 2014 when he rushed to his father's side when Patrick suffered a stroke. Since then, he has led a life away from Walford but in upcoming scenes viewers will see he is invited to his father's impending nuptials and decides to return for the occasion. In a post on the official Eastenders Instagram account, the long running soap teased the visit to Walford comes at a significant moment for Patrick, which means Anthony stays longer than he originally intended. In a statement, executive producer Ben Wadey said: 'It's great to welcome Nicholas back to the EastEnders family to reunite Patrick with his son. 'But Anthony's plan for a brief return to surprise his father ends up with him staying longer than he expected when he uncovers what has been going on in the Trueman household.' Nicholas who will reprise the iconic role added: 'It is an unexpected treat to return to EastEnders and I'm full of gratitude to get the opportunity to revisit the character of Anthony. 'It's wonderful to work with Rudolph Walker again - he's such a big part of my journey as an actor and I loved filming my first scenes with him after so long.
