Latest news with #SouthernCrossAustereo
The Age
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Royal prankster ‘gagged' after nurse tragedy, court told
An ex-radio host at the centre of an infamous royal prank call that ended in tragedy has claimed his former employer sought to gag him from speaking out about the incident before sacking him in a redundancy process that was 'not genuine.' Michael Christian launched Federal Court proceedings last week against Southern Cross Austereo, including for alleged contraventions of the Fair Work Act and whistleblower protections, after his role was made redundant in February. He had been employed by the network for more than 20 years. Christian alleges he was directed by Austereo to participate in the disastrous hoax with his co-host, Mel Greig, on December 4, 2012, which marked his second day in his then new role as a presenter of the Hot 30 Countdown on Sydney's 2Day FM. During the stunt, the presenters impersonated the then Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth in a call to a London hospital where the then Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales, had been admitted for severe morning sickness. The call, aired hours later, unexpectedly resulted in the pair eliciting private medical information about the Duchess. The deception triggered international outrage after Jacintha Saldanha, one of the nurses who was tricked, died by suicide. The presenters' concerns about the prank and broadcasting the call were dismissed, Christian's lawyers say. They allege the network 'did not immediately take public accountability' after Saldanha's death but left the co-hosts 'exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats' as 'convenient fall guys and scapegoats'. Christian's role was terminated on February 28 this year on the grounds of a purported redundancy, his lawyers say in the court documents released on Wednesday.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Royal prankster ‘gagged' after nurse tragedy, court told
An ex-radio host at the centre of an infamous royal prank call that ended in tragedy has claimed his former employer sought to gag him from speaking out about the incident before sacking him in a redundancy process that was 'not genuine.' Michael Christian launched Federal Court proceedings last week against Southern Cross Austereo, including for alleged contraventions of the Fair Work Act and whistleblower protections, after his role was made redundant in February. He had been employed by the network for more than 20 years. Christian alleges he was directed by Austereo to participate in the disastrous hoax with his co-host, Mel Greig, on December 4, 2012, which marked his second day in his then new role as a presenter of the Hot 30 Countdown on Sydney's 2Day FM. During the stunt, the presenters impersonated the then Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth in a call to a London hospital where the then Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales, had been admitted for severe morning sickness. The call, aired hours later, unexpectedly resulted in the pair eliciting private medical information about the Duchess. The deception triggered international outrage after Jacintha Saldanha, one of the nurses who was tricked, died by suicide. The presenters' concerns about the prank and broadcasting the call were dismissed, Christian's lawyers say. They allege the network 'did not immediately take public accountability' after Saldanha's death but left the co-hosts 'exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats' as 'convenient fall guys and scapegoats'. Christian's role was terminated on February 28 this year on the grounds of a purported redundancy, his lawyers say in the court documents released on Wednesday.
7NEWS
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Australian radio host Michael Christian sues radio network over 2012 royal prank call that ended in tragedy
An Australian radio host at the centre of a tragic prank call is suing Southern Cross Austereo over his treatment in the aftermath of the incident. Michael Christian was presenting radio show 2Day FM with Mel Greig in December 2012 when they made an on-air phone call to King Edward VII Hospital in London. At the time of the call, the then-Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was in hospital being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum —severe morning sickness. Christian, who had only worked at 2Day FM for two days, alleges the radio show's production team had ordered him and Greig to impersonate King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II to get information about the Duchess' condition. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha answered the radio's call and, after falling for the hoax, transferred the radio hosts through to the Duchess' nurse. Saldanha was found dead five days later after taking her own life, leaving a note blaming the radio stunt and the hospital's handling of the situation for her death. Her tragic death led to widespread backlash against the radio hosts and broadcaster. Thirteen years after the incident, Christian has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming the broadcaster failed to provide support when the prank spiralled into a global scandal. According to court documents, Christian had been assured that Southern Cross Austereo would 'step in' if on-air content had crossed the line. His lawyers allege the company allowed him and co-host Greig to be 'left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment, and abuse, including death threats'. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance'. Christian has also said that the prank breached the Australian Communication and Media Authority code of practice. Court documents say the delay in legal action being pursued was due to the broadcaster promising Christian that they would restore his reputation and rebuild his career. Christian's lawyers state the firm failed in this promise by not providing meaningful health support, not starting a public relations campaign to rebuild his brand, and failed to offer any opportunities or pay rises to reward his loyalty to the company. The legal action follows Christian being made redundant by SCA in February, which he alleges was not genuine as 'SCA still requires (his) former role to be performed'. Michael Christian is seeking penalties, compensation for economic loss, and damages. Southern Cross Austereo has yet to respond to the lawsuit, which is awaiting a federal court date, but provided a short statement to media outlets regarding the case. 'As the matter is currently before the courts, and out of respect for the legal process and the privacy of those involved, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time,' a spokesperson for SCA said.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Co-host breaks her silence after shock jock sues radio network over 'royal prank' call that led to nurse's suicide
Radio host Mel Greig has spoken out on her former co-host Mike Christian's decision to take legal action over claims he was not supported by his employer in the fall-out of a prank that led to a 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
Sky News AU
08-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Royal prank radio host Michael Christian sues broadcaster SCA 13 years after hoax call to hospital led to nurse's suicide
A radio DJ who made a hoax call to a hospital caring for the Princess of Wales, which resulted in the suicide of a nurse, has blamed his bosses for the prank. Radio hosts Michael Christian and Mel Greig were presenting on Sydney's 2Day FM in December 2012 when they called the private King Edward VII hospital in London as part of a prank. Catherine was pregnant with her first child Prince George at the time, and being treated for severe morning sickness. The duo put on exaggerated British accents to impersonate Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and convinced nurse Jacintha Saldanha to transfer the call to Catherine's nurse. The second nurse spent about two minutes speaking to the radio hosts about Catherine's condition. Ms Saldanha later took her own life after the audio was broadcast by 2Day FM, which is owned by Southern Cross Austereo (SCA). The prank and Saldanha's suicide sparked international outrage, but SCA ultimately faced no legal action over the tragic incident. Mr Christian stayed on at the broadcaster but has now pursued legal action against SCA in Federal Court after being made redundant in February. According to court documents, Mr Christian's lawyers argue that SCA left their client and Ms Greig to face vitriol and harassment over the prank. '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,' Mr Christian's lawyers said in the documents. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance.' Mr Christian's lawyers claim their client did not pursue action earlier because the broadcaster had promised to help rehabilitate his reputation after the tragedy. Meanwhile, Ms Greig sued SCA for failure to provide a safe workplace, which was settled in December 2013. As part of the settlement, SCA made a public statement that Ms Greig was not responsible for the decision to air the hoax call and had even suggested that it be edited before broadcast. Ms Greig later told BBC Newsnight that Ms Saldanha's tragic death will stay with her for the rest of her life. 'I will always feel at fault to an extent, because I was in that prank call and I was mentioned in Jacintha's suicide note,' she said. 'She thought of me before she took her own life – how can you not feel guilty and blame?' If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
