As some of you may know the Fairfax press had a go at me over the weekend, an article I managed to read just before coming to air today.
(I was flat-strap with the family over the weekend, and wasn’t keen on spending my two days off poring over ill-informed, spiteful garbage.)
Now this was always coming. Bear in mind I’ve given considerable time on my show recently to criticise Fairfax writer David Marr over his undying support for photographer Bill Henson.
So a square up was likely. That’s the way they work.
Anyway they squared up on page 3? On me! They are kidding.
What pathetic news judgement. No wonder the paper’s on its knees.
However, the article related to the hounding I copped, from two pathetic undergraduates - a now unemployed pair - who spent three months using a murderer’s email identity, to get stuck into me.
Plus, using a Pacific Islander identity, an angry emailer who threatened me. Of course we didn’t know who was sending these emails at the time.
How anyone would be of the mindset to use the alias of triple murderer, Sef Gonzales, to send any email is beyond me.
I still don’t get the joke in that and that was a concern for us on the show, the management here, and my family.
As for these emails from a Pacific Islander who said, for my comments, I was ‘goin’ down’ - that was a threat which needed to be treated seriously, as we’ve done in similar circumstances before.
I don’t intend mucking around with any threat, for the sake mainly of my young family.
At the time we suspected these emails, and a few others, were coming from the same quarter and it was only when the Sef emailer made two specific references, to two physical aspects of my home, that my wife and I, plus two private investigators I know and the police, agreed it was time to ascertain the seriousness of the messages.
Pretty simple; it could be a prank, it could be harmless, or it could be serious. Pass on the emails and we can find out. Simple.
That’s what I did and the two idiots were identified, questioned, and sacked by their employers Media Monitors.
“It was just a joke”, they said. Fair enough, we determined that, and my family were put at ease. That’s all I care about.
But now to the article: these two creeps, decided to hand over selected emails to writer David Marr.
There was no mention of another email, which focused on two physical aspects of our home, specific items. But why let the facts get in the way of a good story?
This was part of the reason why, in concert with 2GB, we informed the police. This is what took the emails to a personal and threatening level.
May I say though, that if I received a threat this afternoon, with or without a murderer’s identity or references to our home, I would hand it over to the police anyway. Period. Without hesitation.
I’ll do whatever it takes to err on the side of caution to protect my family.
The article also makes some outrageously ignorant claims.
I allegedly didn’t ‘get’ the Gonzales reference. But anyone here who knew what was going on, and there were at least six, knew who Gonzales was.
I’ve reported on his case about a dozen times and the email identity was of concern.
The article also makes mention of my hypocrisy over a photo of my kids on my personal website, which has them in a bath, suds to the shoulders, smiling like kids do in family photos.
And they thought it hypocritical that I criticise Henson’s photos. Spare me.
There’s a massive difference between my photo, and darkened shots of naked pubescent girls. I don’t think I need to explain that.
They also cited the fact, that I used a profanity to describe their messages. I don’t take back that description.
And I don’t take back the fact, that I wanted to ‘smack them in the mouth’. I certainly did, for the angst we felt, especially my wife.
And the sub-editors on the paper had the hide to head the story: SHOCK JOCK DUPED!
Duped? Yes, it turned out it was not a serious threat. I was cautious, maybe over-cautious. I’m very happy to accept that one.
But duped? Gee, what a good duping: threaten someone, mentioned aspects of their home, use a murderer’s identity, and laugh it off as just a great joke.
Well, comedy is a very weird thing then. But I’m glad it was a joke.
And I’m very glad, to have acted the way we did, with terrific support from management here, I might add.
But duped?
Hey you blokes at Fairfax, hey you two numbskulls in particular.
I’m not getting hassled or hilariously threatened by you two twits anymore, while you got sacked. So who got duped?
I know the answer to that one.
Bugger off.
Macquarie Radio Network owns LIVENEWS.com.au and 2GB