Radio hosts suspended over polygraph stunt

3 Aug 2009, 6:48 am   -   Source: AAP/SBS
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The Kyle and Jackie O show has been pulled off air after controversial co-host Kyle said he was unable to work

The Kyle and Jackie O show has been pulled off air after controversial co-host Kyle said he was unable to work

Controversial radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O have been taken off air indefinitely in the wake of a lie detector stunt.

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Controversial radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O have been taken off air in the wake of a lie detector stunt in which a 14-year-old girl was forced to admit she had been raped.

The pair's 2Day FM breakfast program will not go to air on Monday, amid calls for them to be sacked by station owners Austereo.
 
The row began last Wednesday when a teenager was strapped to a polygraph machine and asked about her sexual history - live on air.

When her mother asked if she was sexually active the girl replied: "I've already told you the story about this... and don't look at me and smile because it's not funny."

After the distressed teenager revealed she has been raped as a 12-year-old, radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands responded by saying: "Right, is that the only experience you've had?" before the interview was brought to an end.

Austereo has not announced a replacement for the high-profile broadcasters.

In a statement issued late on Sunday, Austereo Sydney general manager Jenny Parkes said: "Kyle Sandilands' management has advised Austereo that he is unable to perform his duties on-air at this time.

"Following a great deal of consideration... Austereo has formed the view that it is in the interest of all parties, for the Kyle and Jackie O Show to go into recess until we have completed an across-the-networks review of the principals (sic) and protocols of our interaction with our audience. This review commenced last Wednesday."

There would be no further comment from Austereo, the statement said.

Sandilands and Jackie O apologised on air on Thursday for the stunt, claiming they had not been told the girl had been raped and denying suggestions the interview was a set-up.

Police are investigating the rape claim and officers from the Department of Community Services (DoCS) have met with the family involved.

 

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Your Comments

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s. - from vic, 3 years ago

The rape is just on top of what would have already been a disgusting and unacceptable violation of this child's rights.
It is NOT alright for these middle-aged pathetic attention-seeking sub-humans to ask a 14 year old child about sex, especially not in public.
And what's worse, that idiot would have kept going if it wasn't for Jackie O.

Sack Sandilands

Lowell Tarling - from Katoomba, 3 years ago

Quite apart from this new allegation, I have found Sandilands to be a charmless on-air bully, the kind of person who should never have been given a microphone in the first place!

Mr.

Michael - from ACT, 3 years ago

I think the most appalling fact that occurred is that Sanders compared rape to other sexual experiences.

The Real Concern Part Two

Em - from Sydney, 3 years ago

The real concern is that this girl seems to have been exploited on two fronts: firstly, that she was publicly submitted to this 'lie detector' involuntarily, and secondly, that it was done so with the specific aim of exposing her sexually.
Whilst this may have been a terrible accident, it was an accident that was allowed to occur.
Australia is often criticized for it's 'wowser' conservative nature, but this case is evidence that there are disadvantaged groups in society to whom we owe protection.

The Real Concern Part One

Em - from Sydney, 3 years ago

In the past Kevin Rudd has been critical on the role of minors and adolescents in the public eye, particularly with regard to their perceived sexualization and/or exploitation.
The two incidents that come to mind are the Bill Henson controversy in late 2008 and The Chaser 'Make a Wish Foundation' skit more recently.
As is my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, the children and adolescents who participated in both instances did so voluntarily either by modeling or acting.

Good riddance

Fiona - from London, 3 years ago

The two of them have peen peddling the most lewd, crude and ridiculous lowbrow crap for years - don't let the door hit you on the way out!!
And to think I used to love Jackie O when she presented with Ugly Phil on Fox back in the late 90's... The Sandilands jerk really has made her just another moron with the personality of a wardrobe.

The rape is not necessarily the issue.

Rob J - from Lara, 3 years ago

What bothers me about this is that, up until the revelation that she was raped, these people thought this was a good idea.
In fact, I suspect that if the girl hadn't said anything then this show would still be on the air, and there would be no controversy.
These people essentially forced this girl to reveal her sexual history over a public broadcast.T
hat should be cause enough to get these people taken off air.
The girl had made it very clear she wanted no part in it, but they still persisted.

Also...

Lae Ming - from Wollongong, 3 years ago

Good to see polygraphs et al where they belong - dodgy second-rate entertainment stunts.
The things were banned from the legal scene in developed countries over a decade ago when they were found to be as reliable as a sink/float test of witchcraft.

Pretty awrful :-(

Lae Ming - from Wollongong, 3 years ago

I can forgive the host's reaction as it sounds like exactly what would happen when so shocked that the brain has gone into autopilot and flipped mindlessly on to the next prepared comment/question before the information has been assimilated.
I can't forgive the mother who a) apparently had the daughter tell her of this years ago and chose not to believe it, and b) went on to put her own child in such a position having prior knowledge of what was likely to be said.
Betrayal of trust x2.

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