Latest news with #MelGreig
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Former 2Day FM host Mel Greig breaks years-long silence on royal prank as former co-host sues network
Former 2Day FM radio host Mel Greig has broken her years-long silence over the infamous royal prank to show her support for former co-host Michael Christian. Greig and Christian were hosting the Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) breakfast program back in 2012 when a hoax call they made to a London hospital, while impersonating the then-Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth, ended in tragedy when nurse Jacintha Saldanha took her own life days later. This week, Christian launched legal action against SCA, claiming the duo were ordered by the 2Day FM production team to make the hoax call. But when they copped widespread backlash over the prank, he claims the network let them be the 'fall guys'. 'I understand why Michael is choosing to go down this path,' Greig wrote in a statement shared on Instagram overnight. '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.' Greig also thanked her followers for showering her with love as this tragic incident returns to the spotlight. 'Thank you for the beautiful messages of support and checking in,' she wrote in a follow-up post. 'Today has absolutely knocked me around. I'll take tomorrow to focus on self care.' 'For those that think this was a two day media story. No. 12yrs later here we are.' It was indeed 12 years ago that Greig and Christian made the phone call to King Edward VII hospital to inquire about Princess Catherine – then the Duchess of Cambridge – who had been admitted for severe morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George. The duo were tasked with getting detailed information about the Duchess from the nurses and they were successful when their call was transferred by nurse Saldanha to the Duchess's nurse, who then shared private medical information on air. Saldanha sadly took her life days after the prank call, and both Christian and Greig copped widespread backlash over her death. Christian is now suing 2Day FM broadcaster SCA in the federal court, claiming the broadcaster did not 'step in' but rather let himself and Greig take the blame, which he alleges negatively impacting their careers. '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 in the court documents. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and noncompliance.' Christian – who was just two days into the job at the time – claimed the company had promised to provide support to the 'shock jocks' if the prank ever went too far. He says the broadcaster told him in 2013 that they would help restore his reputation and rebuild his career, and he felt let down when SCA did not keep their word. '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,' an SCA spokesperson told on Tuesday when the lawsuit came to light. In 2013, Greig filed a similar claim against SCA with Fair Work Australia, accusing them of failing to maintain a safe workplace. The case was 'amicably resolved' and Greig later resigned from the network. As for Christian, he stayed on with the network until he was made redundant in February this year.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- 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
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Former 2Day FM radio host sues Southern Cross Austereo over infamous royal prank
An Australian radio personality at the centre of the 2012 royal prank that ended in tragedy has launched legal action against Southern Cross Austereo (SCA). Michael Christian was presenting on 2Day FM at the time with co-host Mel Greig when they made the phone call to a London hospital to inquire about Princess Catherine – then the Duchess of Cambridge – who was admitted for severe morning sickness ahead of the birth of her and Prince William's first child, Prince George. Christian alleges he was ordered by the 2Day FM production team to make the hoax call to King Edward VII hospital while impersonating the then-Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth to try to get detailed information about the duchess. Their call was transferred by a nurse named Jacintha Saldanha to the duchess' nurse, who then shared the royal's private medical information on air. Saldanha sadly took her life days after the prank call, and both Christian and Greig copped widespread backlash over the prank. Now, more than a decade after the infamous incident, Christian is suing 2Day FM broadcaster SCA in the federal court, claiming the network let the hosts be the 'fall guys', which negatively impacted their careers. '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 in the court documents. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and noncompliance.' Christian – who was just two days into the job at the time – claimed the company had promised to provide support to the 'shock jocks' if the prank ever went too far. He says the broadcaster told him in 2013 that they would help restore his reputation and rebuild his career, and he felt let down when SCA did not keep their word. '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,' an SCA spokesperson told on Tuesday morning. After the backlash, Christian and Greig appeared on a series on TV interviews on which they said they were 'gutted, shattered and heartbroken'. 'I'm very sorry and saddened for the family, and I can't imagine what they've been going through,' Greig said on Today Tonight at the time. 'For the part we played, we're incredibly sorry,' Christian added. In the new court docs, Christian alleges he suffered physical and psychological injury, hurt, humiliation and distress and is seeking penalties, compensation for economic loss and damages. In 2013, Greig filed a similar claim against SCA with Fair Work Australia, accusing them of failing to maintain a safe workplace. The case was 'amicably resolved' and Greig later resigned from the network. As for Christian, he stayed on with the network until he was made redundant in February this year.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie shock jock turns on his bosses and sues radio network after 'royal prank' call to a UK hospital led to nurse's suicide
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. Mike Christian and Mel Greig were presenting on 2Day FM on December 4, 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. 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. 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 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
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Australian royal prank DJs claim their bosses MADE them phone the Princess of Wales's hospital and impersonate the late Queen before nurse's suicide
The Australian 'shock jock' behind a prank call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated, which led to the suicide of a nurse, claims he was pressurized into making the call by bosses. Michael Christian and 2Day FM radio co-host Mel Greig made headlines around the world on December 4, 2012 when they duped staff at King Edward VII's Hospital in London, The Telegraph reported. The duo convinved nurse Jacintha Saldanha that they were the late Queen and the then-Prince Charles checking in on the Princess of Wales, who at the time was being treated for severe morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George. Falling for their deception, Ms Saldanha disclosed some of the Princess' private medical information before transferring the call through to the ward. Humiliated by the telephone prank, the nurse - a mother to two children - later took her own life. In one of three apparent suicide notes, Ms Saldanha wrote a short letter in which she expressed her deep anger at the Australian radio presenters and blamed them for her tragic death. The nurse's death led to a huge backlash against the show and brodcaster, with its two presenters forced into hiding after receiving death threats. In a lawsuit against the station's broadcaster, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), Mr Christian alleges that he was ordered to make the call by the production team only days after starting in the role. He said that the hoax call breached the Australian Communications and Media Authority code of practice and he should never have been asked to do it. Mr Christian also said that he was given insufficient support in the wake of Ms Saldanha's suicide. He claims that the company promised to provide support in the event that any of the antics on the show overstepped the boundaries. Mr Christian, who lost his job in February, accuses the organisation of turning him and Ms Greig into 'convenient fall guys and scapegoats'. Mr Christian's lawyers wrote: '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. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance.' Mr Christian claims that the incident severely damaged his reputation and earnings potential. He also claims that he was discouraged from pursing legal action against SCA at the time because they promised that they would help him rebuilding his reputation and career. Among Mr Christian's greivences are that SCA filed to provide sufficient mental health support or start a PR campaign to clear his name. He also claims that he was not offered promotions or pay rises to reward his loyalty for sticking with the company, and instead was slowly phased-out. 'When we thought about making a call it was going to go for 30 seconds, we were going to be hung up on, and that was it. As innocent as that,' Mr Christian told Channel Nine's A Current Affair programme less than a week after the prank broke. Describing him and his co-host as 'shattered, gutted, heartbroken', he said 'no-one could've imagined this to happen.' 'The accents were terrible. You know it was designed to be stupid. We were never meant to get that far from the little corgis barking in the background - we obviously wanted it to be a joke,' Ms Greig added. 'There's nothing that can make me feel worse than what I feel right now. And for what I feel for the family. We're so sorry that this has happened to them.' Speaking in 2014, Ms Greig revealed that her mother had received death threats, while the 2DayFM presenter herself battled depression. 'I felt like a failure as a human being,' Ms Greig said in a tearful interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night. 'I am ashamed of myself. I should have tried harder to not let that prank call air.' At the time of Ms Saldanha's death, the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were 'deeply saddened' by her passing. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit for details
