Alan Jones Has Apologised For Using The N-Word, But, Nah
The radio host is facing calls to resign over the remark.
Conservative radio host Alan Jones is facing a major backlash after using the n-word live on air.
Jones used the term “n****r in the woodpile” during his Thursday morning broadcast on radio station 2GB while talking about the current leadership turmoil in Canberra. He initially stood firm by his use of the offensive phrase and insisting he wouldn’t “yield to people who tell us certain words in the language are forbidden”. But he soon changed his tune, tweeting a half-hearted apology later that day before issuing a longer apology on the air on Friday morning.
“There has been a lot of media coverage about a phrase I used on air yesterday, and it clearly was not appropriate for the broadcast,” Jones said on Friday. “This is of course a live medium, and we all make mistakes, and the phrase was a mistake.”
Jones went on to say that the error was his alone, and that his team should not be blamed for failing to censor the remark before it went to air. Not that anyone was blaming them to begin with, but sure.
“When these things happen all you can do is apologise,” he added. “I have no difficulty doing that, I never have any difficulty doing that.”
Of course Jones’ apology, such as it is, would probably carry more weight if he hadn’t used the expression on the air on a number of other occasions. He’s used it to describe everyone from Malcolm Turnbull to Australia’s cricket selectors to National Foods. And sure, those were waaaaaay back in 2011 and 2012. But I’m pretty sure we’d all agreed by then that the n-word was offensive.
Alan Jones has a column in The Australian today. #NoConsequences
— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) August 23, 2018
Greens MP Adam Bandt has called on Jones to lose his job over the remark, tweeting that the broadcaster should resign or be sacked.
Other social media users have targeted companies that advertise during Jones’ show, asking that they withdraw their financial support.
@2GB873 Get @AlanJones off air. He’s a rabid racist. I will be contacting sponsors to lodge a complaint about their funding following his use of the “N” word on radio. #AlanJonesIsARacist
— Marcia Langton (@marcialangton) August 23, 2018
Hey @VirginAustralia – I’m a Velocity Gold member who flies with you an average of 50 times a year. If you continue advertising on @2GB873 and supporting Alan Jones & his disgusting “personality” I will be taking my business elsewhere.
Thanks @slpng_giants_oz for the heads-up.— Fun Fact: TWlTTER is the bad place (@TooMuchTuna) August 23, 2018
Hello @PeterKensington – will you continue advertising on @2GB873 after @AlanJones gratuitous use of a disgraceful racial pejorative? Jones has form for #dogwhistling #racism #bigotry & #HateSpeech – is that part of your brand too? @slpng_giants_oz #adshame #NotMyAustralia
— Rudy Terwilliger (@wolftickler2000) August 23, 2018
Sad to see the Royal College of Australian GPs on the advertiser list for Alan Jones’s radio show. @RACGP: after his deliberate use of the n-word, please stop funding this hatred.
— Kaz Cooke (@reallykazcooke) August 23, 2018
@bmwau Hi guys. Should I buy an X3 next week (my third new BMW) or do you wanna keep supporting Alan Jones? Your call.
— RabbiCashMoney (@RabbiCashMoney) August 23, 2018