Kyle Sandilands apologises for Virgin Mary comments: ‘Am I going to quit? No. Am I going to get fired? No. Am I sorry? Absolutely’
Kiis FM’s Kyle Sandilands has apologised on air for his comments about the Virgin Mary which led to protests outside the Australian Radio Network (ARN) studios in Sydney and death threats against the shock jock.
Opening his breakfast radio show with Jackie ‘O’ Henderson this morning, Sandilands said he hadn’t meant to cause offence with his comments, and that at the time he was just trying to make people laugh.
Sandilands and Henderson invited Christians and Muslims to call in to their radio show this morning and discuss their concerns over the controversial Virgin Mary comments
The comments were made on September 18, the week prior to the duo going on a ratings break, and involved Sandilands accusing the Virgin Mary of being a “liar” who was “chock-a-blocked” behind a camel shed and calling the Bible “dumb as dogshit”.
In this morning’s apology, Sandilands said his mobile number had been leaked since the incident and he had fielded hundreds of calls from fans of the show, but also from angry listeners demanding apologies and threatening his life. Across the weekend it was reported that Sandilands had ‘fled’ to LA to escape the threats. Sandilands, however, denied fleeing, saying he had always planned to spend this week in his LA studio.
Sandilands said he now realises the extent of the damage done.
“Truly from the bottom of my heart, never do I want to make someone so angry that they don’t want to listen to the show, neither do I want them to be so enraged that they are threatening to kill people over something I’ve said,” he said.
“I believe everyone has their right to their own opinion,” Sandilands said this morning.
“I never intended to purposely upset anyone. Obviously I have upset people, and I am sorry for it. There’s nothing else I can do.
“Am I going to quit? No. Am I going to get fired? No. Am I sorry? Absolutely I’m sorry.”
Sandilands said the joke wasn’t planned and that it was just something he said in the moment without realising the gravity of it.
“It was a joke and it was a hugely bad decision… I [now] get upset by the fact that ‘wow’, I really caused a lot of grief to a lot of people… I never meant to offend anyone.”
Sandilands added that contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t set out to “piss people off” – “I just agitate people naturally”.
Henderson also apologised during the segment for laughing along with Sandilands, and said it is never the intention of the duo to upset people. During the segment, the show took calls from listeners who said the pair need to be more careful in future with their jokes.
“I’m sorry if I offended anyone with my comments. Everyone is entitled to their own religious beliefs and I’m fully supportive of that right,” said Sandilands.
An ARN spokesperson said the company also apologises for the comments and the fact they were distributed.
“We echo Kyle’s statement and unreservedly apologise for any offence that may have been caused. When this content ran, we immediately recognised that it wasn’t appropriate for distribution and it was removed immediately,” said the spokesperson.
Sandilands has a long and storied past with on-air controversy. In 2018, he labelled 2GB host Ray Hadley and youth publisher Pedestrian TV ‘pieces of shit’ after Kiis FM’s Peter Deppeler, or ‘Intern Pete’ drew ire from Hadley and PTV over his question at Steve Smith’s ball-tampering press conference.
2013 saw a leaked recording from the 2Day FM Christmas party including both Henderson and Sandilands abusing staff and demanding errands be run. The audio came after the duo left the station for Kiis FM, with Henderson recently saying the entire move was orchestrated by Sandilands.
In 2011, Sandilands threatened to hunt down News Corp journalist Alison Stephenson for her negative comments about he and Henderson’s TV program Kyle and Jackie O’s Night With The Stars. He also called Stephenson a “fat slag” and branded her a “piece of shit”.
A 2009 segment in which a 14-year-old girl who was attached to a lie detector said she had been raped, to which Sandilands asked her if that had been her only sexual experience, led to calls the pair be axed and that 2Day FM lose its licence. Sandilands was also suspended that same year for comments about Magda Szubanski, including suggesting she go to a concentration camp to lose weight.
In 2016, the pair signed another five-year agreement with Kiis FM. Sandilands’ TV show Trial By Kyle is still due to air on Ten this year.
One would think that after all of his years of experience & controversy, this [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] would learn what is & isn’t funny or appropriate. What a moron…
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Sack him NOW.
Can u imaging the outcry if it has been said about a Koran persona.
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If he’d labelled LGBT people “dumb as dog****” like he did Christians, Muslims and anyone else who believes in the Bible, he’d be sacked. Guess all our talk of inclusivity can’t hide the fact that some groups of people are fair game and others aren’t.
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So where are all the vigilantes who rode the range over the Alan Jones-Ardern incident?
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how about we all just accept his apology and move right along?
it wasn’t a great thing to say but it’s happened and it’s gone. listen to his show if you want to and don’t if you don’t
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QUESTION FOR Hmm:
Do you really believe, in your heart of hearts, that baby Jesus was born as the result of an immaculate conception and not through the same method that every other child and animal on Earth was born?
NB: this is not an attack on you, I am just curious if religious types REALLY believe that that is what happened
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He might have planned the LA trip but a shame he didn’t share it with the team at ARN left scrambling to find him a studio in time
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Fuck Kyle! I love you bro, I’m a big fan, but as a Christian, I’m greatly offended! Seriosuly mate, have a good reflection.
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As much as you and others like to turn every possible opportunity into a game of right wing sympathy, I’m pretty sure on this one, most people on all sides think it was a ridiculous comment that many people would not get away with.
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I must’ve missed the bit where Kyle incited violence against a living woman. That would be equivalent. This is confected outrage feeding this sociopath’s ratings.
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Call it crazy, call it faith, but yes, that’s what I believe. That’s why it’s a miracle, because it’s separate from the same method of every other creature.
I can’t speak for all believers, but I can say a lot of us genuinely believe in the miracles of the Bible. I can’t explain them, and that makes glad, because I wouldn’t want to follow a God who I can fully understand, else it’s not faith.
Sorry, didn’t mean to make this a religious debate or anything. I just think it’s unfair for my way of life to be freely targeted, while others have theirs protected.
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Israel Folou, when he apologized for insulting people and stated he didn’t mean to offend anyone, but rather draw them closer to his religious savior, has had people calling for his blood due to his comments telling a group of people that they’re going to a place they don’t believe in.
Let’s call a spade a spade here, Christians are mocked and LGBT are protected, but we all say we’re fighting for equality.
Accept his apology and move on? not when it’s symptomatic of a culture that’s still ripe with bigotry, all in the name of equality.
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Thanks for the reply Hmm.
While I don’t believe in any religion or the supposed miracles — and think the idea of heaven and hell is nonsense — I fully agree with you that Christians can be targeted with all sorts of insulting / denigrating hate speech with seeming immunity whereas if anyone targets LGBTI / Muslims / Women with the same language they get crucified (no pun intended!).
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What i’m thinking too, just curious
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I wouldn’t have fired Folau either. If you’re happy to fire Kyle then you have to accept Folau’s firing.
Aren’t you supposed to ‘turn the other cheek’?
Both ‘sides’ need to calm the fuck down and just get on with their lives and stop getting so offended by everything
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Saying the F Word is not very Christian of you, Andrew!
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Kyle Sandiland’s comments reflect an attitude many quietly hold about Christians and the Bible. However, it would seem to be an ignorant and rash response to what Christians believe. It may be time for him and thise who condemn our beliefs to consider the evidence of the Bible more seriously. Journalist Lee Strobel has written “the Case for Christ” and “The Case for the Real Jesus” with scholarly analysis of the objections with which many struggle..It is worth the challenge to consider these books and their commentary on the Bible before you condemn it as false or fanciful.
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I’m saying Kyle shouldn’t be fired for speaking his mind, and neither should have Folou. I’m glad we can agree on that.
I think though, their opinions are on equal footing, so I was pointing out that the majority of people approved of Folou’s firing, but are arguing the case that what Kyle said is fine.
I agree in forgiveness and turning the other cheek, but I’m still allowed to express my opinion. I also agree that people need to stop being so offended. We as a culture have seemingly lost the ability to disagree with a person’s opinion without apparently hating that person.
I can think you’re opinion is wrong, terrible, or whatever, but that doesn’t mean I think you as a person are those characteristics.
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I can totally understand not believing it. I’d struggle to come up with anyone, believer or otherwise who hasn’t found it difficult to believe that!
I just wish everyone would either take a stance that
a. Everyone is fair game to disagree with everyone, and we’re all gonna agree to not be offended when someone disagrees with us/says something contrary to our way of life;
or,
b. Agree that everyone should respect everyone’s way of life and not treat any opinion as more/less valid (while still being able to civilly discuss differences);
Instead of this halfway stance we’re currently at, where it’s totally fine to hate on some people for their beliefs, but you’re a horrible person if you disagree with others.
I love what makes each person unique and different. I just wish we didn’t hate on each other so much for those differences.
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My thoughts exactly! I feel like the only person in the world who didn’t find his comment offensive at all- in fact, for the first time, I found myself agreeing with Kyle
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Bile and Tacky O at it again….yawn….
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The first bible , named the Sinai Bible (because it was found in a monastery at Mt Sinai,) makes no mention of Joseph , Mary and the immaculate
conception.. ( this bible is now held at British Museum ,)
All later bibles are Versions written to suit the requirements of different groups at a particular time.
. eg today we have the King Jsmes VERSION.
So, if there was no Virgin Mary in reality and it is just a folk tale to serve a particular purpose, and added after the original version, a very long time ago, no harm has been done !!!
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He needs to stop lying to cover up for the fact that everything he says is to create more controversy and money for himself. Didn’t finish year 10, I have photos of him in year 11.
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