Triple M apologises for Marty Sheargold’s sexist on-air comments
Triple M has been forced to apologise for a series of sexist remarks made by Marty Sheargold about the Australian women’s soccer team.
On Sheargold’s show on Monday, the Triple M personality said he would “rather hammer a nail through the head of [his] penis” than watch the Matildas play in the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup, during a news bulletin with co-hosts Troy Ellis and Will Ralston.
The comments attracted widespread criticism, including from the Federal Sports Minister and Football Australia.
The Matildas are currently in the US, playing in the SheBelieves Cup, whose name takes inspiration from the SheBelieves movement, in which young women are encouraged to achieve their dreams. Sheargold expressed his disappointment in the team, who are yet to win a game, as well as the tournament’s name, with a number of offensive comments.
“You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,” he said, sparking laughter from his co-hosts. “Now I’m sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that’s what I think of it so you can stick it up your arse.”
On the SheBelieves Cup name, he yelled: “Oh she believes in what? It better be men.”
He then dismissed the conversation, asking his co-hosts, “got any men’s sports?”
A clip of his comments has been going viral on social media, and has led to widespread backlash and criticism, including from Football Australia and interim Matildas coach, Tom Sermanni.
Football Australia said it is “deeply disappointed” in the “unacceptable” comments he made.
“Such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team, but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society,” the sporting body said.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the responsibility media outlets and personalities have in fostering respectful and constructive discussions about women’s sport and its participants. Every comment, every report, and every discussion shape public perception and reinforces our society’s values toward women and girls in sport.”
The Matildas’ interim coach, Tom Sermanni, described the comments as “completely unnecessary and generally outrageous”, adding: “For me, it’s not so much about sexism and misogyny, in a sense – although that’s unacceptable, let me make that clear. It’s kind of what the comments were.
“Our team is obviously a very high-profile team and being a very high-profile team you do take criticism, and you do create criticism sometimes very near the edge. But sometimes that just goes over the edge, and those comments did that,” he said.
The comments even made it onto the desk of Australia’s Federal Sports Minister, Anika Wells, who said they were “boorish, boring, wrong”.
She reminded Australians that some of the country’s most watched sporting moments come from women: “Australia’s most watched television event ever was the Matilda’s World Cup semi-final. The Tillies’ quarter-final is the second most watched event in Australian history, while Ash Barty’s Australian Open win and Cathy Freeman’s Sydney gold are in our top five, too.”
On Wednesday, Triple M uploaded a post to its social media channels, apologising for Sheargold’s behaviour.
“Marty Sheargold’s comments regarding the Matildas made on Triple M Drive on Monday 24th February do not align with Triple M’s views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women’s and men’s sports,” the statement reads.
“We sincerely apologise for any offence of distress caused.”
In the same social post, Sheargold was also forced to apologise, writing: “Any comedy including mine can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence at my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise.”
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Lauren McNamara is the associate editor at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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i think its only fair that his punishment is to hammer a nail through the head of [his] penis
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Really Triple M…an apology and this appalling behaviour becomes ok. He has called it comedy, where does he think there is any humour in these statements. This sexiest, disrespectful and offensive commentary has no place in our media. He should not be allowed to continue in this or any other public role!
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What a moron! At least he didn’t suggest that team should be drowned in Port Phillip. AFL is still trying to live down the on-air suggestion by two Club Presidents +1 that a senior female sports journalist be ‘drowned’ for daring to suggest that one of them (Eddie McGuire, then Collingwood President) having served for 20 years may have been past his ‘use by date’. We have long memories. Doesn’t this current idiot realize that his comments are, in effect, a notice of resignation from HIS job.
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