Australian royal prank radio station chief under fire over 's*** happens' comment
Tragic prank call played down by chairman Max Moore-Wilton
The head of an Australian radio station at the centre of a tragic prank call targeting Prince William’s then pregnant wife Catherine defended himself on Wednesday after describing the incident as “s*** happens”.
The call to a London hospital last year by two DJs from Sydney broadcaster 2Day FM pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and William’s father Prince Charles led to a nurse’s suicide after the story went global.
Indian-born Jacintha Saldanha put them through to the ward where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for severe morning sickness. Saldanha hanged herself several days later.
At a meeting Tuesday of shareholders of Southern Cross Media, which owns the radio station, chairman Max Moore-Wilton played down the incident, which saw advertising suspended and the DJs being taken off air.
I’m not here to be censored for my use of a word which is common in everyday parlance in Australia
“These incidents were unfortunate, no doubt about that,” he reportedly said when asked if there was a cultural problem at the station responsible for the prank and other incidents.