An investigation by Australia’s communications watchdog has found comments made by Kyle Sandilands on KIIS’ Kyle & Jackie O radio show about the monkeypox virus breached decency rules
The investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) into the comments made last August found a segment discussing the monkeypox outbreak in Australia to be offensive to gay men and not in line with the commercial radio code of practice.
In the segment, Sandilands described the virus as “the big gay disease”, adding that “it’s only the gays getting it.”
“The ACMA found that the overall sentiment of the segment stereotyped gay men as irresponsible in regard to their sexual health, this made them the prime carriers of a virus that presented a danger to the community and, as a result, they were not deserving of sympathy or compassion,” the watchdog said.
In another section of the segment, Sandilands told newsreader Brooklyn Ross, his gay colleague, that “we’re not letting any gays near him (referring to Sandilands’ son)” and said “what’s wrong with you gays?” when Ross said he was unlikely to get the vaccine due to being in a committed relationship.
The segment, called Dr KIIS, is purported to be an opportunity for listeners to seek medical advice.
Despite this, Sandilands used the term “bloody dirty monkeypox victim” to ask the doctor whether he could deny services to patients with the virus.
In defence of the program, KIIS said the segment had public health and safety in mind and was not targeting the LGBTI+ community.
“While the segment may have contained some unfavourable descriptions of those susceptible to the virus, being homosexual males, the segment was intended to bring about awareness to the community of the public health risk surrounding the transmission of the monkeypox virus and the availability of a vaccine to prevent transmission against infection,” it said.
AMCA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the comments by Sandilands were derisive, insulting and breached decency standards.
“The segment went beyond any acceptable standards by conveying that gay men were irresponsible, were a risk to the community and did not deserve any sympathy even when presenting for medical assistance,” O’Loughlin said.
The 2022 outbreak of the virus resulted in more than 27,000 cases worldwide with over 100 confirmed cases in Australia and was declared a global health emergency in July 2022.
The World Health Organisation declared it was no longer an international emergency in May after a significant drop in cases.
Despite this, cases of monkeypox do still pop up. In NSW, an alert was issued on Friday about two new cases acquired overseas. Meanwhile, Victoria issued a separate alert on August 2 after two new locally acquired cases surfaced.
There have been more than 60 cases confirmed in NSW.
The ACMA did not punish Sandilands for breaching the rules.
Instead, it said it would incorporate the findings of the latest investigation into existing sensitivity training the radio host is undertaking due to past repeat offences.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: eliot.hastie@gaysydneynews.com.au
