TV favourite and ardent feminist Lisa Wilkinson has lashed out after audio emerged last night of Sydney shock jock Alan Jones urging Prime Minister Scott Morrison to give New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern ‘a few backhanders’.
LISTEN: The shock audio that horrified Lisa Wilkinson
The tirade occurred the same day, August 15, when Jones infamously told ScoMo to ‘shove a sock down [Ardern’s] throat’, but the tape has only now emerged to wider public notice after it was aired last night on the ABC’s Media Watch, and then disseminated through social media.
The previously overlooked ‘backhander’ comments from his radio show were a secret that Jones was no doubt hoping wouldn’t emerge to wider prominence after his later comments sparked a huge furore that now threatens his radio career.
‘This lightweight New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern is challenging Scott Morrison over climate change,’ Jones is heard ranting on the tape from his show.
‘Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders … hasn’t got a clue this woman.’
The term backhander refers to hitting someone with the back of the hand and is perceived by some as being a gendered threat – with this particular act sometimes associated with men hitting women.
TV star Lisa Wilkinson was incensed by Jones comments, posting twice on Twitter, noting, ‘Backhanders? Really not sure how you “misinterpret” that…’
The star was referring to Jones’ prior defence of his sock comment, when he claimed he was being ‘wilfully misinterpreted’ – insisting he had meant to say she should ‘put a sock in it’.
‘She’s a clown, Jacinda Ardern; a complete clown,’ Jones raved. ‘I just wonder whether Scott Morrison is going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat.’
Jones has since been publicly told by radio executives that he will be fired if he makes similar comments again. His show is currently the subject of an advertiser boycott.
Insiders say that Lisa is particularly concerned about women’s issues and ‘something like this was always going to fire her up.’
‘Lisa has no time for men who disrespect women,’ adds the source. ‘She is really horrified by these comments.’
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