Ben Fordham slams trolls attacking Deb Knight for being a working mum

Radio host Ben Fordham has slammed mummy trolls attacking Deb Knight for being a working mum. The Today Show host has been left exhausted by online trolls who are calling her a bad mum for working so much.

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Ben Fordham has slammed keyboard warriors attacking Deb Knight for being a working mum.

Knight, who is a host on The Today Show, a presenter on Nine News and sometimes radio presenter on 2GB, has found herself the target of trolls online who are calling her a bad mum for working so much.

Today host Deb Knight has three children.

Working mum: Deb Knight. Picture: Dylan Robinson

On his Tuesday afternoon show Fordham explained what happened when he found Knight upset at the 2GB studios.

“I tend to stick my head in during an ad break and say hello. And I did so yesterday and Deb was looking at a phone and she looked up when I walked in and I don’t know what it was, she just had a bit of a look on her face when I walked in and I could sense something was going on so I said to Deb what’s happening?

“She said with utmost calm, just dealing with trolls. And the thing that they were trolling Deb about really knocked my socks off because it’s exposed a double standard when it comes to people working hard who also happen to have children. So Deb explained to me that she was being trolled by people on social media for working too hard.”

Today host Deb Knight has been branded a bad mother.

Knight has three children, Darcy, Elsa and Audrey with her husband of 20 years Lindsay Dunbar.

Sources say Knight is exhausted by the constant criticism and 2GB and Ninja Warrior host Fordham says it is blatant discrimination.

“What we’re talking about here is anonymous keyboard bullies hounding a hardworking mum who is doing everything she can to build a future for her children,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“I’ve worked four jobs at once and nobody has ever accused me of neglecting my children.

“There’s a discriminatory double standard going on here: dads who work hard are given a pat on the back while mums seem to cop a raised eyebrow.

“There is a clear and dodgy double standard.”

Fordham made the comparison of male media figures such as Eddie Maguire and David Koch, who both wear multiple hats yet do not face disparaging public opinion, which he believed is because they are male.

Koch is a host on Channel 7’s Sunrise, a columnist and speaker, a financial journalist and the Port Adelaide Football Club chairman but he has not been accused of neglecting his children.

To the contrary, he was awarded Father of the Year in 2007.

Fordham said the internet trolls don’t know Knight and need to stop forcing dated standards on women.

Radio presenter, Ben Fordham defended Knight. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

“Deb is a spectacular mother, a top journalist and there’s no reason she can’t be both at the same time,” he said.

“The trolls need to get a life. If they worked as hard as Deb they wouldn’t have as much time to be gutless keyboard cowards.

He continued, “Deb, who’s doing everything she can to build a future for her children and it’s set a good example as well about the importance of hard work.

“Consider the effect you’re having on a great mum who is fully committed to her kids. “Anyone who knows Deb knows that. You don’t know Deb like you think you might.

“You might see her some days for four and a half hours on the TV but there’s another 19 and a half that you can’t see.”