Joe Hildebrand: Doran’s apology due but celebs’ attitudes also in a sorry state

It’s a bit rich for multi-millionaire celebrities to lash out at the media that fuels their stardom, writes Joe Hildebrand.

If TV Week had any heart it would introduce a Logie for “Best On-Air Apology” and give it straight to Matt Doran.

The art of the apology is a skill that comes to all TV hosts eventually, albeit one that they acquire very reluctantly — believe me, I know.

In the early days of Studio 10 my work wife Sarah Harris suggested I write a book called “My Year of Saying Sorry”. I’m still thinking about it.

And so when Doran issued a tearful on-air apology for failing to listen to Adele’s new album — and just digest the gravity of those words if you will — every broadcaster in the land would have felt for the guy, while of course thanking every deity from Allah to Zoroaster that it was him and not them.

British singer-songwriter Adele had a right to be a tad miffed with a journalist who did not listen to her new album, 30, before their interview. Picture: Simon Emmett

Weekend Sunrise host Matt Doran and his crew in London ahead of his interview with Adele. Picture: Instagram

Of course it was a massive SNAFU and Seven was right to be furious at the poor bloke, but let us just return to the words at the top of that last paragraph: “a tearful on-air apology for failing to listen to Adele’s new album”.

Nobody got hurt, nobody got abused, nobody died.

Or rather, to be more accurate, the only person who got abused was Doran and the only thing that came close to death was his career.

Still, on the plus side, at least he didn’t have to listen to Adele’s new album.

Now I can certainly understand that Adele would be a tad miffed about that but I have to say I am also getting a tad miffed about multi-millionaire celebrities lashing out at the media that fuels their stardom.

From Cate Blanchett shaming a cameraman for daring to film her dress on a red carpet to Harry and Meghan’s never-ending catalogue of woe, there is something rather unbecoming about people unimaginably rich and powerful feigning victimhood while crushing those who fail to adequately please them.

Sure, Doran should have listened to the damn album but was his sin of omission really worth Sony and its star effectively deciding to destroy him?

Next time a celebrity lectures us poor plebs on what the important issues are in life, I’ll be sure to keep this sterling example front of mind.

Joe Hildebrand is on 2GB Nights with John Stanley on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8pm.