Jase Hawkins slams Brendan Fevola’s comments about the radio landscape as ‘low ball’

Melbourne radio star Jase Hawkins has hit out at Brendan Fevola amid the footy great’s claim that he may lose his show to shock jocks Kyle and Jackie O.

Jase Hawkins has slammed Brendan Fevola’s mischievous comments about next year’s radio landscape. Picture: Supplied

Radio host Jase Hawkins has labelled Brendan Fevola’s mischievous comments about the radio landscape next year as a “grub move”.

Fevola dropped a bombshell claim on Monday morning that he heard Kyle and Jackie O would air in Melbourne from next year onwards.

The pair who dominate KIIS FM breakfast in Sydney would replace Hawkins and Lauren Phillips who have paired for Jase and Lauren in the morning for the past two years.

“I’ve got nothing against Fev, never met the guy, I guarantee I’ve said stupid stuff on the air as well, but let’s think before we speak,’’ Hawkins said on Tuesday morning.

“Pull your head in, it was a grub move and just low ball. I love this industry, let’s look out for each other in it. I just want to clear it up because it was spiralling out of hand and I felt so bad for our team and family members yesterday.”

Fevola claimed Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O would air in Melbourne from next year onwards. Picture: Supplied

Hawkins became emotional talking about the toll the comments had on family and producers.

“To go out and make a statement like that that, that Kyle and Jackie are coming to take over KIIS Melbourne means everyone here and our team are out of a job,’’ Hawkins said.

“I called Kyle yesterday straight after the show and I asked him straight and he confirmed to me no deal has been made.

“It’s not new news that he wants to take their show national, he’s been saying that for years and who knows what will happen in the future but at the moment no deal has been made.

“So what Fev has come out and said is just wrong.”

Fevola, the co-host of Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, said he’d received a phone call from someone who works in the radio industry in Sydney.

“He said, ‘You might have competition next year. Someone in our city is now gonna be in Melbourne,’” Fevola said. “Kyle and Jackie!”

Fevola insisted Kyle and Jackie O wouldn’t work as a breakfast show in Melbourne.

“That’s not the right DNA,” the former AFL star said. “That’s a Sydney show. Surely they’re not coming to Melbourne … What the hell?”

Co-host Fifi Box agreed: “You should be in Melbourne when you’re broadcasting to Melbourne.”

Brendan Fevola and Fifi Box both agreed Kyle and Jackie O wouldn’t work as a breakfast show in Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

Hawkins said Fevola’s comments brought about much anxiety and stress.

“The reason I’m upset, I’m a big boy, I’ve been doing this game for over 25 years, I know how this game works. But we’ve got a whole bunch of producers on this show who work their arse off for our team,’’ he said.

“Things are tough enough at the moment. They all start freaking out thinking they’ve lost their jobs yesterday … Our whole day yesterday was managing stress and anxiety.

“They go on about they love this city and they’re so Melbourne. I love this city, this city has been through enough the last couple of years, don’t be projecting more stress and anxiety on people unless you know what you’re talking about.”

Sandilands has made no secret of his desire to have The Kyle and Jackie O Show networked Australia-wide.

He and Jackie are two of the highest paid personalities in Australia, having re-signed with ARN in 2019 in a bumper deal to remain on-air until the end of 2024.

The deal means they get paid more than $39,000 each per three-and-a-half hour radio show.

Fifi, Fev and Nick are the second highest rating FM breakfast show behind GOLD FM’s Christian O’Connell.