3AW and Crocmedia end relationships with Scott Cummings after podcast comments

Former AFL player Scott Cummings has been sacked by two media companies today after comments on a personal podcast. Radio station 3AW says it was “disgusted” by the sex assault jokes made on Cummings’ Humpday podcast with Dane Swan.

Scott Cummings has inflamed opinion with comments on the Humpday podcast.

Radio station 3AW has sacked former AFL player Scott Cummings over jokes about sex assault on his Humpday podcast with Dane Swan.

Despite a delayed apology from Cummings — who laughed while reading out apparent sex acts, including “sneaking up” on a woman while she was vomiting on the ground, and masturbating into a sleeping woman’s face — 3AW has terminated its relationship with him.

He has also been axed from Crocmedia’s weekly Footy WA TV show.

Crocmedia CEO Craig Hutchison said that Cummings is not an on air talent of the company’s Melbourne radio station SEN, but he does appear on the weekly Western Australian footy TV program and has been stood down earlier today, effective immediately.

“The comments made on Scott and Dane’s personal podcast are abhorrent, and completely inconsistent with our businesses values and respect for women and standing up against sexual abuse in society,” Hutchison said.

“We support Domestic Violence Victoria’s stance that such comments contribute towards normalising society’s great scourge which is violence against women.

“We accept Scott’s apology and remorse but stand firm that we won’t tolerate this level of language and behaviour on or off air regardless of whether it is made in our environments or not.”

A statement on the 3AW website says it “is disgusted by comments made by one of its football commentary contributors, Scott Cummings, and published within a personal podcast”.

“Although the comments were never aired on 3AW, we believe there is no platform appropriate for such remarks,” the statement says.

“Sexual assault is never a laughing matter. Jokes about sexual assault are never OK.”

The station acknowledged Cummings’ apology, made this afternoon.

“Nonetheless, the fact that this podcast was published, remains online, and was defended by Mr Cummings on social media, shows incredibly poor judgment,” the statement read.

“As such, we have decided to terminate our relationship with Mr Cummings. He will not appear on 3AW Football again this year.”

Earlier, Cummings and co-host Dane Swan pulled the plug on their podcast following backlash over tasteless jokes about sex.

The official Twitter page for Humpday with Scotty and Swanny confirmed the show’s demise.

22 weeks of laughs among ourselves and ppl who chose to listen and be part of it. Thanks very much everyone. It was fun while it lasted 😀 #humpday #scottyandswanny #thanksandgoodnight https://t.co/m1mBf7LXyC

— @scottyandswanny (@scottyandswanny) July 2, 2019

Cummings issued a statement this afternoon, apologising for comments made on his now defunct podcast.

“I would like to publicly acknowledge that the recent comments made on my podcast were disrespectful and wrong,” the statement reads.

“It was insensitive and irresponsible to make light of sexual abuse and I am deeply sorry for any offence or triggered responses caused by my actions.

“I recognise the responsibility associated with being a person in media and the potential impact of my actions.

“I will be seeking guidance from Domestic Violence Victoria on how best to move forward.

“I am therefore stepping down from the podcast immediately and will take time to consider my words and reflect on my actions.”

But Swan took a defiant tone on Twitter, saying the pair had nothing to apologise for.

“If we had of ever said anything wrong or offensive we would of apologised but the fact is we have never have and I’ll debate anyone anywhere arguing that point,” Swan said in a tweet.

Dane Swan was part of the podcast with Scott Cummings.

It comes after domestic violence groups slammed the podcast for a segment discussing sex acts that promoted sexual assault.

Acting CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria, Alison Macdonald, said comments like Cummings’ could lead to more serious issues when they went unchecked.

“Flippant comments degrading women are often dismissed as trivial, harmless and even funny, however the evidence tells us that these attitudes contribute towards the social conditions that allow family violence and violence against women to continue unabated,” she said.

Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly said “making light of the idea of sexually assaulting women is an example of condoning violence”.

“A society that accepts comments that degrade a group of people also accepts other forms of discrimination against them,” she said.

In the Humpday podcast, Cummings, Swan and producer Ralph Horowitz searched the word “dirty” on website Urban Dictionary followed by their first name after it was suggested by a fan on Twitter.

They started with Horowitz’s first name.

“A dirty Ralph occurs when you try and sneak up behind a girl who is on all fours throwing up,” Cummings said.

“That’s not too bad,” Swan said.

Then they moved to Swan’s name.

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“After a frustrating evening involving a lack of sexual activity a man is forced to pleasure himself through masturbation while the woman sleeps,” Cummings said.

“He retaliates at the unwilling woman by spreading his love on her face, thereby causing her to wake up and mumble like a Danish person.”

The comment was met with raucous laughter from Cummings, Swan and Horowitz.

The Humpday podcast made headlines last week when the trio dismissed the podcast Shameless and suggested its two female hosts “lay together”.

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