Alan Jones denies allegations of indecent assault against young men

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has vehemently denied allegations he indecently assaulted young men, as two of his former 2GB colleagues weigh in on the claims.

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has vehemently denied allegations he indecently assaulted young men over his lengthy career.

The former long-time talkback host on Sydney’s 2GB radio, who for decades was one of the country’s most influential and feared commentators, allegedly used his position of power to prey on a number of young men, an investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald claims.

Jones, through his lawyers Mark O’Brien Legal, told the newspaper, “Our client denies ever having indecently assaulted the persons referred to in your letter, and your suggestion that he has is scandalous, grossly offensive and seriously defamatory of him.”

Alan Jones in his home at Circular Quay. Picture: Adam Yip

One former 2GB employee, who did not use his real name, told the newspaper, “He cannot die without people knowing what he’s done.”

The Sydney Morning Herald article outlines allegations from the former 2GB employee, a former waiter and an aspiring musician.

In a statement to media on Thursday afternoon, Mr O’Brien said the “allegations against Alan Jones by Kate McClymont published today in the Nine newspapers are demonstrably false”. “In the short time available since publication we have obtained substantial factual information which contradicts and refutes the alleged pattern of conduct by Mr Jones,” he said.

Mr O’Brien said the law firm had retained Senior Counsel and planned to launch defamation proceedings.

Alan Jones with Prime Minister John Howard at Parliament House. Picture: Supplied

Jones’ 2GB colleagues weigh in on report

It comes after Jones’ former colleagues weighed in on the allegations.

2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham addressed the front-page story on his program on Thursday, noting it would be “confronting for many 2GB listeners”.

“It involves allegations against Alan Jones,” Fordham said.

“We have reached out to Alan this morning to tell his side of the story. He has already offered a denial to The Sydney Morning Herald. Alan knows better than anyone that we don’t shy away from challenging topics, that’s why we’re talking about this case here and now. The story that’s been published today doesn’t just impact Alan Jones, it also impacts a number of people who’ve made allegations against him including a former staffer from 2GB.”

Fordham said it was “not an easy topic for us to cover at 2GB, because they’re serious allegations involving someone who called this place home for nearly 20 years”.

“But as Alan knows better than anyone, we don’t hide around here from tough topics,” he said.

“The allegations have come from multiple people, including one who worked here for many years. But they have not been proven. They are denied by Alan Jones. You would have heard me say this many times on this program, and I’ll say it again now — the accused is innocent until proven otherwise.”

Ray Hadley told listeners he was aware of some of the allegations. Picture: Supplied

But Ray Hadley took aim at Jones, claiming he spoke to the former 2GB employee, given the pseudonym Bradley Webster in the article, “some time ago”.

“The person known as Bradley Webster approached me about having a meeting,” Hadley told listeners.

“In the next 40 minutes I sat silently as he went through the allegations documented in today’s story, uninterrupted only by his tears as he tried to compose himself. It was a very emotional conversation for both of us. The behaviour he was alleging was unwanted sexual advances from a person in a position of power, that being his boss Alan Jones. Bradley described in acute detail what he alleged had occurred.”

Hadley added that from the day he spoke with Bradley his relationship with Jones was “severed”.

“Given that it was already strained over other matters not related to the allegation made by Bradley,” he said.

“I should point out that The Sydney Morning Herald and 2GB are owned by Nine Entertainment. I will be making no further comment on today’s article.”

Jones’ meteoric rise to fame, London scandal

In 1988, Jones was arrested in London and charged with “outraging public decency” and “committing an indecent act” over an incident in the public toilets in Broadwick Street, Soho.

The charges were dropped and his career was unaffected.

Jones hosted his top-rating radio show on 2GB for two decades before retiring for health reasons in May 2020.

He went on to host The Alan Jones Program on Sky News Australia, where he had appeared as a panellist and co-host since 2013.

Jones abruptly departed Sky News in November 2021, announcing the network chose not to renew his contract.

The following month he announced he was joining ADH TV, a new right-wing online media network based in inner-Sydney.