‘Don’t pretend’: ABC host quits live on-air

The presenter cited his desire to have “bulls**t-free” conversations as the reasoning behind his shock departure.

An ABC Radio presenter dropped a bombshell on fans when he made the decision to quit live on-air on Tuesday, citing “penalties” he’s faces for “speaking bluntly”.

Josh Szeps announced mid-show that had decided to quit his role at ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons.

ABC radio host Josh Szeps shocked listeners when he quit live on-air during his show on Tuesday. Picture: ABC.

Szeps dropped the bombshell just before the 3pm news, telling listeners while he had enjoyed his time at the station, he felt there were too many “penalties” faced when he stepped out of the organisation’s guidelines.

“Having truly rational, bullsh*t-free conversations about controversial issues is risky these days,” he said on-air, reported Mediaweek.

“The penalties for speaking bluntly, the penalties for trying to coax people out of their thought silos and their echo chambers are very high.

“The fact that it’s risky only makes it more important to me. The fact I have found a way of doing it independently that is financially viable leads me to the question that I have been mulling over ever since chatter about the 2024 [ABC] line-up began.”

Szeps revealed his final day presenting ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons will be Friday, December 22.

He continued: “If you’re a regular listener, you know me. You know I am the kid who gets invited to Christmas lunch and then starts talking to people I’m advised not to talk to.

“Like Uncle Herbie who might have voted for Pauline Hanson. Maybe all I do is make the prim and proper partygoers uncomfortable, but that is not my intention.”

He continued: “My hope is that by understanding Uncle Herbie’s point of view I might better understand my own.”

Szeps revealed his plans to launch his own independent show next year. Picture: ABC

The presenter went on to label himself a “misfit” and shared his desire to be able to speak his mind openly and freely without risk of punishment.

“I’m a misfit. I’m a child of refugees, but I’m a white Australian. I’m a gay guy, but I hate mardi gras. I have holocaust surviving grandparents but I’m conflicted about Zionism. I’m an ABC presenter but I don’t like kale,” he explained.

“I am a riddle wrapped in a bloody enigma. If you think that being a team player is the highest virtue, good for you. But don’t pretend to be a journalist. Journalism needs more contrarians, not fewer. More risk takers, not fewer.”

He added: “We need more people like Andrew Ollie, and John Pilger, and Mike Carlton, and Helen Lewis, and John Stewart, and Germaine Greer, and Christopher Hitchens.”

Szeps currently runs a podcast titled Uncomfortable Conversations, and shared that after leaving ABC, he plans to launch a YouTube show to coincide with the podcast.