Triple J tweet backfires spectacularly

Australia’s national youth broadcaster Triple J has been slammed for a joke on Twitter that seemingly criticised its older listeners.

A tweet from Triple J has backfired spectacularly.

Yesterday the radio station attempted to take part in an online trend, but many failed to see the funny side and took the tweet at face value.

Firstly, let’s explain the online trend.

You know the pick-up like: “Did it hurt? When you fell from heaven?”

Well, in the last few days Twitter users have started replacing the second half of the pick-up line with different endings.

Here are some examples.

did it hurt? when you created fake scenarios in your head

— ꧁Madimoiselle꧂ (@drivingmemadi) August 29, 2021

did it hurt? when you woke up before your alarm and checked the time and you had less than a minute left? did it hurt?

— the perc prophet (@humidfluid) August 30, 2021

did it hurt? when the email found you well?

— kim (@KimmyMonte) August 30, 2021

did it hurt when you fell from those crates ?

— annie (@thisyearsgurl) August 24, 2021

Triple J, Australia’s national youth broadcaster, got in on the action yesterday and tweeted:

did it hurt? when you aged out of the youth radio station

— triple j (@triplej) August 31, 2021

The tweet backfired though, with many missing the joke and assuming the station was having a crack at its older listeners.

when I WHAT

— Marieke Hardy (@mariekehardy) August 31, 2021

Hurts more that someone from the @triplej social media team missed the famous ABC Inclusiveness Training day.

— Osher Günsberg (@oshergunsberg) August 31, 2021

You know what hurts? Ageism and poor punctuation. https://t.co/LnLRdOwczs

— emily ulman (@millylala) August 31, 2021

Painful numbers? Target audience 18-24. Survey 5 2021 (2JJJ Sydney) 18-24 8.0% share, 25-39 12.4% share, 40-54 6.5% share. In Sydney, more people in their 40s and early 50s listen to Triple J than to Smooth FM. https://t.co/TOfkLniEI4

— NickdMiller (@NickdMiller) August 31, 2021

No, but logging into Twitter to be unexpectedly murdered by a radio station certainly did https://t.co/w3v9yZdl11

— Josh Richards (@Mighty_Ginge) August 31, 2021

Triple J have decided that increasing our depression during lockdown by suggesting we are too old for them is good actually https://t.co/BBgsU0MtNg

— Fully Pfizzy Kitty (@coolguy69666) August 31, 2021

Did it hurt? When you became a carbon copy of a top 40 station? When you became a caricature of yourself? When you lost what made triple j unique? When you just now turned your back on people who support you? No? I didn't think so! Take a look at the people you just alienated.

— Xspenceif (@Xspenceif) August 31, 2021

I don't know maybe you should look inward, you guys stopped really caring about local acts years ago, nobody my age (21) actively listens to your station, Triple J has become the radio stations for 35 year olds who want to pretend they're 25...

— Ripley (@RipleyMadeIt) August 31, 2021

it’s statements like this that make it hard for musicians, especially women, to have long lasting careers in the music industry because you believe and perpetuate the notion that their value and talent diminish with age

— Beth (@BethBuckley) August 31, 2021

News.com.au has reached out to Triple J for comment but is yet to hear back.