Triple M accused of making Barry Hall a ‘scapegoat’

A CO-HOST of Channel 10’s The Project claims Triple M dismissed a chance to make amends for AFL star Barry Hall’s inappropriate comment.

RADIO giant Triple M has been widely praised for its decisive response to AFL star Barry Hall’s “inappropriate” comment on live radio — but a shock counter-claim argues the network has made the Swans champion into a “scapegoat”.

It comes as Australian media commentators also turned the blowtorch on Hall’s fellow Friday night commentators after some of them were heard cackling with laughter after the 41-year-old made a comment about a pregnancy procedure fellow footy great Leigh Montagna’s wife underwent this week.

Hall on Friday night was instantly dismissed by Triple M before the network’s live broadcast of the Western Bulldogs’ thrilling win over Geelong.

Network 10 star Meshel Laurie, a co-host of The Project, launched a passionate plea on Saturday morning for the radio network to use the Hall scandal as a vehicle for social advocacy.

In a series of comments on Twitter, Laurie also claimed the popular rock-music station knocked back her approach to interview Hall for a radio segment she hoped would educate radio listeners on why the comment was inappropriate.

Barry Hall is a premiership captain.

The comedian and author said the station’s refusal to support her idea means the former full-forward has been hung out to dry as the scandal’s “scapegoat”.

Hall’s comment was regarding a technique used by medical professionals, known as a “membrane sweep” — which Montagna’s wife Erinn underwent to induce labour. Hall insinuated the doctor acted in a sexually inappropriate way.

“It’s when the obstetrician just has a little feel and makes sure that you’re starting to dilate and puts a couple fingers up there and checks what’s going on.” Montagna told Triple M before Hall made his remark.

“It’s a procedure they do before birth.”

Hall then responded by saying: “Joey was a bit disturbed because the doctor was a good looking rooster about four years of age and then he did the sweep”.

News.com.au has chosen not to reveal the specific details of what the 41-year-old then went on to say about the procedure.

Laurie said Triple M has turned its back on a chance to make a powerful statement about respecting women.

Barry Hall situation is just a public example of a man making a rape joke with no idea why he shouldn’t. Instead of vilifying him, can we PLEASE use this as an opportunity to talk about WHY it’s offensive. Please @triplemfooty have the convo with listeners!

— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) June 30, 2018

Could B a landmark moment for the safety of Australian women. @TripleMMelb you’ve taken a stand, thank you, but please go further. Talk to your listeners. We all know Barry is not a bad man, and not the only man who doesn’t get the problem with the joke. Let’s talk it through.

— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) June 30, 2018

Otherwise it’s just another case of half the country labelling him a “pig” and the other half saying it’s “politically correct bullshit” and “you can’t even have a joke any more”. Neither is true and we get nowhere. Nothing gained. Back to square one.

— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) June 30, 2018

Please be allies to Australian women @TripleMMelb

— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) June 30, 2018

Offered to prerecord chat with Barry for use on @TripleMMelb offered them full editorial control, they knocked it back, so I guess that’s it. We’ve got our scapegoat for this incident, battle lines remain, rape culture continues unabated. As you were Australia.

— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) June 30, 2018

I really hope Barry Hall can find his way to an organisation like @OurWatchAus and that they'll embrace him, because this is a golden opportunity for some real education in our community.

— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) June 30, 2018

The scandal deepened on Saturday when it emerged that at least two of the fellow commentators during the pre-game broadcast laughed at the joke Hall was trying to make.

Many commentators have praised the network for its decision to terminate Hall’s employment on the spot — others believe action should also be taken against his colleagues, Footy great Nathan Brown, AFL commentator Mark Howard and veteran footy reporter Damien Barrett.

Barrett told Triple M on Saturday that Hall issued an apology after the team discussed his comment during a break in their broadcast.

He said Hall was then asked to leave.

“It was offensive, it was disgusting, it was unacceptable,” Barrett said on Saturday.

Triple M head of content Mike Fitzpatrick said in a statement on Friday that a team member had been sacked on the spot.

“Tonight on Triple M Football there were unacceptable and inappropriate comments made by a member of the commentary team,” he said.

“The commentator was removed immediately from the broadcast and an apology was issued on air afterwards. Immediate action was taken with the termination of employment for one team member.”

Some Aussie media commentators suggested on Saturday Hall’s comment was symbolic of deeper issues surrounding the club’s “blokey” culture.

And they all laughed ... again. #TripleM

— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) June 30, 2018

Sickening and vile. Shocked. Really disappointed. I think Triple M acted really well by quickly sacking him.

— Jessica Halloran (@JessiHalloran) June 29, 2018

I’ve listened to the Triple M audio and *everyone* should be sacked. Why were they even talking about it in the first place?

— Darren Levin (@darren_levin) June 29, 2018

Every man in that room was complicit, they didn’t shut the conversation down and laughed, why would you talk about your pregnant wife’s intimate procedure on radio

— Fiona Griffin (@MsFionaGriffin) June 30, 2018

I’d actually love to see a #RespectWomen ad based around when an on-air celebrity makes an inappropriate comment. Take the Barry Hall, Eddie McGuire examples and show what a co-host can do to slam that shit down instead of yukking it up. But also what audiences expect to happen.

— Danielle Binks (@danielle_binks) June 30, 2018

What Barry Hall said was vile and hideous.But if you listen to the actual audio Leigh Montagna himself said something awful too about a personal medical procedure regarding his pregnant wife and set up the direction of the conversation.All round gross boys club banter #barryhall

— Lucie Morris-Marr (@luciemorrismarr) June 29, 2018

Hall’s comments are merely an extension of Triple M’s stock in trade. Don’t forget, these are the same tittering clowns who thought it a hilarious notion to drown Caroline Wilson in icy water. I wrote this at the time. pic.twitter.com/UfnyrngLG3

— Chip Le Grand (@Melbchief) June 30, 2018