"Disparaging and insulting": Kyle Sandilands found in breach of decency rules
<p>The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Kyle Sandilands breached the decency rules over the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kyle-sandilands-under-fire-for-hurtful-monkeypox-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monkeypox comments</a> he made on-air in <em>The Kyle and Jackie O </em>show <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">last year</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">. </span></p>
<p>The ACMA found that he breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice with "offensive, exclusionary comments explicitly aimed at the presumed conduct of gay men". </p>
<p>"The ACMA found that the overall sentiment of the segment stereotyped gay men as irresponsible in regard to their sexual health," the media watchdog found. </p>
<p>"This made them the prime carriers of a virus that presented a danger to the community and, as a result, they were not deserving of sympathy or compassion."</p>
<p>Monkeypox was declared a global health emergency in July 2022. </p>
<p>At the time, Sandilands called the virus "the big gay disease" and that "it’s only gays getting it." </p>
<p>In defence of Sandilands' comments, the broadcaster told the ACMA the segment may have contained "unfavourable descriptions of those susceptible to the virus, being homosexual males".</p>
<p>They also claimed that the segment was "well-intended" in terms of bringing awareness to the community about the public health risk around the transmission of the virus and the availability of a vaccine. </p>
<p>They also said that there was an insufficient amount of content that demonstrated "ill-will towards (the) LGBTQIA+ community."</p>
<p>However, ACMA Chairperson Nerida O'Loughlin called the comments "derisive and insulting". </p>
<p>"We acknowledge that the program's audience does not expect the presentation style of either the program or the presenter to always be formal and nuanced," O'Loughlin said. </p>
<p>"Although there was a basis at the time for a public discussion about mpox that involved reference to gay sexuality, the segment went beyond any acceptable standards by conveying that gay men were irresponsible, were a risk to the community and did not deserve any sympathy even when presenting for medical assistance."</p>
<p>"Broadcasters have a responsibility to maintain appropriate levels of decency, and in this case the comments by Sandilands were overly disparaging and insulting."</p>
<p><em>KIIS</em> have agreed to deliver sensitivity training to the hosts, producers, censors and other staff. </p>
<p>They must also report back to the ACMA on their progress every six months for two years. </p>
<p><em>Images: KIIS FM</em></p>
