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| Alan with John Serafino |
It was British Prime Minister
Harold Wilson who said : "
a week is a long time in politics" but it could apply to many things.
Just last week the
Shuttle was having celebratory drinks with a handful of guests including arguably Australia's most successful broadcaster
Alan Jones at
John Serafino's new city boutique.
Two days later his world crashed as a
News Ltd reporter revealed Jones' distasteful remarks at a
Young Liberals dinner, about the late father of Prime Minister
Julia Gillard. Liberal MP
Malcolm Turnbull immediatey condemned Jones via Twitter (completely unconnected with the notion he is after Liberal leader and Jones' supporter
Tony Abbott's job).
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| Peter FitzSimon |
And the trickle became a torrent with on-line petitions via Facebook demanding Jones' lucrative sponsors and
Radio 2GB advertisers withdraw from his show. And they left in droves- Harvey Norman, Woolworths, Telstra, Coles, McDonalds, 7-Eleven and more.
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| Mike Carlton |
Macquarie Radio (owners of 2GB) chairman
Russell Tate condemned the call on advertisers as
cyber-bullying after the network finally announced that advertisers would be suspended from Jones' broadcasts completely, a loss of around $24M a year.
Sun Herald writer
Peter FitzSimon demolished that argument in his column yesterday.
On Saturday
Sydney Morning Herald columnist
Mike Carlton who was a broadcaster on Radio 2UE when Jones was there (referring to him as
The Parrot) penned a scathing piece titled
Prissy shrieks of fear and loathing casting aspersions on Jones' claim to be an Oxford graduate and with these wounding words :" This is a man who thinks Jeffrey Archer is a great English novelist, whose taste in music screeches to a halt at Andre Rieu." Jones is a great pal of Archer.
Media and advertising experts have claimed Jones advertisers will be back eventually. But will they?
Mercedes Benz have issued the most damning press release saying they have not only abandoned advertising at 2GB permanently but have demanded Jones hand back his grace and favour $250,000 Merc and if not, they will re-possess it.
Still there are plenty more luxury motors in the basement of Jones' luxury apartment in the famous Toaster building. Waiting outside John Serafino's was the latest gleaming Jaguar XJ with a chauffeur perusing the Daily Telegraph while he waited for the master. Unless of course, it's a loaner as well.
