Alan Jones confident advertisers will return after Ardern comments spark exodus

Alan Jones is confident more advertisers will take the place of companies who have cut ties with his radio show over his comments about Jacinda Ardern.

Alan Jones talks to the media.

Sydney talkback shock jock Alan Jones has announced his retirement from radio. Source: AAP

Alan Jones is confident 2GB will attract more advertisers to replace those that have withdrawn from his radio show over his comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. 

In an interview with Nine News on Tuesday night, the controversial broadcaster also complained about a social media backlash.
"It seems to be OK that you can, in social media, about Alan Jones say, 'We should kill him'," he told Nine News. "The language being used about me is extraordinary."

Koala Mattress, Anytime Fitness and Volkswagen are among brands to cut ties with Alan Jones' radio show after he suggested Prime Minister Scott Morrison should "shove a sock down" the throat of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Alan Jones speaks to the media at the memorial of Harry M Miller at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Friday, August 3, 2018. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING
Alan Jones is unfazed about an exodus of advertisers. Source: AAP
Anytime Fitness also withdrew its advertising spend from Macquarie Radio on Monday, joining the likes of ME Bank, Snooze, Bing Lee and Amart amid rising backlash over Mr Jones' remarks.

"I've got no comment about the advertisers, they can make their own judgment – but they go, there will be others to take their place," Mr Jones told Nine News.
His comments came a day after ABC program Media Watch aired audio revealing Mr Jones had also suggested Scott Morrison "gets tough here with a few backhanders" during a six-minute editorial criticising Ms Ardern.

A producer for Mr Jones' show has reportedly complained to the ABC about the program because it presented the audio, which is from last Thursday, as new.  

Mr Jones criticised Ms Ardern after she said "Australia has to answer to the Pacific" on climate change at a forum in Tuvalu.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the Pacific Islands Forum.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the Pacific Islands Forum. Source: AAP
"Here she is preaching on global warming and saying that we've got to do something about climate change," Mr Jones said on his program.

"I just wonder whether Scott Morrison is going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat."

Mr Jones - who previously suggested former Prime Minister Julia Gillard should be put in a "chaff bag" and thrown out to sea - initially insisted his comments had been "wilfully misrepresented" before acknowledging he was in the wrong and saying he had apologised in writing to Ms Ardern.

Nine Entertainment last week said it wouldn't try to rein in Mr Jones and his fellow talkback shock jocks when it takes full ownership of Macquarie Radio.

But Macquarie Radio said on Sunday it was prepared tear up the star's multi-million contract if he repeated "commentary of this nature".

The company only re-signed Mr Jones on a lucrative two-year contract in May following months of tense negotiations.


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