The AM Show team clashed during a fiery discussion about Australian talkback host Alan Jones on Tuesday.
Host Duncan Garner labelled criticism of Jones' suggestion Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should have a sock shoved down her throat an overreaction.
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"We all have opinions and we're all entitled to opinions. What Jones said is not offensive, the way he framed it was and that's been addressed. Move on. It is merely words.
"Harden up, because quite frankly what he said was not the worst thing in the world ever."
But newsreader Amanda Gillies wasn't having it and said the comments were aggressive, offensive and part of a long-running pattern of behaviour for Jones.
"He's done it to Julia Gillard, not just to Jacinda Ardern... he's bullied top CEOs over there for being female so he has a history of this.
"It's not just one-off. You say 'shove a sock down someone's throat' aggressively, you don't just say 'oh well it's not what he really meant come on nudge nudge wink wink'.
"He's gotta own those words and he does and he's apologised, so he acknowledges that it was wrong."
It wasn't the first time the team clashed over Jones that morning - the show began with Garner calling for calm over the comments.
"People don't want to hear the apology, all he's done wrong is get the phrase twisted and wrong, far too aggressive."
But Gillies was already prepared to fight for her side.
"He's a misogynist, I don't want to say the next word that was naturally going to come out but he's so sexist and this isn't the first time he did something like that."
Sportsreader Mark Richardson was fine with Jones' history though and said they were simply criticisms.
Ardern appeared on the show just before 7am and refused to give an opinion on the controversial Australian broadcaster.
"I have tried very hard, specifically on this Alan Jones comment, you won't find me having particularly reacted or responded.
"I don't have an opinion on every single person that says something about me, particularly given this is an Australian commentator. We have enough of our own to occupy my time."
Newshub.
