Companies are pulling their ads from Alan Jones' show on Aussie radio station 2GB after he made offensive comments about Jacinda Ardern.
The controversial broadcaster last week suggested Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison "shove a sock down her throat".
Ardern, at the Pacific Island Forum, said Australia - which has a huge fossil fuels industry - "has to answer to the Pacific". Island leaders backed Ardern, particularly Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who said Australia should "do everything possible to achieve a rapid transition from coal to energy sources that do not contribute to climate change".
- 'Shove a sock down her throat': Australian broadcaster Alan Jones blasts Jacinda Ardern
- Jacinda Ardern commits $150 million to fight climate change in the Pacific
- Scott Morrison 'as welcome as diarrhea in a wetsuit' at Pacific Islands Forum
Jones was widely criticised and threatened with losing his job, and now advertisers are pulling out of his radio show.
Anytime Fitness is among at least four companies that are refusing to advertise on Jones' show, or with 2GB at all, news.com.au reports.
"The comments made last week by Alan Jones regarding Jacinda Ardern do not represent our views and values," Anytime Fitness Australia said on Facebook. "For this reason, we pulled out advertising from 2GB last Friday and do not have any further advertising planned with the station."
And The Daily Telegraph reports that the 78-year-old is now receiving death threats over his comments.
"Notwithstanding his apologies, I have today [Saturday] discussed the matter with Alan and advised him that any recurrence of commentary of this nature will result in the termination of his contract," Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate said on Saturday night.
Despite calling Ardern "gormless", Jones said he's written to her to apologise properly.
"Amongst other things I said - I would never wish her any harm and would always wish her the best... I have erred and made a mistake."
Meanwhile, the ABC reports that Australian Liberal Party treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Jones was a "mainstay" of Aussie media, although acknowledged the comments were "clearly inappropriate".
Newshub.
