Radio personality Marty Sheargold has stepped down from his role on Triple M, following intense public backlash over his on-air comments about the Matildas and women’s sports.
News of Sheargold’s departure from the station, which takes place effective immediately, was shared in a press statement on Wednesday.
“Triple M and Marty Sheargold have mutually agreed to part ways,” Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) chief content officer Dave Cameron said.
“[SCA] takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience. Right now, it’s clear this is a moment for reflection and review.”
Cameron said Triple M will “continue to take all necessary steps to support staff,” before acknowledging Sheargold’s “contribution [to the station] over the past four years”.
For his part, Sheargold said he “fully understand[s] the gravity of my comments”.
“I’d like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in,” he said via the statement.
It comes just days after Sheargold drew fierce scrutiny for his comments about the Matildas during a Monday night segment of his Triple M show, The Marty Sheargold Show.
Launching into a rant about the beloved team’s recent games, Sheargold said “there’s something wrong with the Matildas,” adding that the athletes remind him of “Year 10 girls.”
“All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a bitch,’” Sheargold said.
Sheargold then doubled-down on the sentiment when he was reminded that Australia will host the Women’s Asian Cup next year.
“I’d rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that,” he said. “Got any men’s sport?”
The comments drew swift rebuke from both listeners and the Matildas themselves. Midfielder Alex Chidiac remarked that she was “so sick of this shit,” while her Tillies teammate Clare Wheeler said sport “is for everyone and [Sheargold’s] views are for no one”.
In its own response, Football Australia slammed the comments in a press statement on Wednesday.
“Such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society,” the statement read.
“[The Matildas’] success has been instrumental in transforming women’s sport in Australia, and they deserve to be covered with the respect and professionalism they have earned.”
Sheargold issued an apology in the wake of the controversy, saying (per Nine’s World Wide of Sports) that his “comedy” can “miss the mark sometimes” and that he “can see why people may have taken offence to my comments regarding the Matildas”.
The Marty Sheargold Show did not take to the air on Triple M on Wednesday, with the station instead playing only music and ads.
Lead image: The Marty Sheargold Show/YouTube and Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
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