‘The Feed’ Has Given Alan Jones The Searing Tribute He Deserves
"You might think some of those politicians would use today to get back at Alan Jones, and they haven't. Maybe they're too classy." "Luckily, I am not."
This week, veteran broadcaster Alan Jones retired from radio.
Jones enjoyed a 35-year-long career behind the microphone, which gave him the power to shape public opinion, influence politics and write his own narrative.
It’s a power with enormous potential, which he gleefully used to foster racism, misogyny and climate denial. More recently he’s extended his beat to downplaying the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the ugly rhetoric politicians have long tripped over themselves in their haste to court Jones’ favour, and it didn’t take long for the glowing endorsements of his legacy to come through.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called in to wish Jones well, and told him: “You’ve always done the right thing by your country and we’re very proud of that”
Similarly, former PM Tony Abbott said: “You were someone with an argument based on facts, not on prejudice.”
Crucially, this is the man who was found guilty of inciting racial hatred (calling Lebanese Muslims “vermin” who “rape and pillage a nation” during the Cronulla race riots), was internationally condemned for his comments on NZ PM Jacinda Ardern (saying ScoMo should give her a “few backhanders”) and repeatedly slammed climate protestors (reading a letter calling them “virtue signalling little turds”). Not to mention using the n-word live on air, twice.
Well, today SBS has given him the send-off he deserves in a new sketch from ‘The Feed’.
“You might think some of those politicians would use today to get back at Alan Jones, and they haven’t. Maybe they’re too classy,” said reporter, Alex Lee.
“Luckily, I am not.”
Lee then delved into a thirty-second tribute so perfectly crafted you have to listen for yourselves.
“Alan Jones spoke to the fears of every xenophobe and misogynist in the country,” she said.
“He gleefully used racial slurs … he spread lies and fake news about climate change and repeatedly tried to undermine the severity of coronavirus whilst isolating in his country estate.
“He secretly took money from companies to spruik their products on air, was arrested once, and sued for defamation more times than I can count.
“Oh, and he was on the radio for a bit.”
They also run through some of Jones’ greatest hits, including a flashback to all the female politicians he’s targeted with violence over the years (“It was like every day was a new Cluedo mystery. Who would be next, Julia Gillard in the library with a candlestick? Ah no, it was Julia Gillard in the sea in a chaff bag. I was so close!”)
Check out the full sketch below, it’s great work from Alex Lee.