"Disparaging and insulting": Kyle Sandilands found in breach of decency rules
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Kyle Sandilands breached the decency rules over the monkeypox comments he made on-air in The Kyle and Jackie O show last year.
The ACMA found that he breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice with "offensive, exclusionary comments explicitly aimed at the presumed conduct of gay men".
"The ACMA found that the overall sentiment of the segment stereotyped gay men as irresponsible in regard to their sexual health," the media watchdog found.
"This made them the prime carriers of a virus that presented a danger to the community and, as a result, they were not deserving of sympathy or compassion."
Monkeypox was declared a global health emergency in July 2022.
At the time, Sandilands called the virus "the big gay disease" and that "it’s only gays getting it."
In defence of Sandilands' comments, the broadcaster told the ACMA the segment may have contained "unfavourable descriptions of those susceptible to the virus, being homosexual males".
They also claimed that the segment was "well-intended" in terms of bringing awareness to the community about the public health risk around the transmission of the virus and the availability of a vaccine.
They also said that there was an insufficient amount of content that demonstrated "ill-will towards (the) LGBTQIA+ community."
However, ACMA Chairperson Nerida O'Loughlin called the comments "derisive and insulting".
"We acknowledge that the program's audience does not expect the presentation style of either the program or the presenter to always be formal and nuanced," O'Loughlin said.
"Although there was a basis at the time for a public discussion about mpox that involved reference to gay sexuality, the segment went beyond any acceptable standards by conveying that gay men were irresponsible, were a risk to the community and did not deserve any sympathy even when presenting for medical assistance."
"Broadcasters have a responsibility to maintain appropriate levels of decency, and in this case the comments by Sandilands were overly disparaging and insulting."
KIIS have agreed to deliver sensitivity training to the hosts, producers, censors and other staff.
They must also report back to the ACMA on their progress every six months for two years.
Images: KIIS FM