Inside Dee Dee Dunleavy’s brutal axing: Dumped 3AW radio host ‘blindsided’ after being dumped

Dee Dee Dunleavy was left ‘blindsided’ by Melbourne 3AW’s decision to cut her from her popular radio show.

According to the Announce sunDunleavy’s manager Mark Klemens met with 3AW station boss Stephen Beers and he told him his client was going to be boned.

Klemens told Dunleavy later that day that the station would not renew her contract.

An insider told the publication that news of her axion left the beloved host “hurt and so disappointed.”

“Dee Dee had been here a long, long time. She was so proud of what she did on the air. She is hurt and so disappointed,” the source said.

“There’s no other way to put it than that she was totally and utterly blindsided. It just came out of nowhere.’

Dunleavy’s shock departure was announced by 3AW on Monday morning, shortly after being told her services were no longer needed.

“3AW has agreed to an early termination of Dee Dee Dunleavy’s broadcast after informing the broadcaster that her contract would not be renewed at the end of the year,” the station said in a statement.

The station’s statement also included a quote from Dunleavy saying “I’m happy to leave with a good feeling, and with a record I’m very proud of.”

A gutted Dunleavy took to Twitter to reveal her devastation at the abrupt exit.

‘I had the time of my life at work. I am devastated that it has come to an end,” she wrote.

An insider told the publication that news of Dunleavy’s axe left the beloved host “hurt and so disappointed”

The radio station’s manager Stephen Beers said he wanted to ‘thank Dee Dee for her three and a half years on Afternoons and her stint on Weekend Break with Grubby before that’.

“She’s been a big part of 3AW’s lineup,” he said.

Dunleavy said she “took over the Afternoons program just as the pandemic threw us into lockdown, and so I was faced with the dual challenge of navigating – from a distance – a new show while keeping the audience informed and entertained ‘.

She thanked the listeners who propelled the show through the pandemic.

“I am eternally grateful to all the callers who shared with me their grief over the loss of loved ones and their anguish over the loss of their jobs and businesses.

The much-loved radio host’s shocked departure was announced by 3AW on Monday morning, shortly after she was told her services were no longer needed

“For those who were isolated, I hope I was part of the comfort and connection that radio brought them during that time.”

Dunleavy added that she ‘greatly enjoyed hearing different opinions and discussing the stories that matter to Melbourne.

“I am grateful to 3AW for giving me the opportunity to develop my skills as a talkback presenter over the past 11 years.”

Although her contract doesn’t expire until the end of the year, Dunleavy won’t get the chance to say goodbye to her listeners on the air.

Instead, the station announced that Elise Elliott will fill in for the Afternoons show this week, with a permanent replacement decision to follow.

A gutted Dunleavy took to Twitter to reveal her devastation at the abrupt exit

Meanwhile, the Announce sun reported that recent 3AW recruit Jacqui Felgate is being tipped to take over Dee Dee, hoping to attract a younger audience.

The former 7News host, 40, is said to be the “golden child” at the station and network executives are considering making her Dunleavy’s permanent replacement.

In February, Felgate joined the 3AW AFL Broadcast Team to provide pre-game coverage for Friday night footy matches and excelled in the role.

While insiders say the glamorous footy host is the popular choice to replace Dunleavy, other contenders include presenters Heidi Murphy and Emily Power.

A decision on the definitive replacement will be made shortly.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reported that recent 3AW recruit Jacqui Felgate (pictured) is being tipped to take over Dee Dee, hoping to attract a younger audience