David Koch controversies: Sunrise host made foul joke about John Howard’s wife Janette
Most of David Koch’s 21-year reign on Sunrise was spent discussing the day’s news, but there were times when the breakfast host himself made unwanted headlines.
In December 2006, Koch managed to sideline then Prime Minister John Howard by telling an off-color joke about Howard’s wife Janette and opposition leader Kim Beazley.
The gag, submitted by a viewer, referred to a message written in urine in the snow and so offended Mr. Howard that he refused to appear on Sunrise.
Viewers were unimpressed and co-host Natalie Barr only laughed awkwardly at the time.
“I think that’s actually… Have you discussed that with anyone before you…?” Barr had asked.
David ‘Kochie’ Koch announced Monday morning that he would be leaving the Sunrise desk after 21 years as a breakfast presenter. He is pictured with current co-host Natalie Barr (left) and former co-host Melissa Doyle
Koch wrote a fawning apology letter to John and Janette Howard (above)
The day after the joke fell through, Koch told the Sydney Morning Herald, “If I’ve offended anyone, I apologise.”
“Some people say I may have crossed the line yesterday, which I agree with, but you won’t know until you do.
“You’re not deliberately trying to offend anyone and a joke is a joke and you’re never quite sure what’s at stake, what’s over the line and what’s on the other side of the line.”
Seven Network owner Kerry Stokes reportedly forced Koch to write an apology letter to Mr Howard. Eight years later, former Sunrise executive producer Adam Boland said Mr. Howard still hadn’t forgiven Koch for the text.
“To this day, John Howard refuses to speak to Kochie, even when he sits at the same table at events,” Boland said.
“I suspect the joke is only part of the reason. The former Prime Minister is only too aware of the role Sunrise played in Kevin Rudd’s rise to power.’
[Mr Rudd had a weekly spot on Sunrise in which he debated politics with senior Liberal Joe Hockey before he toppled Mr Howard in 2007].
David Koch was on the scene when Tasmanian miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb were freed after being trapped underground for 14 days during the Beaconsfield mining disaster. As Russell was taken to hospital, Koch jumped into the back of the ambulance (above)
Most famously, Koch was on the scene in May 2006 when Tasmanian miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb were released after being trapped underground for 14 days during the Beaconsfield mining disaster.
A worker was killed when the mine collapsed, but Russell and Brant were found alive nearly 1 km below the surface, eight days before they could be rescued.
As Russell – a huge Sunrise fan – was taken to hospital, Koch forced his way through the security cordon and jumped into the back of the ambulance.
Koch later said that Russell, who had sent him messages through rescuers, invited him into the vehicle to give him his tag from the safety sign at the mine entrance.
“So I got in the ambulance and then he gave me his miner’s badge, which is a moment, I must say, a moment and a symbol that I will cherish forever,” he told the ABC.
“And I don’t apologize for it.”
In January 2014, Koch briefly became embroiled in “strippergate.” One-time Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage joked in a short fashion video on the show’s website that she was wearing “stripper shoes.” Koch then performed a stripper pole
Koch upset mothers when he discussed a Queensland woman breastfeeding in a public swimming pool in January 2013.
In January 2013, Koch upset mothers while discussing a Queensland woman breastfeeding in a public swimming pool.
While he agreed with mothers’ right to breastfeed in public, he said it was common courtesy to do so discreetly in front of others.
Three months later, Koch wondered aloud on air whether the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured hundreds more runners, might have an “Irish” link.
“It’s a very big Irish Catholic city, we have Margaret Thatcher’s funeral in London tomorrow,” Koch said. “Is it really a long time ago to think they could be related?”
[Islamic terrorist brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsamaev planted the bombs as revenge for US military action in Iraq and Afghanistan].
In January 2014, Koch briefly became embroiled in “strippergate.”
One-time Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage joked in a short fashion video on the show’s website that she was wearing “stripper shoes.”
Koch then performed a stripper pole that Armytage wrapped her leg around. Koch then pointed to her shoes and said, “Be careful as they are quite reflective.”
When Jamila Rizvi, editor of Mamamia, accused the website Koch of demeaning Armytage, he accused the women’s website of portraying him as grubby.
In March 2019, Koch was accused of bullying One Nation leader Pauline Hanson during an interview three days after the Christchurch mosque shootings.
In October 2018, Koch got into more trouble while reviewing a segment about Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s brief stint with the Central Coast Mariners in football’s A-League.
Koch had asked another panelist if the Mariners would make a lot of money trading the Olympic gold medalist and then started saying, “Who said slavery was over?” before cutting himself off.
Following backlash on social media, Koch explained his use of “slavery” when talking about a black-skinned athlete.
“Using the word ‘slavery’ is a reference I’ve used to defend players who want to swap clubs or change jobs in the sport…that you can’t keep them…it’s a free world” , he said. .
“There is no more slavery. People have rights.’
In March 2019, Koch was accused of bullying One Nation leader Pauline Hanson during an interview three days after a far-right extremist killed 51 worshipers in the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Koch had said gunman Brenton Tarrant’s manifesto “reads like One Nation immigration and Muslim policy.”
Most of David Koch’s 21-year reign on Sunrise was spent discussing the day’s news, but there were times when the breakfast host himself made unwanted headlines