Meshel Laurie slams the Australian radio industry as ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ in extraordinary rant after former colleagues accused her of being difficult to work with
Meshel Laurie labels Australia’s radio industry ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ in extraordinary tirade after former colleagues accused her of being difficult to work with
Media personality Meshel Laurie has taken aim at Australia’s radio industry in an extraordinary rant about ‘sexism’ and ‘misogyny’.
The 49-year-old podcaster aired her grievances in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday, after being aired by industry ‘snark’ account ‘The Australian Radio Lords’ during a Q&A with her followers.
The account had asked its fans – most of whom are radio professionals – to expose the “worst talent” they had ever worked with, and Laurie was named alongside female radio personalities Em Rusciano, Ash Pollard, Sami Lukis, Brigitte Duclos and Bogart Torelli .
Laurie reposted the Q&A on her own Instagram page, writing: “So @the_australian_radio_lords decided to ask a fun question to the Australian radio industry tonight and guess what? It highlighted the rampant misogyny that drives most of the women mentioned.”
‘Nice work brothers! Enjoy riding the dying behemoth that once was. At least us ladies made some money out of it,” she added.
Media personality Meshel Laurie, 49, (left) has taken aim at the Australian radio industry in an extraordinary rant about ‘sexism’ and ‘misogyny’
Laurie, who worked in radio for 20 years before quitting in 2021, continued her rant in a series of text slides, writing: “This is why I cringe when people ask me if I’ll ever go back into radio.”
“Seriously, the misogyny is so deep-rooted. These are the (only) answers to a question about difficult talent on a radio Insta account tonight.’
Laurie also suggested that bullying and sexual harassment of women is rife in the radio industry, and questioned whether men had labeled certain women in the question-and-answer session as “difficult” because they “couldn’t put up with their behavior.”
The account had asked its fans – most of whom are radio professionals – to expose the ‘worst talent’ they had ever worked with, and Laurie was named alongside female radio personalities Em Rusciano, Ash Pollard, Sami Lukis, Brigitte Duclos and Bogart Torelli
Laurie reposted the Q&A on her own Instagram page, writing: “So @the_australian_radio_lords decided to ask a fun question to the Australian radio industry tonight and guess what? It highlighted the rampant misogyny that drives most of the women mentioned’
Furious, Laurie declared: ‘F**k radio and long live podcasting.’
The Australian Radio Lords have since responded to Laurie’s post by taunting: ‘The Lords are disheartened that you feel this way. But I value your opinion.”
“Well, I don’t appreciate your disrespect and you can screw yourself,” Laurie replied.
Laurie worked in radio for twenty years before retiring in 2021
Laurie also suggested that bullying and sexual harassment of women is rife in the radio industry, and questioned whether men had labeled certain women in the question-and-answer session as “difficult” because they “couldn’t put up with their behavior.”
Furious, Laurie declared: ‘F**k radio and long live podcasting’
Laurie had a successful career in commercial television and radio until she transitioned into podcasting.
She currently hosts Australia’s largest true crime podcast, which has racked up more than 65 million downloads since its inception in 2017.
Laurie recently launched a comedy podcast called Can We Be Real? which she is organizing together with broadcaster Simon Baggs.
Laurie recently launched a comedy podcast called Can We Be Real? which she is organizing together with broadcaster Simon Baggs