Austereo has banned an offensive interview on its Triple M breakfast show after Masterchef: The Professionals host Marco Pierre White was called a "rude prick" by one of the show's presenters.
During the interview, Triple M host Dale 'Louie' Lewis poked fun at White's three failed marriages, asking if the wives had been "dismissed, for want of a better word, 'cause they can't cook, or didn't like your cooking?"
"I just think of myself as being a lucky man that I found three women who wanted to marry me," White replied. "Yeah, 'cause if you're the rude prick you come across on TV, I wouldn't be there long either," said Lewis.
White, clearly offended, cut the hosts short saying "I think you should say good morning to me, and good bye, because one, I take offence to being called that. I haven’t shown you disrespect, I haven’t been rude to you. I don’t like being called that word. I’m very sorry."
The radio host apologised, saying he was just trying to have some fun. White accepted the apology and ended the interview saying "rudeness is not having fun when it is at the expense of another person. You're a very rude man. And I hope your mother's not listening to this show today because she would not be proud of her son.''
Austereo, still playing down the controversy from the royal prank scandal "lacked sensitivity and regard for others," according to White. If Lewis' behaviour was for comedy purposes, "it was scurrilous behaviour."
"Why should people get away with this? Why should they be allowed to bully people?" White commented that the sort of language used was "wholly inappropriate" for children.
Do you think Lewis' comments on White's marriages were all in good fun or did he cross the line?
Listen to the full interview here.
