Nova forced to apologise over 'insensitive' comments made about baby with rare medical condition
Radio station Nova has been forced to apologise on-air after their afternoon radio team made insensitive comments about a baby born with an adult-sized tongue.
Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold made the remarks in a segment named: ‘What have you got that’s big?’ on the Nova 96.9 drive show on October 14.
In Victoria, listeners tune in to Nova 100.
At the centre of their conversation was Paisley Morrison-Johnson, a baby girl born with a rare condition that caused her tongue to measure more than double the size of her mouth.
As a newborn, she was diagnosed with Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS), an overgrowth disorder that affects one in every 11,000 births worldwide.
One Victorian mother was disgusted when she listened to the Nova broadcast and heard the words “act of comedy” when the hosts were discussing Paisley’s condition.
Vanessa Whitelaw, whose daughter attends the same BWS support group as Paisley, took to Facebook to name and shame the station.
“I AM TOO ANGRY,” she began.
“I would like you to hear the degrading way a beautiful child who is part of my daughters BWS support group is referred to in this podcast.
“I am appalled at you Kate Richie as someone I have followed since my childhood, who is also a mother, that you could make such disgraceful comments about our babies. 'A comedy act' you say, HOW DARE YOU!!!!
“My daughter along with Paisley that you giggle about, has overcome more adversity and shown more courage in her life than all three of you put together!”
Her post was shared more than 80 times, with many readers also lodging complaints with the radio network.
Ms Whitelaw told her followers she received a response from the company the following day, expressing “sincere regret for any distress caused by the comments”.
"We have reviewed the comments from the audio. I understand that the segment was not intended to be a discussion about the syndrome generally but intended to be a light hearted discussion about a topical news item. However, we acknowledge that the comments were ill-considered," the letter read.
"I have personally spoken with Kate, Tim and Marty and their production team to inform them of the nature of your complaint, and they have asked me to convey their sincerest apologies for any offence caused."
Ms Whitelaw said she had been in contact with Paisley's parents and was hoping for an on-air apology from the hosts.
Nearly a week after the segment went to air, Kate, Time and Marty apologised live – but it was too late for some of the disappointed listeners.
“The apology was crap,” one woman wrote on Facebook.
Another labelled it a “joke”, with many calling for the hosts to be sacked.
Baby Paisley underwent two tongue reduction surgeries recently, which saw more than six inches of muscle removed from the organ.
“Since recovering she smiled for the very first time, I couldn’t believe it and was shocked by how beautiful my little girl looked,” Paisley’s mother said.
"She’s like a completely new baby - her facial features look different, she smiles a lot and she has even getting close to saying her first words."
They have not commented on Nova's remarks.
