Em Rusciano’s former boss defends the embattled radio star

The former boss of Em Rusciano has defended the embattled radio star after her tumultuous week in the headlines.

Craig Bruce, Southern Cross Austereo’s former head of content, told The Daily Telegraph: ‘She’s just completely created a brand out of grit and hard work and obvious talent.’

He gave the 39-year-old her first break in the radio industry hosting Perth 92.9FM’s breakfast show from 2006-2009.

‘She came back to Melbourne and what she’s done from that period to now, she’s just completely created a brand out of grit and hard work and obvious talent,’ he said.  

While he was complimentary about the hard work and effort she put into building her radio career, the former radio boss claimed Em’s biggest struggle was working in a team environment. 

‘She’s a solo performer and her career up until a year and a half ago [when she went back to radio] was all off her own bat,’ he said.

Craig added that everything from her social media following to her stage show was all her own doing. 

Coming to her defence: Craig Bruce, Southern Cross Austereo’s former head of content, told The Daily Telegraph : ‘She’s just completely created a brand out of grit and hard work and obvious talent’

Struggle: While he was complimentary to the hard work and effort she put into building her radio career, the former radio boss revealed her biggest struggle was working in a team environment

Trying to make sense of the backlash, he explained that since Em was so self-sufficient, it was likely hard for her to adapt to work cohesively in a team environment. 

Over the past few days, radio insiders and former colleagues of Em have broken their silence over her alleged ‘diva antics’. 

A news.com.au story, published on Wednesday, an unnamed staffer claimed the radio host creates a ‘toxic work environment’ at 2DayFM.     

‘She seems really insecure. She portrays this really confident, “I think I’m the greatest!” image but I think it stems from a really deep-seeded insecurity, which is really sad.’ the source added.

Doing it alone! ‘She’s a solo performer and her career up until a year and a half ago [when she went back to radio] was all off her own bat,’ Em’s former boss said

The insider continued: ‘She just doesn’t know how to interact with people. She won’t compromise with anybody. She always has to be right.’ 

This comes after Em she made her comments on Wil Anderson’s Wilosophy podcast earlier this week where she talked about working in  breakfast radio.

‘When someone I feel is getting in my way or is slowing me down or isn’t listening I just f**king turn and I’m impatient and I’m mean and I’m a b***h and I’m not a team player,’ she admitted.

‘I’m not a team player!’: This comes after Em she made her comments on Wil Anderson’s Wilosophy podcast earlier this week where she talked about working in breakfast radio