Em Rusciano courted controversy in May when she publicly complained about 2Dat FM network bosses and her new radio co-hosts, Grant Denyer and Ed Kavalee.
And the boss for KIIS FM’s Kyle And Jackie O has blasted 2Day FM management for her ‘inappropriate’ outbursts, claiming Southern Cross Austereo ‘can’t control its talent’.
Speaking to Mumbrella, Australian Radio Network’s national content director, Duncan Campbell frankly stated: ‘I mean let her go if she doesn’t want to be there. It’s disappointing from an industry point of view.’
‘It’s a train crash!’ Kyle and Jackie O boss claims Em Rusciano is ‘just there for the money’ as he blasts 2Day FM management for letting radio star publicly criticize her own show
Campbell, who brought Kyle And Jackie O over from SCA, slammed the rival network, saying: ‘It’s a train crash every morning… I just don’t understand it, it’s a mess.’
He continued: ‘And to allow key talent like that to speak like she did about her personality and the business eccetera, I just think it’s inappropriate and we would not tolerate that from any of our talent.’
Campbell went on to accuse Rusciano of being there ‘just for the money’, and was in absolute disbelief that she was contractually allowed to say the things she has.
‘Let her go if she doesn’t want to be there… It’s disappointing’: Australian Radio Network’s national content director Duncan Campbell (ABOVE) accused Rusciano of being there ‘just for the money’ and was in absolute disbelief that she was contractually allowed to say the things she has
‘We would not tolerate that from any of our talent’: Campbell, who brought Kyle And Jackie O(ABOVE) over from SCA, slammed the rival network for not being able to ‘control’ its talent
Rusciano was interviewed on Wil Anderson’s Wilosophy podcast in May, where she complained about her current employment with 2Day FM.
She claimed the network had deemed her a ‘failure’ based solely on ratings figures and ultimately decided new co-hosts were required to justify the show’s existence.
‘It was hectic. It was the Em Rusciano Radio Show – it was my show!’ And then all of a sudden Ed’s anchoring and the show’s called The 2Day FM Breakfast Show,’ she said.
The comedian said she fought with 2Day FM to let her produce the program and manage staffing, but they declined because they wanted to have a say in the show’s direction.
Rusciano confessed she was ‘hurtling towards an implosion in the next six months’ and said the solution to her problems could be to ‘leave’ morning radio for good.
She admitted to being ‘hyper-aware’ that being on radio heightens her temper, impatience and fatigue due to the 4am starts, adding: ‘I get desperate. I don’t think I’m suited to breakfast radio – I struggle with it.’
‘It was the Em Rusciano Radio Show – it was my show!’ And then all of a sudden Ed’s anchoring and the show’s called The 2Day FM Breakfast Show’: On Wil Anderson’s Wilosophy podcast in May she claimed she was blindsided by the decision after pleading with 2Day FM to let her produce the program and manage staffing
‘The comment she made on Wil’s podcasts were absolutely her right’: Hit Network’s head of content Gemma Fordham defended Rusciano’s comments and called Campbell’s interview as ‘schoolyard bullying’
Meanwhile, Hit Network’s head of content Gemma Fordham responded to Campbell’s comments to Mumbrella, saying: ‘Whilst he is entitled to his opinion and I have many opinions about his shows and strategies which I choose not to share out of respect for my colleagues in the industry, I’m not going to enter in schoolyard bullying.’
In a prior interview to Campbell’s she said: ‘One of the things I’ve personally worked incredibly hard on is the culture, and whether it’s an on-air personality or junior staff member, I will not tolerate someone who behaves inappropriately or conducts themselves inappropriately.’
‘I was very forthright in saying if there are issues come and speak to me, but no one has come to me. The comment she made on Wil’s podcasts were absolutely her right, and she focused on last year and not about the opportunity that’s in front.’
‘I don’t think I’m suited to breakfast radio – I struggle with it’: Rusciano also hinted in the interview that her time in radio could come to an end soon
Despite weeks of off-air drama surrounding Rusciano, the show saw a modest 0.5 per cent boost in the third ratings survey for 2018.
It was good enough to secure a 4.9 per cent share of the overall Sydney FM breakfast market – however, a slight dip couldn’t knock longstanding leaders The Kyle and Jackie O Show off the top spot.
After struggling to deal with comments made by Kyle Sandilands – who had previously labelled Rusciano ‘pathetic’ and undeserving – she decided the only opinions she cares about are those of her fans.
She said: ‘When the people I actually measure myself against – which are the people who consume my products – start hating it and s**tting on it, then I’ll get worried.’
Raising the bar: Despite weeks of off-air drama surrounding Rusciano, the show saw a modest 0.5 per cent boost in the third ratings survey for 2018