Muslim and Christian leaders have issued a joint statement in response to Kyle Sandilands’ apology for his ‘dumb’ joke about the Virgin Mary.
On Monday, Kyle delivered an eight-minute mea culpa on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in which he expressed his sincere regret for saying that the Virgin Mary was promiscuous.
Following his apology, religious leaders said they hoped ‘this unfortunate incident will be a step towards a more considerate and respectful dialogue.’
Statement: Muslim and Christian leaders have issued a joint statement in response to Kyle Sandilands’ apology for his ‘dumb’ joke about the Virgin Mary. Pictured: Kyle and co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson on Monday
The statement read: ‘This morning [Monday], Kyle Sandilands unambiguously and fully apologised for his remarks about the Blessed Virgin Mary.
‘His co-host Jackie O (Jacqueline Ellen Last) also apologised. In addition, an apology was received yesterday from the management of the radio station, KIIS 1065.
‘Both the Christian and Muslim faith leaders accept the apology and extend a hand of friendship to Kyle Sandilands for the way he addressed the issue this morning and for his sincere apology.
Apology: On Monday, Kyle delivered an eight-minute apology on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in which he expressed his sincere regret for saying that the Virgin Mary was promiscuous
‘Based on the firm belief in divine love, mercy, and forgiveness, expressed both in the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran, we are confident that the faithful, who were hurt and who gathered peacefully and prayerfully outside the radio station, will likewise accept the tendered apologies and forgive, without any shadow of continuing resentment, in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.
‘We all seek to build peace and harmony in our multicultural society, based on mutual respect of beliefs and religious freedom. We hope that this unfortunate incident will be a step towards a more considerate and respectful dialogue.’
On September 18, Kyle outraged Christian and Muslim groups by saying the Virgin Mary wasn’t actually a virgin and had fallen pregnant ‘behind a camel shed’.
Learning moment: Kyle said the incident had been enlightening for him as he didn’t realise he’d ‘stepped on the beliefs of other people’ until listeners had contacted him directly
After issuing a statement through his PR team, and apologising for a second time when confronted by paparazzi outside his Los Angeles home last week, Kyle addressed his listeners directly for the first time on Monday.
Kyle addressed the ‘elephant in the room’ shortly after 6am, telling listeners he wanted to clear things up after the Virgin Mary controversy had dominated headlines during the September non-ratings period.
He began with a sincere apology, saying he didn’t realise the gravity of what he’d said until his phone number was leaked online and he began receiving angry calls from religious people.
He claimed that some callers were ‘aggro’, others were threatening but most were ordinary listeners who were simply ‘disappointed’ by his comments.
Banding together: Dozens of religious protesters flocked to KIIS FM’s Sydney headquarters last Monday, demanding his immediate sacking. Pictured: Muslim and Christian activists
Furious: One of the protesters was Muslim community leader Steve Dabliz (pictured), who later told Daily Mail Australia he was ‘outraged’ and ‘distressed’ over what Kyle said on air
Protest: Mr Dabliz (circled, right) was among the protesters gathered outside KIIS FM’s studios in North Ryde, Sydney last Monday. Pictured left: Kyle Sandilands
Kyle, who was speaking from a home studio in LA, said the incident had been enlightening for him as he didn’t realise he’d ‘stepped on the beliefs of other people’ until listeners had contacted him directly.
‘I didn’t realise the gravity of it. I upset a lot of people,’ he said. ‘Even friends of mine were like, “Bro how could you say something so dumb like that?”‘
The KIIS FM star said that he ‘only wanted to make people laugh’ and emphasised that the joke was ‘not planned’ in any way.
The worst part of the whole experience, according to Kyle, was that people close to him had received death threats over what he’d said on air.
But he made it clear to naysayers that he won’t be quitting his job.
‘I am going to quit? No. Am I going to get fired? No. Am I sorry? Absolutely I am sorry because, as I’ve said, I never intended to purposely upset anyone. Obviously I have upset people and I am sorry for it. There is nothing else I can do. We have all made mistakes in our life and this is just one of the many I have made,’ he said.
Kyle’s co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and KIIS FM’s newsreader Brooklyn Ross also apologised for laughing at his joke.
Jackie explained that she’d been bombarded with Instagram direct messages from ‘loyal listeners’ of the show who were devastated by Kyle’s remarks.
‘I felt so terrible that we had hurt them so much. They were our loyal listeners,’ she said. ‘They couldn’t believe you would say something like this.’
Kyle concluded by saying ‘there’s nothing else [he] can do or say’ to make up for what happened, and that he accepts he has probably lost listeners.
‘If you want to stay, stay. If not, don’t,’ he said, adding that he’d invited Christian and Muslim leaders to speak on the show but they were yet to accept the offer.
Following the on-air apology, Kyle and Jackie took calls from several listeners, with whom they discussed the Virgin Mary joke and related religious issues.
Kyle and his staff had received death threats in the wake of his offensive comments, prompting him to hire security officers to patrol his Sydney home while he stayed in LA. Pictured: Police outside Kyle’s Sydney home on Wednesday after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle
On September 18, Kyle offended thousands of listeners – and attracted 150 formal complaints to media watchdog ACMA – by joking that the Virgin Mary wasn’t actually a virgin at all.
‘I thought Mary was his [Jesus Christ’s] girlfriend but apparently it was the mother,’ he said. ‘And the mother lied obviously and told everyone, “Nah I got pregnant by a magical ghost”. Bulls**t.
‘Someone chock-a-blocked her behind the camel shed… You might believe everything that’s written down 2,000 years ago to be absolutely accurate and good on you, you’re dumb. Dumb as dog s**t.’
The segment went unnoticed at the time, but went viral days later when it was shared to KIIS FM’s social media channels. It was later deleted following a backlash.
A day after the uproar made headlines, Kyle issued a formal apology through his public relations team.
He said: ‘I’m sorry if I offended anyone with my comments. Everyone is entitled to their own religious beliefs and I’m fully supportive of that right.’
Kyle issued a second apology on Wednesday, when he spoke to paparazzi outside his home in Los Angeles.
‘Sometimes I just say things as a joke and it offends some people,’ he said.
‘You don’t realise until you offend someone [and] when you hear about it, [you think]: “Oh f**k, that’s pretty s**t”.
‘When you’re a comedian you say funny things and you think you’re funny, but then you don’t realise you piss some people off.
‘I already put a statement out saying I never meant to p**s anyone off, I never meant to hurt anyone – I’m here to make people laugh, not to make them angry.’
Kyle and his staff members had received death threats in the wake of his offensive comments, prompting him hire to security officers to patrol his Sydney home while he stayed in LA.
Police were called to his street on Wednesday after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle, with three marked cars pulling up next to his house shortly before midday.
Officers spoke to nearby residents but did not enter the property Kyle shares with his girlfriend Imogen Anthony.
NSW Police later confirmed there was no threat to Kyle or his property.
In addition, radio watchdog Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) received 150 complaints about the Virgin Mary segment.
‘Under the co-regulatory system, the ACMA will refer complaints to the broadcaster in the first instance,’ a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘If the complainant does not receive a response from the broadcaster within 60 days, or is not satisfied with the response, they may refer their complaint to the ACMA.’
Dozens of religious protesters flocked to KIIS FM’s Sydney headquarters last Monday, demanding Kyle’s immediate sacking.
One of the protesters was Muslim community leader Steve Dabliz, who later told Daily Mail Australia he was ‘outraged’ and ‘distressed’ over what Kyle said on air.
‘Kyle hasn’t just insulted close to four billion Christians and Muslims worldwide, but more importantly, he has mocked and denigrated the Blessed Virgin Mary,’ he said.
‘This kind of behaviour is disgusting, it’s unacceptable and surely cannot go unpunished.
‘It’s an unprecedented outburst which has certainly drawn the Muslim and Christian communities together and we await some positive action from Kyle’s employers.’
Social media has been divided over the radio star’s joke, with some supporting his right to freedom of speech and others calling for him to be sacked.
‘Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion but with respect and grace! He has offended so many people and gone too far!’ one listener wrote.
‘The lady laughing with him [Jackie] should be sacked as well, but then as Jesus says: “Forgive them… they don’t know what they say”,’ another commented.
On the other side of the argument, one supporter wrote: ‘This is why Kyle is worth millions of dollars. His whole career is built on a foundation of crude and insensitive remarks and jokes.
‘I think he is hilarious. If you don’t like him or are a sensitive Sally, don’t listen to him.’
Another commented: ‘Seriously… everyone is entitled to their own opinions, so why should Kyle’s opinion be any different? Love ya, Kyle. Keep up the good work.’