KI PRICE/ZUMA
It has been reported that Jacintha Saldanha, one of the nurses who cared for the Duchess of Cambridge during her hospital stay has committed suicide. On Tuesday, one of the King Edward’s Hospital staff fell victim to a prank call from two radio disc jockeys, Mel Greig and Michael Christian from Australia’s 2DayFM, when they called the hospital impersonating Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles to inquire about Kate’s physical condition. The statement below reveals that Saldanha was this victim.
“It is with deep sadness that I can confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha,” John Lofthouse, the chief executive of King Edward VII Hospital in London, said in a statement. “She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues. We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her through this very difficult time. Jacintha was a first-class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us. Everyone is shocked by the loss of the much-loved and valued colleague. Out thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and friends.”
How much is too much? When I read about this on Tuesday, I giggled at the prank. I also felt a twinge of remorse as I’m sure that the hospital took this breach of privacy very seriously and discipline in some nature would have to be enforced. Above all, this prank was publicized Worldwide where social media venues like Twitter went crazy with comments.
It’s with sadness that this frenzy left one person seeing no other option but to take their life. No one will argue that pranks are funny, but how far is too far?
Mad Dog and Maura Roses on 99.9 Virgin Radio Toronto
I was listening to the Mad Dog and Maura Roses segment on 99.9 Virgin Radio this morning. The segment invites their women listeners to write into the show if they have suspicions that their significant other is cheating on them. The duo will invite listeners to voice their opinions, of the story provided, and encourage them to call the station. At the end of the show, the radio hosts contacts the suspect and offers him a dozen roses to send to anyone he chooses. The crux of it is that their significant other is on the line waiting to hear who their partner chooses as the recipient.
With this morning’s couple, I turned off the radio after he selected his wife as the recipient. I didn’t want to hear the “shitfest” that was going to happen after she revealed her suspicions to him on the radio. I thought to myself that this relationship will never be the same again. She questioned his commitment to her and took it on air before ever asking him about the incident in private. Not a good scenario for a happily ever after.
While this show is pre-recorded and approved by both parties to air, the delicacy of the issue at hand could result in drastic measures if the relationship is volatile or if one of them is unstable. This guy could ride the shock factor for weeks until he realizes what his wife did to get the truth from him.
I look at it as karma if the guy is a cheater, but in this case…..my heart went out to both parties. I listened to the remainder of the show ,later in the day, only to find out that there was an altercation that provoked him not to reveal his visit to this woman’s house to his wife.
Yes, the Royal hospital prank and the “Roses” segment are great for listeners, but how far do we have to go to keep our listeners engaged? Should it be at the expense of another person’s job or heart? Is it the prank that ultimately destroys a partnership or even a life or do we simply excuse our actions by saying the person was in a volatile mental state?
What are your thoughts on radio pranks? Unfortunate or Funny?
