A radio host who took part in a 2012 prank call to a London hospital where Kate Middleton was being treated is taking legal action against his former employer.
Michael Christian and Mel Greig were presenting on 2Day FM, owned by Southern Cross Austereo, on December 4, 2012, when they made a call to King Edward VII hospital and obtained private medical information about the now-Princess of Wales.
During the pre-recorded call, Christian and Greig impersonated King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II.
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Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who transferred the call, took her own life several days later.
Christian is now suing SCA for physical and psychological distress and alleges he and his co-host Greig were “left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse” following Saldanha’s death.
Christian started as a presenter on Sydney’s 2Day FM just two days before the incident.
He alleges the pair initially objected to making the call and then to broadcasting the recording, however said their concerns fell on deaf ears.
“The radio presenters were hung out to dry by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats,” Christian’s legal team Harmers Workplace Lawyers said in a statement.
“Michael continues to suffer severe mental health issues as a result of the continuing public backlash, all these years later.”
His lawyers allege Christian’s career suffered as a result of the backlash.
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He claims his employers assured him the broadcaster would help restore his reputation and rebuild his career.
The former host alleges SCA instead “marginalised” him, blocked him from major presenting opportunities and prevented him from speaking about the royal prank.
“As a naive 26-year-old, he believed them, that he would be looked after, and so did not take legal action. He was wrong,” his lawyers said.
Until now, Christian has never spoken publicly about what happened behind the scenes of the prank call.
Christian left SCA in February after his employment was terminated and alleges he was asked to sign a legal deed to prevent him from speaking out, which he refused.
He is suing the media giant under the Fair Work Act, the Corporations Act as a whistleblower and under the Common Law Act for breach of contract.
The matter has not yet appeared before the Federal Court.
In a statement to 9news.com.au, Southern Cross Austereo said: “As the matter is currently before the courts, and out of respect for the legal process and the privacy of those involved, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.”
Nine, the owner of this masthead, owns radio assets 3AW, 2GB, 4BC and 6PR.
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