- Music
- 05 Jan 18
The controversial radio presenter, who stepped down from his daily radio slot after making outrageously offensive comments about sexual assault live on air last year, will return to the airwaves shortly with his own Saturday slot, it has just been announced.
The 76-year-old broadcaster and sports pundit will have his own new show called Hook's Saturday Sit-In, which will be between 8am and 10am.
According to Newstalk, this new show will include interviews, reviews and items on US politics, travel and music.
Meanwhile, Tech correspondent Jess Kelly will present a new show called Tech Talk that will air between 6pm and 7pm on Sundays.
"We are delighted to announce this exciting new line-up and, in particular, to welcome these new presenters to our weekend schedule, each of whom has proved extremely popular with our audiences, contributing across a range of shows over the past few years," said Chris Doyle of Newstalk.
Hook's show was cancelled after he asked why a female victim of rape ought not carry some responsibility for the assault committed against her.
“Why does a girl who just meets a fella in a bar go back to a hotel room? She’s only just barely met him," Hook inquired, during the original segment. "Is there no blame now to the person who puts themselves in danger?”
His comments resulted in several companies pulling adverts from the station at the time.
In a public apology, Hook stated: "It was wrong of me to suggest that any blame could be attributed to those victims, or that they bear any responsibility in the crimes committed against them."
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"Everybody has the right to enjoy themselves without fear of being attacked, and as [sic] society, we have a duty to our daughters and granddaughters to protect that right."
" I failed in that duty of care, a failure I deeply regret and for which I am truly sorry."
His statement followed the formal apology issued by Newstalk's Managing Editor, Patricia Monahan, in which she stated that Hook's comments were "wrong and inappropriate and should never have been made."
Last September, Noeline Blackwell of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre called for the necessity of a media code on RTÉ Radio 1's This Week, saying, "What we should do now is ask all media outlets to really understand, come together and build guidelines, build awareness in their stations."
"Rape doesn’t happen because of what you’re wearing, because of the amount you’ve drunk", Blackwell added.
"Rape happens because somebody has sex with you without your consent."
So excited and delighted to finally share this!
My show, 'Tech Talk' will air every Sunday at 6pm @newstalkfm and will be available wherever you get your podcasts. https://t.co/k5MGVM1ZnR— Jess Kelly ???‘? (@jesskellynt) January 4, 2018
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