'Vile' Kyle Sandilands loses sponsors

UPDATED: The Kyle Sandilands saga continues.

Mazda, Telstra, Crazy John’s, Harvey Norman, Holden, retail giant The Good Guys, Blackmores, Fantastic Furniture, Vodafone and Medibank have pulled their sponsorship of the Kyle & Jackie O show – effective immediately – after Kyle Sandilands publicly threatened a journalist for reporting negative viewer comments about his debut TV show, Kyle & Jackie O’s Night With The Stars.

This afternoon a message on Mazda’s Facebook page said: “Though we haven’t formally announced it yet, I can confirm on Mazda’s behalf that we have requested all advertising from the Kyle & Jackie O show be pulled . We do not support Kyle’s comments and they do not support our brands values.”

A spokeswoman for Holden said: “Recent comments made on the Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show do not in any way reflect the views or opinions of Holden and we are very disappointed to hear Kyle’s personal attack on a journalist.”

A spokeswoman for the Good Guys said the company does not ‘condone the recent actions of Kyle Sandilands and has withdrawn breakfast sponsorship of the Kyle and Jackie O show’.

Speaking on his radio show yesterday, Sandilands sparked controversy and said of News Limited journalist Alison Stephenson:

“You’re a piece of shit. This low thing, Alison Stephenson, deputy editor of news.com.au online. You’re supposed to be impartial, you little troll…. You’re a bullshit artist, girl. You should be fired from your job… Watch your mouth or I’ll hunt you down.” He also called Ms Stephenson a “fat bitter thing” and attacked her hairstyle and breast size.

The audio is here if you want to hear it yourself.

Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis had this to say, according to The Australian:

“…Kate Ellis has also weighed in, accusing Sandilands of a “sustained pattern” of offensive attacks on women and urging listeners to switch him off.

“All Australians, including women, are entitled to be treated with respect at home, in the workplace and in the community,” she said.

News.com.au editor David Penberthy wrote an opinion piece about the radio jock this morning that’s really worth a read. In it he said:

“It isn’t really a bombshell observation, but Kyle Sandilands is a dead-set, rolled-gold, card-carrying dickhead.It is with some reluctance that I burst into print about this dopey little grub. His entire marketing strategy – to presuppose a level of intellect which renders him capable of crafting a strategy for anything – is to create outrage and feed off it.”

“Journalists have to expect a degree of flak – we often write things which are critical and even inflammatory – but what Ali wrote in no way justifies the nuclear nature of his reaction, nor his (typical) decision to go so grubby and personal with his rank remarks about her breasts and her hair.”

He ended his rant with this: “Why does anyone employ him? Why would any brand advertise itself on his shows?”

You can read the full piece here. What do you think?

And what about Jackie O’s role in all of this. She’s the ‘cackling enabler’, according to ABC’s Mark Colvin, who is always by Kyle’s side but never cops any of the mud.

If you feel strongly, this petition to have the radio program sponsors pull their advertising is doing the rounds.

Jessica Simpson in talks to lose weight she hasn’t put on

Signing a weight loss deal before you’ve even finished putting it on? Yes, the celebrity world continues to be insane with news that Jessica Simpson is reportedly in talks to sign a $4 million deal with Weight Watches to lose her “baby weight.” If she signs – she won’t be the first celebrity to do so. Mel B and Mariah Carey have signed similar deals with weight loss companies this year.

The Federal Government’s mining tax – it’s on.

The government’s mineral resources rent tax has been given the green light after it struck a deal with the Greens. After winning the support of Greens MP Adam Bandt, parliament voted 73-71 in support of the tax early this morning. The tax will apply to iron ore, coal and petroleum. The opposition has promised to repel the tax if it wins government. Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said revenue raised from the tax would help fund tax breaks for small business, higher superannuation and infrastructure projects. The mining tax will start on July 1, 2012.

Princess Mary arrives in Canberra

Princess Mary has arrived in Canberra as part of her six-day Australian tour. Mary and her husband Prince Fredrick were greeted by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and attended an official lunch at Parliament house. During their time in Canberra, they also met with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and later laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial. In a welcome to country, Janet Phillips gave Mary a special thank-you saying:  “She has given all the young women in this land that maybe out there is this amazing Prince charming and he is waiting for her.”

Here’s what Princess Mary and Prince Fredrick have been up to over the last couple of days.

Qantas social media campaign hijacked

Oh the power of social media. It started as a competition to win one of 50 pairs of first-class pyjamas and amenity kits. Qantas asked Twitter users to use the hashtag #QantasLuxury to describe what their dream luxury inflight experience would be. But what it became was a Twitter stream full of sarcastic and angry replies from Qantas passengers who hijacked the hashtag. Amongst the suggestions of #QantasLuxury were “Getting from A to B without the plane being grounded or an engine catching fire” (via ABC’s Mark Colvin) and “when the passengers arrive before the couriers delivering the lockout notices do” (via blogger Grogs Gamut).

Tell us, what would your #QantasLuxury be?