Radio host Mel Greig has spoken out after it was revealed that her former co-host Mike Christian will be taking legal action against their former employer Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), alleging the radio presenters were “hung out to dry” over the infamous 2012 prank call to a London hospital where Kate Middleton was being treated.
“I understand why Michael is choosing to go down this path,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Whilst there are various reasons we may never be able to speak our entire truth on all that occurred, I do hope that the continued attention on this tragic incident results in substantial reforms in the way media produce content and support their staff, so that something like this never happens again.
“My thoughts and supports as always are with the Saldanha family.”
Melissa Greig addresses the royal prank on her socials. (Credit: Instagram)
On December 4, 2012, Christian and Greig were presenting on 2Day FM — which is owned by SCA — when they made a call to King Edward VII hospital. At the time, Middleton, then Duchess of Cambridge, had been admitted for severe morning sickness ahead of the birth of her first child.
During the pre-recorded call, the co-hosts impersonated King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II and obtained private medical information of the princess. Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who transferred the call, took her own life several days later.
Christian alleges the pair was ordered by the station’s production team to make a prank call to the hospital, and that the broadcaster had promised support if the on-air content ever went too far. Over a decade later, he is suing 2Day FM’s broadcaster SCA amid claims they did not step in during the fall-out.
Christian has alleged the presenters were “hung out to dry” as the “convenient fall guys” after the royal prank. (Source: A Current Affair)
As reported by 9News, he is taking legal action for physical and psychological distress, and alleges he and Greig were “left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse” after Saldanha’s death.
Per the claim, Christians alleges the pair initially objected to the call and broadcasting the recording, but their concerns were not addressed.
“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, per 9News.
“Michael continues to suffer severe mental health issues as a result of the continuing public backlash, all these years later.”
His legal team allege his career suffered as a result of the backlash, and that his employers had assured him SCA would help restore his reputation. But it’s alleged SCA “marginalised him” and prevented him from talking about the royal prank.
Greig apologised to Saldanha’s family at an inquest into the nurse’s death in 2014, blaming the radio station and commercial radio culture for the incident.
In 2024, Rhys Holleran, SCA’s chief executive at the time of the incident, told the ABC he still suffers anxiety about it.
“I have always felt completely and utterly responsible for this,” he said.
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