Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Dublin Live
Dublin Live
Entertainment
Amy Donohoe

RTE 2FM welcome back The 2 Johnnies after apologising for controversial content on their social media

RTE 2FM will welcome back The 2 Johnnies on 14 March after they apologised for posting what was slammed as "sexist and insulting comments" on their social media accounts.

They found themselves at the centre of controversy after sharing the controversial content in their podcast and clips to promote their show.

The deleted clips saw the duo known as Johnny Smacks and Johnny B discuss a number of crude references about women on bumper stickers.

The 2 Johnnies said: "On the back of what was a very intense week and having issued an apology and clarification of the events which occurred, we are extremely excited about returning to our daily drivetime show.

"We had a great welcome at 2FM last week and are eager to work with Dan and the 2FM family again, acknowledging the lessons we've learned and committing to put these into action.

"Coming from a different environment it is a privilege to get the chance to have a national conversation five days a week, and we appreciate that with this comes great responsibility and a lot is now expected of us.

"We are determined to create a successful radio show and work with everyone in 2FM to show the nation the best of us. We would like to thank 2FM for working through this with us."

The comedy duo posted a video where they apologised for causing offence (The 2 Johnnies/Instagram)

RTE said it "has engaged intensively with The 2 Johnnies in respect of the breaches of our social media guidelines, the standards expected with RTE content and the challenges of moving from an unregulated space into one where regulations apply.”

Dan Healy, Head of RTE 2FM said: "We reviewed the content and found that our social media guidelines were breached. We took this very seriously. So seriously that The 2 Johnnies were taken off air.

"They have apologised, and we've been talking since about where we go from here. They are aware of the standards we expect and are absolutely committed to upholding them.

"We are looking forward to working with The 2 Johnnies as we work together to bring a fresh approach to drivetime. That's the job they were taken on to do and the show we want to offer the audience.

"We're going to continue working on this in advance of the show returning to air on Monday 14 March."

In a segment called Irish Car Stickers the Tipperary natives – real names Johnny McMahon, 30, and Johnny O’Brien, 35 – read out some of the sticker slogans sent in by listeners, such as: “Workin’ the land and droppin’ the hand #Keephercountry.”

Others included “Tyres are like women, no good unless they are squealing” and: “She’s not a princess, she’s a sl*t.”

Drive It with The 2 Johnnies will return to RTE 2FM on Monday 14 March.

Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest new straight to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.