Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
In December 2012, Australian radio host Michael Christian and his co-host Mel Greig, then working at 2Day FM, made a prank call to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London, where Kate Middleton was being treated during her first pregnancy.
Pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, the pair managed to convince nurse Jacintha Saldanha to transfer their call, inadvertently disclosing private details about the Princess of Wales. Days later, the 46-year-old mother of two took her own life.
Saldanha left three notes, one of which expressed anger at the presenters and blamed them for her death. The incident triggered global outrage, and both DJs faced years of harassment, death threats, and professional fallout.
Michael Christian’s lawsuit
More than 12 years on, Christian has filed a lawsuit against Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), claiming he was instructed to make the call by producers just days into his on-air role. According to court documents, he argues the prank breached broadcasting codes and should never have been approved, noting it had reportedly been cleared by the station’s lawyers before airing.
Christian alleges SCA used him and Greig as “convenient fall guys and scapegoats,” promising to support and rebuild their careers but failing to do so. He says he was gradually sidelined within the company and ultimately dismissed this year under what he claims was a “non-genuine” redundancy, despite his role still existing.
His legal team is now seeking penalties, damages, and compensation for loss of potential earnings.
Aftermath and continuing impact
Both Christian and Greig have spoken openly about the personal toll of the scandal. Christian told A Current Affair shortly after the incident that the prank was never meant to go beyond “a 30-second hang-up.” Greig later revealed she struggled with depression and that her mother also received death threats. “I am ashamed of myself,” she admitted in 2014. “I should have tried harder to not let that prank call air.”
SCA’s then-chief executive Rhys Holleran has since acknowledged ongoing anxiety over the episode, telling the ABC in 2024: “I have always felt completely and utterly responsible for this.”
Responding to news of Christian’s lawsuit, Greig said on Instagram that she understood his decision and hoped renewed attention would push for reforms in how media organizations both produce content and protect staff. She also reiterated her support for the Saldanha family.
Southern Cross Austereo has been contacted for comment.
If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, confidential help is available. Call Samaritans for free, 24/7, on 116 123.
Bạn có muốn mình viết thêm một mở đầu 2–3 câu tóm toàn bộ câu chuyện ngay từ đầu (theo phong cách báo quốc tế) để bài “cuốn” hơn không?
