Online reaction to the radio prank and the nurse's death

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Phil Hahn, CTV News Social Media Producer
Published Friday, December 7, 2012 6:24PM EST
Last Updated Friday, December 7, 2012 6:30PM EST

View the story "Are they responsible? Outrage, appeals for calm, after #royalprank blamed on tragedy" on StorifyAre they responsible? Outrage, appeals for calm, after #royalprank blamed on tragedyStorified by CTVNews.ca · Fri, Dec 07 2012 14:57:01Social media users pounced on two Australian radio show hosts who made a prank phone call earlier this week to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated, when news broke Friday that the nurse involved was found dead. Mel Greig and Michael Christian of 2Day FM in Australia were said to be "deeply shocked" by what's assumed -- but not yet confirmed -- to be the nurse's suicide.Greig and Christian, and the radio station's parent company Southern Cross Austereo, decided in the wake of the tragic death that they should be pulled from the airways. But not before they were blasted on social media, with the radio station's comment section being deluged with angry messages.This morning, people noticed the DJs' Twitter accounts were deleted.Both Australian DJs Michael Christian @MContheradio and @MelGreigHot30 involved in prank call appear to have deleted their Twitter accountsIan WoodsDJs who performed the prank, Michael Christian @MContheradio & Mel Greig @MelGreigHot30 deleted their Twitter accounts http://pic.twitter.com/BEteD4pYDylan YounkinNot just jerks. Also cowards. RT @AnandWrites: Amazing. Twitter account of @MContheradio, purveyor of #RoyalPrank, has been deleted.Sonia FaleiroThe prank was still featured prominently this morning on the radio station's website, but has since been taken down: http://www.2dayfm.com.au/the-dirt/blog/biggest-royal-prank-ever/#submitcomment.While the DJs are suspended indefinitely, many are calling for them to be outright fired, and even for the radio station to be shut down.The Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian should be fired among other thingsdavid caplan2Day FM should be shut down. #EnoughAlready. I hope the full force of the law is applied to all concerned. #Fraud #Bullying #NotFunnyAlan PerkinsSo sad that people don't understand the consequences of their actions anymore. I hope those Aussie Djs understand what they've done.Caitlin BroganThe radio station was inundated with hundreds of complaints on its Facebook page, and the station was deleting many of these posts.Whoever is running the 2Day FM Facebook page is now deleting whole posts with abandon! Car crash social media managementAbigail SawyerLater in the day, the station seemed to have deleted its Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/2dayfm. Radio station responsible for #RoyalPrank have deleted their Facebook account. If you can't stand the heat.....#SpinelessRoom with viewsBut other pages have popped up since, seemingly part of a movement to "Close Down 2day FM" https://www.facebook.com/CloseDown2dayFm. Further, an online petition supported by change.org urges the station to fire the DJs http://www.change.org/petitions/2day-fm-radio-sydney-dismiss-mel-greig-and-michael-christian-and-all-those-involved-for-gross-misconductThe incident prompted some to reflect on the role of media in this tragedy.As members of the media, we feel terrible when something like this is taken too far.Q107 Torontothe tragic death of Jacintha Saldanha is a stark reminder of the power of the media, with power comes responsibility - sadly forgottenLee DaviesThere was debate among some in the media Friday over whether the DJs involved should be held accountable in the death of the nurse, whose mental state was not yet clear.I really don't like this idea that people are less culpable for damaging acts if their victims are mentally unstable.Doug Saunders@DougSaunders Oh for heaven’s sake they didn’t kill anybody. Who knows what her mental state was?Andrew CoyneWhile the majority of reaction on social media condemned the prank, there were some who appealed for cooler heads to prevail and to tone down the vitriol being levelled at the radio personalities. The dumb Aussie DJs' prank was silly, but they clearly never expected to be taken seriously, let alone possibly cause someone's suicide.Piers MorganIt's sad a life was lost. But putting the blame on the Djs for anything other than disclosing confidential medical information is absurd.Mario Ramirez ReyesMany other DJs have pulled similar stunts with no adverse consequences; are they at fault too?James C LinI wasn't laughing at #royalprank in the first place. In fact, I was thinking the media should leave the suffering mother-to-be aloneTom ReeveMeanwhile, others are saying we are all culpable, to an extent, because the DJs were simply feeding off of our celebrity obsession.Problem with the #royalprank is that it represents all that's wrong with society. Celebrity fixation for starters.Jason GooljarIm sure everyone's going to blame the radio DJs for the prank call leading to suicide but doesn't it indict all those with Royals obsession?Poet MaseEvery1 turning on DJs who did the prank be careful not to trigger further tragic consequences. The weight of the worlds disapproval is heavyBirdySome are questioning whether the DJs have become scapegoats, and that a bigger issue is being overlooked. Of course we will all blame the DJs entirely because it's easier than talking about mental health, right?Ian SimpsonReports say Aussie DJs have been fired. Mental heath issues are much more complex than this, and deserve much more than a scapegoat.Walter HickeyWhat do you think? Do you believe the DJs went too far, considering the apparent suicide of the nurse who took their call? Let us know by leaving your comment below.