New Zealand radio hosts suspended after airing Ben Stokes' mother's views without consent
Ben Stokes continues to hog limelight even after the World T20 finals. The combative all-rounder was taken to the cleaners in the final over of the World T20 final as Carlos Brathwaite smashed him for four consecutive sixes. There have been different opinions ever since and people have taken sides. There has been support for Stokes from all corners too and people have backed him. Eoin Morgan too in the post match press conference said that the team will share Stokes’ pain.
In another incident that has surfaced, Deborah Stokes, the mother of Ben, who is a resident of New Zealand was defending her son after she was taken into confidence that her opinions were not being aired. However, a pair of Radio hosts have been suspended after it was revealed that all he opinions were aired without her consent or knowledge.
Jeremy Wells and Matt Heath were discussing the last over by Ben Stokes to Carlos Brathwaite on New Zealand radio station Radio Hauraki. Hearing the constant criticism that was being dished out towards her son, Deborah called up the radio station to voice her dissent and all her conversations were taken on air without her consent of knowledge. What made matters worse is the fact that Matt Heath assured her that she was off air.
We have family in New Zealand
She claimed during the conversation that such things happen all the time in cricket and the way Ben is being treated with so much callous humour is just not right. She also took names of many cricketers who supported Ben Stokes. She also said that Ben has been born and brought up in New Zealand and has family all over the country.
“And for those who listen to your station, for them to sit and listen to their cousin and their grandson being bagged like that is absolutely unconscionable and I’m his mother and I’m totally brassed off.”
Called back to complain
All throughout the show, Ms Stokes was never made aware that her opinions are being aired, and the hosts acted as if they are genuinely noting down the complaints and it will get righted during the show.
When Ms Stokes heard the telecast, she called back with another complaint and then the duo of Wells and Heath was suspended.
“Matt and Jeremy are famous for identifying where the line is and then ignoring it, however putting Ben’s mum to air without her knowledge, albeit defending her son, was obviously well over that line,” NZME Group Program Director Mike McClung said in a statement to news.com.au.