‘They fired us. We haven’t done anything wrong to them’: Jase and Lauren slam ARN’s ‘tasteless’ Kyle and Jackie O bus stunt
NOVA’s breakfast team Jase and Lauren has lashed out at their former employer, ARN, for a “bully-like” stunt that saw a huge Kyle and Jackie O KIIS FM101.1 bus arrive at their radio meet-and-greet over the weekend.
Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips were unceremoniously dumped from KIIS at the end of last year when Kyle and Jackie O signed their $200 million deal, part of which saw them take over the Melbourne breakfast slot. The pair quickly signed with NOVA, and are now going head-to-head with Kyle and Jackie O.
This weekend, during a $10,000 handshake competition, a hot pink bus branded with Kyle and Jackie O’s image and the KIIS FM logo parked across from the event.
Lauren Phillips fumed on air this morning, dismissing the stunt as “pretty poor form”.
“They fired us!” she continued. “We haven’t done anything wrong to them. They got rid of us, told us we weren’t good enough, and now they’re turning up to where we’re standing — there with the people that love our show and listen to our show — trying to sabotage, it’s a bit tasteless.
Jase Hawkins went further still, branding it “bully-like behaviour” by his ex employer.
“You know me I’m all up for a bit of fun and I’m cheeky and stuff like that, but I find it’s bully-like behaviour and it’s like – you shafted us!”
Their panelist Clint Stanaway further called it “puerile and embarrassing”, saying the anger of Jase & Lauren’s fans at the stunt was “something to behold”
Kyle and Jackie O’s show started in Melbourne this week, and they have been busy picking fights with a number of key media personalities and competitors.
Brendan Taylor, Nova’s group programming director, told Mumbrella that Phillips and Hawkins “continue to focus on putting listeners first.”
“‘Say Hey for $10K’ has really resonated with their audience, allowing the team to get out and about in their home city of Melbourne to say thank you to their existing and new listeners.
“We continue to focus on our own team at Nova 100, bringing listeners in Melbourne a show they’re proud to wake up with each morning.”
Mumbrella has contacted ARN for comment.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Agree with Anna above – if they were any good they wouldn’t have lost their jobs.
Anyone who listens to Kyle and Jackie O generally loves them and in dreary grey Melbourne over winter they will shine. They’re fun, they happy, they always having interesting topics and ideas – Kyle and Jackie O are perfect morning radio hosts – Jase and Lauren they got rid of you for a reason!
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Yep arn terminated by a phone call that was part of breaky team all planned in their little clicks some one need more room to shine try getting in work annoucer panelling good on you guys so happy for guys everyone else kept their jobs some even have one job i am very good at reading people 10 for this one
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