Opinion
24 Feb 22

The 2 Johnnies Absent from 2fm Show After Apologising for Offensive Content

When the newly hired comedians The 2 Johnnies failed to materialise on 2fm today, it was clear that everything was not exactly hunky dory out in Montrose. Following a deluge of complaints about the duo's social media posts, station chiefs in RTÉ say they are currently "reviewing the matter"

The 2 Johnnies show – which started on RTÉ 2fm on Monday – has been put on ice for at least one day by the national pop station. Laura Fox – recently appointed to handle the 2fm weekend morning show – stood in for the 2 Johnnies this afternoon on what would have been just the fourth day of their new 2fm Drive It With... show.

The Tipperary double act, real names Johnny McMahon and Johnny O'Brien, had earlier apologised for "the content which appeared on our social media, these posts were offensive and should never have been published. This is not who we are nor what we stand for. We aim to do better in the future, we are not perfect and we are learning all the time.”

The content in question was featured in a video that appeared on the 2 Johnnies podcast in the run-up to them starting their show on Monday. In it, they read out a series of bumper stickers sent in by subscribers that referenced women's genitalia.

Station chiefs issued an official statement saying: “RTÉ believes in dignity and respect and does not tolerate material or attitudes of this nature. The 2 Johnnies will not be on air today while we review the matter."

They'd previously said that the presenters had been made fully aware of RTÉ's policies and social media guidelines.

Among those highlighting the post was Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns, who told the Irish Independent that it was "bizarre to see two prominent podcasters, and 2fm broadcasters, promote a segment on their podcast in which they read virulently sexist slogans while laughing uproariously.

“Sexist comments, in which women are objectified and demeaned, are incredibly insidious and contribute to a toxic culture in which women feel unsafe," she added. "Dressing these remarks up as banter or jokes does nothing to dull their damaging impact."