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Breakfast Bar : A Letter To Jackie O

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November 24, 2011
Be Smart, Breakfast bar, Celebrity & Entertainment, News & Views
23 Comments

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Dear Jackie O,

I hope you are well.  I imagine things are a little difficult for you at present.  That’s regrettable and must be stressful.  I like your dress.  It’s really pretty.  I hope you and your family are doing nice stuff together.

I wanted to talk to you about friends.  Sometimes we have friends who are not really our friends… did you know that?  It’s true. Sometimes we have friends who we really like a lot, but they might not be the best kind of friends for us.  They might get us in trouble, these kind of friends, or they might wander about doing stupid things that we don’t really approve of. Sometimes when we hang around with these people, other people, people who might make MUCH NICER friends, think we’re just like these unsavory friends.  And we’re not. Are we?

It’s a bit unfair to be considered guilty by association, I agree, especially when it’s you, Jackie O, because you seem so lovely.  The behaviour by your co-host is just that, his bad behaviour.   I get that. I would write a letter to him, instead, but he may try to hurt me or destroy my life.  Anyway, I’m not blaming you for these outbursts. Not in any way. You are not responsible for his bad behaviour.  Not at all.  I think you should see him for what he is and GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE, though!

Are you the kind of lady who thinks it’s okay to use other ladies as media fodder?  I bet you are NOT.  Are you the kind of lady who thinks it’s okay to exploit young womens’ sexuality for bigger ratings? I hope you are NOT. Are you the kind of lady who thinks it’s okay to call other ladies ‘fat slags’ or comment on their body shape or threaten them with violence? I know you are NOT.

But you are sitting right there, chatting with him as he says this nasty stuff, probably because you are trying to do your job and you have a family to support.  And maybe because you love working in the media and want to continue to do that. And perhaps because you and your co-host have been friends for a long time, too.  Or you might be scared of him.  I am not really sure why. Only you know that.

You might be hoping that your co-host will be taken off the air forever, put in a rocket on its way to Mars and replaced with a much nicer person?  I would be hoping that too. Actually, I am hoping that.  But the problem is it doesn’t happen, he is forever protected, year after year spitting toxic venom in the name of entertainment and ratings, taken off air and reinstated.  This leaves YOU in the difficult position of having to decide what’s best for you (and your family.)

Maybe this is the day when you can stand up and tell everyone how YOU feel about this. And walk away from it once and for all.  Maybe it’s time to distance yourself from Mr Poop-head and make your own way, do your own thing?  Maybe it’s a good day to just be JACKIE and stop being AND JACKIE O?  Ask them to kick him off the show?  Let’s have the JACKIE O AND… program, if you please?!  Or maybe your own show?  That would be great.  I for one would like to see you or hear you without that Bad Tempered Man Brooch you have pinned to your lapel.  AND I think you deserve to be taken for who you are, and not as yet another lady accessory to Mr Lonely Spot.

Do you want to come over, Jackie O?  Let’s have a cup of tea and we can talk about good friends and bad friends.

xx Pip

 

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  • Vicky

    As the saying goes… Shit splatters… I have no idea why Jackie O even works with him, but keep working with him, and eventually the shit hitting the fan, well its going to land on her simply by association….

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      I guess we never know someone’s circumstances… but I’m not sure why she stays either, Vicky! xx

  • Wee Birdy

    You know, I’m afraid Jackie is complicit in the abuse by the fact she has remained silent throughout his tired. She has chosen to be silent in the past as well, but has continued to vocally defend Kyle. She’s a strong, grown-up woman, and I don’t see her actions as passive in any way.

    She has also defended Kyle this morning by saying he’s no woman-hater because he treats the women in the office with respect. Jackie clearly doesn’t understand the concept of misogynism.

    I’m so terribly disappointed with Jackie.

  • Wee Birdy

    *tirade

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Ugh. The whole situation is a mess, isn’t it? I was disappointed that she didn’t walk last time. It’s hard to give her the benefit of the doubt…. I am really trying!

  • Allison

    So right – you’re fabulous Pip!

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      I think you are lovely, Allison!!! xx

  • Julie Parker

    So disappointing all round. Kyle is a mysoginist bully and I’m afraid that Jackie is becoming increasingly complicit with his behaviour because she not only says nothing (which would be bad enough) but she defends him. I’m so glad sponsors have been pulling from the show and I hope it continues. A message needs to be sent to him, them, the station and the wider community that this sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable.

    Like you Pip, I hope Jackie wakes up soon. She has a daugther. Do the right thing by you and her.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      She does have a little girl. And all girls and women should be treated with respect… I am not sure that ‘Uncle Kyle’ is the best role model, really…. x

  • Kirsty

    I have the most amazing book on my coffee table at home. It’s called “The Hundred Dresses” & I think if EVERYONE read this book the world would be a better place. I am going to hunt you down a copy Pippy – you will LOVE it. x

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Well it’s NICE to hear something positive amidst all this! I look forward to seeing that book, Kirsty!!! xx

  • StylingYou

    Bad tempered man brooch is THE best description ever. Love your work, Pip x

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Not a very nice brooch to wear, either. Ew. x

  • Louisa

    Hi Pip, I think your post today is very generous – while I used to feel similiar her ongoing silence in the face of his outbursts leaves me thinking she’s just as bad as she is. It’s quite different from your letter but I wrote one to her last night, you can find it here if you’d like: http://www.everythingisedible.com/blog/opinion/an-open-letter-to-jackie-o/

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      I guess I feel that we don’t walk in Jackie’s shoes… I’m not sure what is going on with her, but I do know that she’s GOT to make a stand or risk losing her integrity…. well, her BRAND’S integrity, I suppose… I wish she’d do a bunk. I really do. It’s not too late! Off to read your post, now! x

  • Name

    Never heard of them.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      That could be a blessing, methinks! x

  • Karen

    Hi Pip
    A very diplomatic letter to Jackie, and on top of Vile Kyles derogatory remarks- why can’t we be women? How demeaning to be called a girl on top of it all. Jackie is in a position that demands ethically to stand up and say no. I’ m sure she really wishes she could.
    Maybe if we could stand behind her and push her in the right direction?

  • Emily

    I hope she reads your letter, Pip! I hope she boots Kyle, but that she also takes your larger point. Because before there was Kyle there was Ugly Phi, so the caiblre of her cohosts started abysmally low and have gotten worse with the next iteration- I dread to think who could be coming next if she doesn’t experience a bit of a growth in understanding!

  • Name

    (She was actually married to Ugly Phil, they weren’t just co-hosts. So I don’t know if that changes your opinion of her at all.)

  • Kelly

    Well said Pip. Sometimes life is about having the confidence to just walk away.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001275592155 pennimoussa

    I was soooo disappointed in both Kyle and Jackie O. What awful, horrible things he said, and to hear Jackie O laugh in the background was just as bad! To me she seemed to be giving him implicit support for his bad behaviour! To persecute a woman for her independent views using verbal abuse related to her weight and appearance is appauling! What message are we sending to our kids? That this is OK? NO WAY! Ironically, my Year 6 daughter experienced the same thing just the night before on Skype…from a Year 5 girl! .This girl said to my daughter, who is a little overweight, that she was “as fat as a tidal wave, (and fatter than a boy in her class)” and persisted with her disgraceful insults (her mum made her apologise, and I asked my daughter to de-friend this girl immediately! She happily obliged). Thankfully my daughter knows that she is so much more than her “appearance”, we make sure that we reinforce this message with each of our children. So Jackie O, I think there is someone you need to de-friend, don’t you?

  • http://www.facebook.com/Vanessa.Mackay vanessamackay

    Pip, I understand your point of view, but need to point out that Jackie O is probably contractually engaged not to say anything against her cohost or the show on the grounds that it would impede the commercial viability of the program. The best that we can do is not listen to the drival that comes off that show and deplete them of their listening and commercial audience.