Lesson : always avoid this topic, always !

triple j have found themselves needing to apologise after a comment made by Tom Ballard on their breakfast show.

In the Sydney Morning Herald an article written by Dvir Abramovich, the director of the Centre for Jewish History and Culture at the University of Melbourne, describes what was broadcast.

"Yesterday, on The Tom and Alex show on triple j, a truly appalling and bizarre segment was broadcast in which a “game” was made of linking things to Hitler; the final item in this “game" was a wind farm.

Why a wind farm you ask ? Because it contains fans, which is linked to fan-forced ovens, which in turn connect to the Holocaust and Hitler. Got it? Fan-forced ovens were the ovens in which the corpses were burned after the victims were led into the gas chambers where they were told they were going to have a shower.

Tom Ballard and Alex Dyson probably thought this was hilarious and would elicit chuckles. I was speechless."

This has lead to many complaints to the station and via social media.

Today on the triple j website they posted this apology…

On Thursday morning's breakfast show, some comments were made by a triple j presenter in relation to Hitler that have received a negative reaction.

Further to our post yesterday on facebook, triple j takes all complaints seriously. We recognise the concerns regarding the comments are serious. triple j agrees the comments made were inappropriate. The matter has been followed up with the Breakfast team. triple j regrets the matter and apologises unreservedly for any offence caused.

From Tom Ballard:

"I'm very sorry that on my breakfast radio program, I offended and upset a lot of people. That's not what I like doing; I like making people laugh and I like making people happy. I never set out to vindictively offend or belittle anyone or any group with my comedy, that's not what I'm about. I sincerely apologise that's how I came across in this instance."

See the full article from Mr. Abramovich in the Sydney Morning Herald here