Media Watch goes after Triple M’s Roo & Ditts for racist skit

Triple M Adelaide has once again caught the ire of the ABC’s Media Watch, this time for a segment featuring an offensive Asian stereotype.

The Roo & Ditts program has a regular caller ‘Tommy’ who puts on an accent and purports to work in a Chinese restaurant.

Media Watch host Paul Barry questioned if ‘Tommy’ was real, and then revealed: “No, of course he’s not. He’s just an offensive racial stereotype played for laughs on multiple occasions.”

Media Watch noted its agitation of Triple M about ‘Tommy’ had caused the network to pull the pin on the ongoing skit.

“The offending comments were made by a caller to the show who puts on voices and who won’t be allowed on the show again,” an SCA Spokesperson told Media Watch.

“We are disappointed this content was aired and precautions have been taken to make sure it does not happen again. We sincerely apologise for any offence caused.”

Hosts of Roo & Ditts, Mark Ricciuto and Chris Dittmar also appeared on Media Watch last year for for an alleged conflict of interest, in giving advertiser Harvey Norman an easy ride.

This week’s Media Watch episode also tackled the problematic ‘Sex doll’ segment from Triple M’s national Danny Lakey Show, which was subsequently pulled from circulation.

Both Lakey and Triple M have since apologised for the segment, however Media Watch’s Barry was not satisfied.

“But do FM hosts really need to be educated that trivialising violence against women, not to mention objectifying them in this way, is not on? I mean, seriously.

“Sure, there’s nothing wrong with talking sex on the radio. But that was a disgrace.”

You can watch the full Triple M segment here.