Melbourne radio hosts Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola, and Nick Cody are facing significant public backlash after questioning the account of shark attack survivor Leah Stewart. Listeners have flooded social media and news outlets with calls for the presenters to be sacked, accusing them of insensitivity and poor form.
Stewart, 35, a mother of one, recounted her terrifying experience of being mauled by a great white shark at Sydney's Coogee Beach on June 13. She detailed going into survival mode, contemplating which arm to sacrifice, and confronting the shark's "black little beady eyes." Stewart lost part of her left arm in the attack.
During their show on Melbourne's 101.9 The Fox, the radio trio reportedly questioned whether Stewart had "time to think" during the ordeal. Former AFL player Brendan Fevola, in particular, suggested Stewart was embellishing her story, using the phrase "putting a lot of mayo on" to describe her account.
Fevola stated, "If a shark was attacking you, you wouldn't have much time to think." Co-host Fifi Box initially acknowledged the unusual nature of Stewart's recollection, referencing professional surfer Mick Fanning's similar experience where he acted on reflex without conscious thought. However, Fevola remained unconvinced, emphasizing the perceived implausibility of detailed thought processes during such an attack.
Listeners expressed outrage over the hosts' comments, with many deeming their remarks disrespectful to Stewart's trauma and bravery. "Let's add to her trauma and grief by undermining the magnitude of her experience," one listener wrote, echoing sentiments that the presenters were "utter degenerates" for questioning a survivor's account. Others defended Stewart, highlighting her courage and will to survive for her child, while criticizing the radio personalities as "overpaid armchair shark attack experts."
The controversy comes as Fevola and his co-hosts have recently experienced a decline in ratings, with Fox FM's breakfast audience share dropping from 10 percent to 8.9 percent in the latest Melbourne radio survey.