# 14 yo girl reveals rape in radio stunt **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720 "2009-07-29T23:12:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/1 "2009-07-29T23:12:21Z")
As per the story here: > **[Call to sack radio hosts after girl, 14, reveals rape on air](https://www.theage.com.au/national/call-to-sack-radio-hosts-after-girl-14-reveals-rape-on-air-20090729-e1ka.html)** > > A top-rating radio station has defended a stunt in which a 14-year-old girl was strapped to a lie detector before revealing — live on air — that she had been raped. > [@](#): > > A TOP-RATING radio station has defended a stunt in which a 14-year-old girl was strapped to a lie detector before revealing — live on air — that she had been raped. bit more here: [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25856368-29277,00.html?from=public\_rss](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25856368-29277,00.html?from=public_rss) Leaving the girl out of this [SIZE=“3”]-please-[/SIZE] other than it appears she was not too happy about participating. Should there be any consequences for the hosts, the station or the mother Opinions please ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/2 "2009-07-29T23:16:56Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > As per the story here: > > [Call to sack radio hosts after girl, 14, reveals rape on air](http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-to-sack-radio-hosts-after-girl-14-reveals-rape-on-air-20090729-e1ka.html) > > bit more here: > [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25856368-29277,00.html?from=public\_rss](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25856368-29277,00.html?from=public_rss) > > Leaving the girl out of this [SIZE=“3”]-please-[/SIZE] other than it appears she was not too happy about participating. > Should there be any consequences for the hosts, the station or the mother > Opinions please If the stories here are true–that is, the tale as told in your link and the girl having told her mother ere this that she had been raped–then the mother needs to … I’m sorry. I have difficulty thinking of a sufficiently bad punishment for her. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/3 "2009-07-29T23:25:54Z")
I can’t believe a mother would put her daughter in that situation. And I’m rather disgusted that the station personnel would go along with it. I’m not sure what the consequences should be (they may occur naturally through public outcry). Perhaps no laws were broken, but it’s a violation of basic human decency. Yecch. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/4 "2009-07-29T23:44:23Z")
Holy shit, that is the most awkward audio clip I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/5 "2009-07-30T00:08:51Z")
Sounds like the kind of thing Maury Povich used to do on his show (he might still be doing it, but I don’t work at the place where the TV was on that channel in the lunchroom anymore, so I don’t know). I always wondered about the dysfunctional families who would be willing to sacrifice any shred of dignity and even appear on such a freakshow. Looks like they have those kind of families in Oz, too. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I’d say that the radio hosts should be yanked from the airwaves, but I just know that there would be three more sets ready to jump in and fill the slot. Because, disgusting as it is, there are a LOT of people who are willing to lap that shit up on the listening end. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/6 "2009-07-30T01:01:53Z")
This happened in Oz, so I don’t know what the legal ramifications may be. If that happened here, I’d consider it grounds to remove the child from her mother’s care immediately, on a temporary basis, while the social services folks investigate. Once the investigation is complete, further action may be needed. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/7 "2009-07-30T03:23:05Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > This happened in Oz, so I don’t know what the legal ramifications may be. If that happened here, I’d consider it grounds to remove the child from her mother’s care immediately, on a temporary basis, while the social services folks investigate. Once the investigation is complete, further action may be needed. DOCS (department of community services = Social services) are “investigating” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/8 "2009-07-30T04:09:32Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > This happened in Oz, so I don’t know what the legal ramifications may be. If that happened here, I’d consider it grounds to remove the child from her mother’s care immediately, on a temporary basis, while the social services folks investigate. Once the investigation is complete, further action may be needed. The mother doesn’t have the daughter’s best interests at heart. I have no idea why she thought this would be a good thing to do, or how she could possibly come out of this looking good. That kid needs a better home, a better mother, and some serious counselling. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/9 "2009-07-30T04:13:00Z")
And someone needs to inform those radio hosts that being raped does not constitute sexual experience. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/10 "2009-07-30T04:27:10Z")
From the audio, I think the hosts were dumbfounded when the teen answered that she had been raped. Trouble is that you can’t be dumbfounded on the radio. There has to near constant noise, so he asked the first question that came to mind while all collected themselves and realized what I bad idea it was to put this mom and daughter on the air. I don’t fault the hosts at all. The segment ended as quickly as it could. I do think the mom should be punished if this was for real. And, hell, even if it wasn’t. Anyone who could do something like that really does not deserve children. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/11 "2009-07-30T04:33:26Z")
I think that it was a bad, bad, bad idea to put a minor in a live radio show. It was an even worse idea to strap her up to a lie detector. And I think that the hosts had a duty to step in and stop the questioning when the daughter said that she didn’t want to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/12 "2009-07-30T05:22:57Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > And someone needs to inform those radio hosts that being raped does not constitute sexual experience. Dunno, if it’s a channel for 10-17 year olds, I’d say that if they actually went through and talked about it, how it happened, suggestions for how to avoid that sort of situation, etc. that would overall be a good thing. General appreciation that it does happen to real people and not just statistics, isn’t a bad thing so far as the listeners should be concerned. But yeah, I doubt this show accomplished much of use for anyone. _personally has no interest in listening to it_ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/13 "2009-07-30T05:37:27Z")
I love what one of the radio hosts said: > [@](#): > > What I’m most annoyed about is that some of the press have jumped on this and made it out to be a stunt and a ratings ploy. What would ever give them that idea? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/14 "2009-07-30T05:49:39Z")
They don’t call them Vile and Tacky Ho for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/15 "2009-07-30T07:18:25Z")
The interesting thing is that it seems like it’s the hosts whose throat everyone is jumping down for an apology, whereas if it’s true that the mother had known about this for two months (and they didn’t) then clearly she’s the one who needs to be tarred and feathered. Notwithstanding that, the whole lie-detector thing sounds enourmously tacky, especially if it was obvious that the girl didn’t want to take part in the first place. Even if she had been raped - getting her to admit to if she was doing drugs and having sex live on radio? FFS. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/16 "2009-07-30T19:23:46Z")
From the article… > [@](#): > > The mother submitted the teen to the test, a regular segment on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, concerned at her experiences with drugs and sex. Before the test, the girl told Sandilands on air: “I’m scared … it’s not fair.” > > Her mother asked her: “Have you ever had sex?” The 14-year-old replied: “I’ve already told you the story about this … and don’t look at me and smile because it’s not funny.” > > After a pause, she raised her voice with frustration and said: “Oh OK, I got raped when I was 12 years old.” > > After another pause, Sandilands asked, “Right … is that the only experience you’ve had?” before the mother admitted she knew of the rape. Her daughter yelled, “Yet you still asked me the question!” They regularly ask underage girls about their apparently problematic ‘sex lives’ and can’t conceive that more than a few have been assaulted or abused, and that it might come out on the air? What a bunch of idiots, minus the daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/17 "2009-07-30T19:35:07Z")
Poor little girl. After an experience like that, not just the rape but mom ignoring it, it’s really no surprise if she turned to drugs. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/18 "2009-07-30T19:46:09Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > And someone needs to inform those radio hosts that being raped does not constitute sexual experience. Umm, yes it does. It’s sexual and an experience. This is an _is_ statement not an _ought_ statement. Being raped doesn’t stop being sexual or being an experience just because it’s nasty. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/19 "2009-07-30T20:09:31Z")
I don’t think the radio people did anything wrong. The fault should be on the mother, who knew about and ignored it and plied the event into a radio segment. There’s nothing wrong with putting a minor in front of a live mic on radio or TV. Interviews with people in the street for various types of TV shows are done all the time and an adult can lie and say something salacious just as easily as a kid. As to the questioning, talk shows have been doing ambush or intervention interviews for years, many times with minors, on lots of different subjects. I can remember Maury or Jenny Jones or Ricki Lake or Montel or Springer interview subjects with taglines like “My daughter dresses too slutty” or something like that. Unexpected things come with the territory. If the girl didn’t want to say anything then she should have refused to answer. It was her choice once the mom forced her into the situation to remain silent or answer. While I have sympathy for what she was put through, I don’t consider the radio station to be at fault at all. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720/20 "2009-07-30T20:17:19Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > They regularly ask underage girls about their apparently problematic ‘sex lives’ and can’t conceive that more than a few have been assaulted or abused, and that it might come out on the air? What a bunch of idiots, minus the daughter. Yeah. Considering she’s fourteen, how could they not suspect that any sex experience she had would have been the result of a rape? Leaving aside the issue that lie detectors aren’t even conclusive. Ugh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14-yo-girl-reveals-rape-in-radio-stunt/504720.md?page=2)