Fill out 2GB Breakfast presenter Chris Smith has threatened legal action against “Covid bedwetters” as he doubles down in a battle of words with stablemate Ray Hadley.
Smith and Hadley have been back and forth since Wednesday morning, when Smith said we should “not panic” over the discovery of new Covid cases over the Coral Princess cruise ship, comments Hadley called “stupid”.
On Friday morning, Smith further escalated his attack on his 2GB host, telling listeners: “I’m not even bullied by lifelong bullies. I love a good rumble, I look forward to more disagreements and I look forward to standing up for myself every time.”
Smith then went on to say he had hired two defamation attorneys over allegations made against him suggesting he was affiliated with cruise lines, and that’s why he made the comments.
Chris Smith says Chief Covid Betwetters “embarrassed themselves” with their comments about Covid infections aboard the Coral Princess cruise and hinted at a possible defamation lawsuit
Hadley said on Wednesday he was “embarrassed” to be on the same network as Smith after the Ben Fordham presenter said people shouldn’t panic about Covid cases aboard the Coral Princess cruise ship: “Sit it into perspective: There are only 118 positive cases on the Coral Princess
“Anyone who claims I have such suspicions should be prepared to defend themselves in court, I know I can,” Smith said.
“I have actually hired two media defo (libel) lawyers and will be working very closely on Monday.
“Don’t listen to anyone here trying to claim I have an official cruise line affiliation influencing my opinion, that’s rubbish, that’s nonsense.
“I have no connections, none at all, why the hell should I?
“It’s a nasty thing to suggest.”
Hadley slammed Smith – who was filling in for regular breakfast presenter Ben Fordham – for the first time on his 2GB morning show on Wednesday, saying he was “embarrassed to be on the same network” as himself over “stupid” comments he made he made about the covid-infected cruise ship.
Smith held back on Thursday, saying the situation should be put into perspective before really underlining his point on Friday.
“Those bashing this should be ashamed … peddling fear in this context is sickening and shameful,” Smith said Friday.
He said the Coral Princess should not be equated with the Ruby Princess – the Covid-riddled cruise ship that helped introduce the first Covid wave to Sydney in March 2020 – saying: “The main bed-wetters… have disgraced themselves terribly .”
Smith hit back at suggestions he had commented on the cruise ship due to ties to the company involved. “Anyone who claims I have it and spreads that suspicion better be prepared to defend themselves in court, I know I can.”
“Those who chose to take a twisted path and hurt me personally have horrible glass jaws and they caught horrific bashing across media platforms, which says it all,” Smith claimed.
On Wednesday morning, Smith said Australians need not be upset about the Coral Princess, which docked in Sydney on Wednesday.
He said passengers “knew what they would encounter on the ‘damn cruise ship’ – with more than 100 staff and passengers forced to stay on the boat until they returned a negative test.”
“We are in another realm, this is very different. We have defenses against the virus now and it’s not like following the Ruby Princess,” Smith said.
“I would argue that we shouldn’t panic … We have to be honest, put it in context. Let’s not get excited.
“Put it in perspective: There are only 118 positive cases on the Coral Princess.”
In response, Hadley attacked his colleague, saying he was “almost embarrassed” to be on the same broadcast network.
Hadley on Wednesday: “I’m sorry but the kind of nonsense I heard on the network this morning was just plain stupid and I’m almost embarrassed that I’m on the same network as this guy.”
Without naming him – but almost certainly referring to Smith – Hadley said: “One of my colleagues said this morning there’s nothing to see here, it’s all wonderful, well he’s a dumb person about it I think to the virus.
“Sorry, but the kind of nonsense I heard on the network this morning was just plain stupid, and I’m almost embarrassed that I’m on the same channel as this guy, but that’s another story anyway, with which I will deal with privately.’
Following Hadley’s comments Wednesday, Smith didn’t back down and said he would take his advice from the medical experts.
“I stand by what I said,” the broadcaster told Daily Mail Australia.
“The cruise line has failed these passengers with lax biosecurity measures.
The Coral Princess passengers disembarked the cruise ship after disembarking at Circular Quay early Wednesday morning
“But with 4.7 per cent of those on board infected and 100 per cent of them fully vaccinated, this is nothing like the Ruby Princess case.
As the Queensland Secretary of Health said, ‘Covid is all around us’. I will get advice from the epidemiologists, thank you.”
The outbreak forced Princess Cruises to offer refunds to those booked on her next 12-day voyage ahead of her departure from Brisbane for Sydney on Monday.
A Princess Cruises spokesman said on Tuesday the crew, who recently tested positive in a full screening, are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.
The contagion on the ship — a sister ship to the Ruby Princess that has been linked to 28 deaths after an onboard outbreak in 2020 — is the first for the local cruise industry since it resumed voyages in the wake of the pandemic.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said logs were in place on the ship prior to the outbreak.
The ship traveled through Queensland on Sunday before heading to NSW where it is currently docked in Sydney
“The virus is everywhere and there is no escaping it,” Ms D’Ath said earlier this week.
“They will be testing staff more frequently at the moment and will also be encouraging any passengers with any symptoms to come in and get tested and they will also need to isolate themselves.”
Princess Cruises said they were “doing everything possible” to ensure the safety of guests and crew.
“We are adhering to comprehensive protocols that have been agreed in collaboration with federal and state authorities and we are confident that they are working effectively,” a spokesman told the Australian Associated Press.
Princess Cruises said they were “doing everything possible” to ensure the safety of guests and crew (pictured the cruise ship docked at Sydney’s Circular Quay).
