Australian Radio Host Marty Sheargold Departs Station After Backlash Over Controversial Matildas Comments

Marty Sheargold and his Triple M radio show were pulled from the airwaves on Wednesday following outrage over remarks he made about the Matildas, Australia’s national women’s soccer team. Sheargold’s comments, widely condemned as offensive and misogynistic, sparked significant public backlash, prompting both the host and the station to issue apologies before ultimately parting ways.

During Monday’s broadcast, Sheargold made inflammatory remarks about the Matildas, dismissing their upcoming participation in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and implying that their matches were not worth watching. "I’d rather hammer a nail through my head," he said, before further belittling the team with comments that likened them to "year 10 girls" dealing with high school drama.

The segment, which aired during peak drive-time hours, quickly gained traction on social media, drawing fierce criticism from athletes, fans, and sporting organizations. Former Hockeyroo Rosie Malone posted an edited clip of the segment on Instagram, describing it as "disgusting" and questioning how such rhetoric was still allowed on mainstream radio in 2025. Matildas players Alex Chidiac and Clare Wheeler also voiced their frustration, with Chidiac stating she was "so sick of this" and Wheeler emphasizing that "sport is for everyone and these views are for no one."

In response to the growing controversy, Sheargold issued an apology on Wednesday, acknowledging that his attempt at humor had "missed the mark" and expressing regret for any offense caused. Triple M followed with its own statement, distancing itself from Sheargold’s remarks and reaffirming its commitment to supporting both men’s and women’s sports.

However, the fallout intensified when additional controversial comments from Tuesday’s show surfaced. Sheargold had made dismissive remarks about endometriosis, a painful and often debilitating medical condition affecting millions of women. "Endometriosis? It’s made up," he said, despite overwhelming medical evidence to the contrary. Endometriosis advocate and radio host Bridget Hustwaite condemned the remarks, calling them medically inaccurate and deeply insensitive to those suffering from the condition.

By Wednesday evening, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), Triple M’s parent company, confirmed that Sheargold and the network had agreed to "mutually part ways." In a statement, SCA emphasized that its programming should align with the values and expectations of its audience and that the controversy was "a moment for reflection and review."

Football Australia also weighed in, calling Sheargold’s comments "deeply disappointing" and a dismissal of the Matildas’ significant achievements in Australian sport. Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells labeled the remarks "boorish, boring, and wrong," while Professional Footballers Australia’s Beau Busch stressed the importance of challenging outdated and misogynistic narratives in sports media.

The controversy underscores ongoing challenges in media representation and respect for women’s sports. As the Matildas continue to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans, many are calling for greater accountability in sports media to ensure that outdated attitudes are no longer given a platform.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @matildas