
As knee-jerk a reaction it is to instantly point the finger at the insensitive Australian DJs who called Kate Middleton’s hospital room — you can’t say they are solely responsible for the alleged suicide.
Tragically, nurse Jacintha Saldanha, a married mother of two, was  found dead, of an apparent suicide, two days after she mistakenly put through a call to Kate Middleton‘s hospital room.
When the sad news was released this morning, Dec. 7, the Twitterverse exploded with mean tweets blaming the nurse’s death on DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, from Sydney’s 2Day FM station.
The Prank Call to Kate’s Hospital
The Australian DJs had prank called London’s King Edward VII Hospital, where pregnant Kate Middleton was staying for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum.
When they called the switchboard, Jacintha, a nurse who had worked there for four years, was manning the phones, and she fell for the DJs’ prank.
DJ Mel pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and DJ Michael was Prince Charles.
After the report, they boasted loudly and endlessly on Twitter and the radio of their success in reaching Kate’s room and getting a report on her condition.
Yes, their behavior was tasteless, tacky and juvenile BUT that doesn’t mean they should be blamed for poor Jacintha’s death.
DJs Mel and Michael could NEVER in a million years have foreseen that their silly behavior could prompt a woman at the hospital to allegedly commit suicide.
Was the Nurse Worried About Losing Her Job?
The nurse was not a victim of a relentless bullying campaign that they initiated and pushed forward. In fact, she was never identified in public and according to the hospital, she was not pressured or threatened to quit her job at the hospital.
In fact, the hospital issued a statement, saying that they had been “supporting her throughout this difficult time.”
It’s understandable that Jacintha might feel terrible and embarrassed that she had inadvertently invaded the privacy of Kate Middleton and Prince William.
But would an incident like this send most people over the edge into suicide? I don’t think so.
Prank Call: The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back
I can only assume there had to be other factors in Jacintha’s life that we are all unaware of that played a major role in her tragic death.
The DJs’ prank may have been the final straw that pushed her over the edge into an apparent suicide, but of course, they would have had no way of knowing this.
Pranking is Common Fodder
Anyone who listens to popular radio shows knows that DJs make prank phone calls all the time. It’s common fodder.
And let’s not forget that many celebrities have jumped enthusiastically into the pranking business.
Justin Bieber pranked Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift on the season premiere of Ashton Kutcher‘s Punk’d, in early 2012. Recently, he even pranked the world, claiming his camera, highly personal videos, and  laptop had been stolen and held for ransom, as a way to prompt tune-in for his video, “Beauty And A Beat” with Nicki Minaj.Â
Then, there’s Ellen DeGeneres, who pranks celebrity guests on her show all the time, recently terrifying Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, by having men unsuspectingly sneak up on them.
Pranking has become part of our entertainment culture. Maybe it’s wrong. Maybe it’s stupid. Maybe it’s disrespectful. But what the Australian DJs did was not cruel, humiliating enough, or prolonged enough to truly be linked to the tragedy of Jacintha’s death.
So, Tweeters, please stop your vitriolic, mean tweets to the DJs. The last thing we want is for them to go into a deep depression as well. Let’s stop all the nastiness now.
That shouldn’t be in any way the legacy of the lovely Jacintha Saldanha’s passing. What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Do you agree? Let me know.
WATCH: Kate Middleton’s Nurse’s Suicide After Prank Call
– Bonnie Fuller
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More On The Apparent Suicide of Nurse After Radio Station’s Prank Call:
- Kate Middleton DJ Pranksters Suspended After Nurse Suicide
- Kate Middleton’s Hospital Nurse’s Family Breaks Silence On Her Death
- Prince William & Kate Middleton Release Statement On Nurse Suicide
View Comment
Rachel
Posted at 8:03 PM on January 7, 2013
This is too much.
Posted at 12:31 AM on December 11, 2012
Jacintha Saldanha transferred a call to another nurse who then proceeded to break protocol and did not check for release forms and blabbed Kate’s info. That’s why Jacintha was not in trouble or pressured into being fired. The fact that she committed suicide over basically doing her job. it was the duty of Nurse with the pts. information/charts, not a nurse on phone duty/receptionist, to verify that release forms where on file, verify which person(s) where given authorization to ask for Kate’s information information, which information they could be given, and to thoroughly verify the identities of the party asking for the information (in this case directly ask Kate/William to confirm the identities of the people on the phone). Had Kate’s nurse done this she’d have none to just hang up or threaten to call the police. However the DJ’s producer and legal team had the responsibility to first get release forms to air the call, even though no names were mentioned by them,because they were still liable to being sued for defaming a hospital via a prank call and were in a position for being fined/charged (normally these things are laughed off/let off with a warning but that is not the case when a govt official or dignitary is involved).
not so fast
Posted at 10:13 AM on December 10, 2012
Again, why is it when radio personalities, TV reporters and the paps do anything that is considered wrong or invasive the media rallies behind them. This prank was wrong on so many levels. They never ever should have done it regardless of who the intended victim was. This woman was in a hospital not on vacation and they put lives in danger and hard working individuals jobs at risk. They are partially responsible whether they want to admit it or not. I think 100% ownership of this woman committing suicide shouldn’t be on the D.J’s but there hands are dirty.
sander
Posted at 9:21 AM on December 11, 2012
Allan Hore
Posted at 9:30 AM on December 11, 2012
Oh Dear do you not have an inkling as to why the poor girl ended her life, she is a health professional and compromised her charge’s privacy, that is how the girl must have felt. whether she should have felt like that is an irrelevance…..she should never have been put in that position in the first place by the two wasters who had nothing else better to do. The best thing they can do now is retire from public life, then pale into insignificance….for everyone’s benefit
Grace
Posted at 9:29 AM on December 10, 2012
So glad to be able to read something like this. YES, the DJ’s were wrong to prank call and pretended being the Queen and Prince Charles. BUT, the death of the nurse was completely not their fault. I mean, I remember a few people on Twitter saying how they loved when the DJ’s prank called the nurse, but then when the nurse was dead, they’re the ones who exploded with madness. It’s not nice to blame someone. Me, you and everyone on this entire face of earth don’t have a little reason to judge each other. None of us are perfect, neither does the DJ’s and YOU. So stop this foolish madness and leave it to that. And for the record, I’m so sorry for the family, God bless.
Nikki
Posted at 2:08 AM on December 14, 2012
They are doing a job just like anyone else to live their life. this job requires them to do some immature stuff yes but they needed to put food on their plates somehow. what almost everyone fails to realize is that these people can’t do anything unless their bosses give the okay and DJ’s generally are given the topics and pranks that they are to pull by their producers. so that where they gonna do say no and get fired? how the heck was anyone to know that a clearly psychologically unstable woman would take her life for putting a phone call though?
Yeah sure – the notion that someone should go to jail for an act that BROKE THE LAW (button it – they did!) and in all likelihood contributed significantly to a suicide is truly absurd!! Look – forget the suicide. Tragic as it was, it isn’t really relevant to the fundamentals of the case. There was disgust and outrage before it was reported. She has very pretty eyelashes that blonde, hasn’t she?
By the way, “peoples” needs an apostrophe – stupid!
Dean
Posted at 3:43 AM on December 10, 2012
So glad to be able to read sense on this subject.
This prank was not to blame. Possibly the final straw as you say but this alone does not cause someone to consider taking their own life…. Fed up of reading peoples stupidity and then hounding these two radio presenters.
Even pathetic ‘tweets’ from so called celebs like the Osbourne girl claiming the radio presenters should go to jail…. IDIOT OSBOURNE.
Oh, and another thing Deano – I’m proud to be one of those “hounding” these presenters. I want them and their moronic and mindless radio station (the one that that coerced a 14-year-old CHILD into admitting she’d been raped as a 12-year-old whilst STRAPPED TO A LIE DETECTOR and knowingly and actively took advantage of disadvantaged people in the name of entertainment) and others like it hounded off the air so others aren’t harmed by their thoughtless antics. OK?!! I get the distinct impression I’d enjoy hounding you and your mate Ken in person too!
Eric
Posted at 11:01 AM on December 15, 2012
Ken Burton (75 years). England
Posted at 4:56 PM on December 9, 2012
Eric
Posted at 11:02 AM on December 15, 2012
It was not just a silly prank you pratt – they called a HOSPITAL and targeted A VERY SICK WOMAN WHOSE PREGNANCY WAS AT RISK – IT’S NOT JUST MORNING SICKNESS! Your age speaks volumes – those of the generation above who defeated naziism were a different breed. You lot had it on a plate – spoon-fed, cossetted, cheap housing, free education. Look at the state of England now after your stewardship. ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Pathetic!
Eric
Posted at 11:09 AM on December 15, 2012
Yes, the conciquence was to breed illiterate moronic pathetic fools like yourself. Only reason you came into being you disrespectfull a$$hole is that abortion was frowned on at the time. By these good people you condemn. How easy it is to point the finger at the past councils when in fact it is only the present council who are to blame for the sad state of affairs today. People like you. You are all and worse than those you denounce fool.
Had it on a plate – spoon fed – free education – None of that was available in developing times of a 75 year old english person. Stop ranting and just keep dribbling.
Allan Hore
Posted at 4:41 AM on December 10, 2012
Mr. Alice
Posted at 2:31 PM on December 9, 2012
Pranking radio calls might be common fodder, but the DJs should have had the decency to tell the nurse she just got pranked. You mention Justin Bieber Punking Miley Cyrus, but you leave out the fact that Bieber said you got Punk’d. Did DJs Greig and Christian say that? No. Instead they made it sure got vetted through their lawyers first, then to their local audience and then to the world. Did they even apologize to the nurse? And no, the radio station apologizing for “any issues this may have caused” doesn’t count. These DJs deserve everything they get. It’s called Karma.
I agree with fully with you though it should be borne in mind that the whole concept of a prank by a pair of shock jocks isn’t going to mean much to a dedicated nurse from overseas – Malawi, say (though I realise Jacintha was from India) – who wasn’t raised on MTV. There are MANY such hard-working individuals in the UK National Health Service.
Eric
Posted at 11:14 AM on December 15, 2012
And what about the lord chairman of the hospital who berated the nurse who was guilty of nothing, abused her and the other nurse, and threatened their positions at the hospital. Only reason a moron reacts like that is because of his being born with marbles in his mouth and a lords title with his lips permanently pouted over royal A$$. He also lied and denied any reprimand to staff at all, but the latest suicide notes point the finger directly at him. The only intelligent people on this is her family who she did not even tell the prank call too. They are asking questions of the hospital and the hospitals actions. Never mentioned the prank call. It was just that. It was a prank. And before sprouting shyte, you need to know what the call entailed. It did contain its a prank call from so and so at the end. Friggin idiots.
ie
Posted at 12:48 PM on December 9, 2012
Eric
Posted at 11:16 AM on December 15, 2012
me
Posted at 12:03 PM on December 9, 2012
Yes the n”s shouldn’t have made the prank call but she should never have given out that info on the phone. I mean hell when my mother was in the hospital I called them up to ask how she is doing and they never gave me any info over the phone. You know why because there not supposed to. The nurse wasn’t doing her job right. She should have told them she can’t give out any information over the phone. I mean hell even the dj’s where like is she really telling us all his wow.
The DJ’s and the radio station need to own up to their hand in this. The station pushes ruthlessly for listeners and does not care if lines are crossed… the publicity is great. The DJ’s were foolish to brag and boast of their “conquest”. It’s legitimate to blame the station and DJ’s.
Eric
Posted at 11:19 AM on December 15, 2012
And not the person who abused and threatened her like the lord chairman of the hospital???. DJ’shave nothing to own up to. But the lord chairman of the hospital is under investigation now for lying to the police about not saying anything to staff. Thats why the suicide notes were kept quiet for a week. So that wankers like his lordship could hang themselves with their A$$ covering lies.
Timeywimeywibblywubbly
Posted at 8:16 AM on December 9, 2012
u lot made complete fool out of an innocent nurse on a live radio show, and cuz it was about the Royals, the prank would’ve made front page all over the world, making fun of the nurse how easy she was to fool, how it was the easiest prank call ever(not my words btw, djs).
she was humiliated world wide, and some of u lot have guts to say tht u r suprised tht the poor nurse has killed her self over something so ‘SMALL’?
Wow. just WOW.
and dont even use the word scapegoat on those djs as if those who thinks them responsible for her death are some kind of elementary school bullies.
They are responsible for her death, no matter if it was intentional or not.
surely the prank call wasnt made to make a happy day for a poor nurse, was it?
Actions always have consequencies as you all probably know. so, stop being a child and face the reality.
Dear DJs, you DID kill her.
Me
Posted at 6:19 AM on December 9, 2012
I think the hospital must be happy to have these two as scapegoats.
If the correct protocols had been in place then this call would have been halted straight away, I’m sure the DJs thought they would have been hung up on. The hospital management needs to sort out their issues and these two DJs need to be left alone before the bullying of them leads to another tragedy.
garumey
Posted at 7:16 AM on December 9, 2012
crystal abram
Posted at 5:14 AM on December 9, 2012
I completely agree. I read that the woman dj is on suicide watch herself because of all the hate so the people who sent the tweets will be responsible for her suicide. Its crazy to blame them. I mean my god all the pranks ive made in my younger years i would be responsible for many deaths id that were the case.
Eric
Posted at 11:32 AM on December 15, 2012
What really gets me is how people condemn the djs for a prank call and then actually make death threats to already troubled Djs. Its a lot worse. And deserves only scathing disrespect. They have actually recieved death threats now. No one has any interest in this case. Only shyte stirring for fun and making abussive and derrogatory remarks. I hope when the djs are cleared, they come back on every negative persons blogs and find their ips and identifications and sue them all as trying to drive them to suicide. Wouldnt that be a laugh. About as funny as abusing them now when they have no friggin idea.
venus
Posted at 2:42 AM on December 9, 2012
melody
Posted at 2:27 AM on December 9, 2012
big deal like really it was a phone call, i dont know anyone who would kill themselves over something so stupid.
the DJs clearly feel bad so why keep attacking them, they lost their jobs. i hope new evidence is found that proves the DJs call had barley anything to do with her death.maybe wait for more info to come forward before attacking others.
Eric
Posted at 11:40 AM on December 15, 2012
Judging by the abusive way you use type, I would say you are just another looser who got pranked sometime by a radio station. Saddam Hussein was vile. Rape is illegal. Your detrimental comments show you are a lesser and underpriviledged moron who is more jealous of the people commenting on here than you are irrate about the girls suicide. But being in america, you actually have no clue what is really happening and even less clue which way your A$$ is pointing at any particular moment in time. You are so far out of touch with reality that you actually make me, an Australian laugh you total wanker. When you get of your high rocking horse, you might remember that a person is innocent untill proven guilty. Something you have lost touch with, including your american status. You sound like the south end of a north bound camel. Bet you dont smell any better either. You think abusing the people will get your way. You never met a pissed of aussie have you. Wanker.
venus
Posted at 2:22 AM on December 9, 2012
Marta
Posted at 9:08 PM on December 8, 2012
For someone to commit suicide that quickly, there was something rooted there prior to a stupid and meaningless telephone prank. She must have had emotional issues prior to the incident because someone in their right mind would not take their own life over a phone call.
Even Prince Charles thought the prank was funny when it happened. The attacks on the deejays are sad and pathetic and show the intolerance that still exists in the world.
People need to grow up and move on.
paul martin
Posted at 6:18 PM on December 8, 2012
Eric
Posted at 11:48 AM on December 15, 2012
“The DJ’s did what they do every day”?!! Oh, that’s alright then (so did the Gestapo). Well it wouldn’t have happened and been reported had it happened to an ‘ordinary Joe’ would it, so your statement is a stupid non-sequitur?! I’m actually a UK-based republican, but the mindless anti-monarchist drivel being spouted by many using this to further this particular agenda is vile given the circumstances. It could just have easily happened to a senior democratically elected politician, and would have been just as low irrespective of the ‘status’ of the target and even if suicide had not been the final outcome!
Eric
Posted at 11:49 AM on December 15, 2012

test
Posted at 6:58 AM on March 17, 2013
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