What may have started as a seemingly harmless prank has led to tragedy in the UK. The nurse who transferred a prank call from a radio station in Australia over to Kate Middleton’s personal nurse was found dead Friday morning. The cause appears to be suicide.
Immediately after the news broke Friday, people from all over the world began to react on social media.
Although comments are not allowed directly on the Sydney’s 2DayFM radio station’s Facebook page, people tried leaving comments on the most recent post there. While it is not yet known what prompted Jacintha Saldanha to take her life, many on the Internet are blaming the DJs.
"Rather than delete the posts, maybe some acknowledgement of your actions would be more appropriate," Lee J. wrote.
"At the end of the day all the comments abusing these guys is making us just as bad as them isn't it? What if they commit suicide? Does that mean we are all held accountable? Two wrongs don't make a right," Jazz D. commented. "In saying that, I definitely don't agree with what has happened and deleting comments and not showing remorse for your actions is disgusting."
These comments have since been deleted from the page.
The two DJs who played the prank, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, have deactivated their own Twitter accounts. "Coward" is one of the less-offensive terms people are calling the pair on Twitter. Some are also demanding the station fire them.
Mel Greig & Michael Christian - not funny enough for comedy, not pretty enough for TV, not bright enough to feel remorse Happy careers, guys
— Tony Parsons (@TonyParsonsUK) December 7, 2012
A husband without a wife and two kids without a mother! All thanks to you two @melgreighot30 & @mcontheradio SHAME ON YOU! #royalprank
— Vajira Ratnayaka (@vratnay) December 7, 2012
@hot30countdown not even an apology for those two young children who will spend the rest of their lives without a mother?
— ＡＲＴＰＯＰ ☮ (@ARTPOPLAURA) December 7, 2012
@hilarityjayne @mcontheradio @hot30countdown hope they never work again
— Aaron Myers (@RealAaronMyers) December 7, 2012
@hot30countdown deleting all the bad facebook comments... you can't delete the fact you killed a nurse/wife/mother!
— James Avenged (@JamesAvenged) December 7, 2012
While the events may have played out oceans away, the news struck people on HLN’s Facebook page as well.
"You have to realize how much the British revere the royal family. Whether she was to be fired or not, the paparazzi would've found her and made her life hell. Do we not all remember Princess Diana? You should never blame the bullied but the bully's," Jennifer I. wrote.
"I feel so sad and sick about this nurse...she took her job to Heart and this was the only way out she thought....hope this don't put Kate back in the hospital again.....Poor Nurse..R.I.P," Rachel G. wrote on HLN's Facebook page.
"The English tabloids have been known to be nasty, unmerciful in their postings. some of you can't imagine being teased probably all over the world. it was a stupid prank...maybe some of you should think twice about how you treat other people," Laurie B. wrote.
What do you think? What action should the radio station take against the DJs who pulled the prank on hospital staff, if any?
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