Australian athlete Alan Jones, who attacked Jacinda Ardern, resigns

Sydney radio host Alan Jones, who made comments attacking New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, resigned.

The open 2GB broadcaster announced its departure to listeners of the breakfast show on Tuesday morning.

He said the broadcast would end on May 29.

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Jones’ announcement was unexpected, as the athlete had re-signed a two-year contact with 2GB owner Nine Radio.

However, he told listeners that he had to “listen to the experts” and cancel his work commitments.

“We are living in the world of the coronavirus,” Jones told listeners.

“The most repeated statement we hear is ‘we must listen to the experts.’ Well, the experts are telling me in no uncertain terms, and not for the first time, I might add, ‘continuing the current workload is very detrimental to your health.’ .

“I have listened to the experts and take this opportunity to indicate to my radio family that I will be leaving the radio later this month.”

He added: “I’m not retiring, I’m just retiring from the radio.”

Jones lost the radio station announcing dollars last year after calling New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern “a complete clown.”

Jones received criticism from all quarters after telling his listeners that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison should “put a sock down his throat” for Ardern.

Jones was offended after thinking that Ardern had criticized Australia’s efforts to tackle climate change.

Ardern told New Zealand media that he would not dignify Jones’ comments with a response and Morrison jumped to the defense of his transtasman counterpart.

Morrison said the comments were “very disappointing.”

“I have two daughters, so you can hope that’s how I would personally feel about it.”

Jones later apologized to Ardern, saying he never intended to suggest any violence to him when he said he wanted to “push a sock [her] throat”.

“I intended to say ‘put a sock on it’ and my actual words were taken literally by some who took offense on your behalf,” he said in a letter to Ardern, released to the Herald under the official information law (OIA ).

In the letter to Ardern, Jones said: “I was talking about Australia’s contribution to climate change; on this issue, my views differ significantly from his.”

He said he had clarified on his show that the comments were not intended to be violent.

“While I may disagree with your position on climate change, I would never wish for any harm to you.

“My sincere apologies and please know that I wish you and your family the best.”