BBC Radio 1 DJ Arielle Free has been suspended after a heated on-air exchange with co-host Charlie Hedges, according to reports.
The Scottish DJ, 36, who joined the BBC in 2019, will now not be hosting the early breakfast show this week after she was told by Hedges to “have some respect”.
The incident occured on Saturday when Hedges was presenting her Dance Anthems show and Free joined her broadcast as a guest, sounding worse for wear live from the Ibiza Rocks hotel.
Free then caused offence by giving Hedges some unsolicited advice about her music choice and interrupting her.
“Hi, yeah I sound great don’t I?”, Free began on the call, with Hedges laughing, before adding: “You’ve sounded better, but it’s ok.”
Free replied: ‘Well, this is what happened. You play on Friday and you play on Saturday and then your voice just goes. ‘Can I be honest with you Charlie?… I expected better of you…’
“What? To sound better, like you?” a confused Hedges countered.
Free continued: “I don’t like this song”, referring to Horsegiirl’s My Barn, My Rules as Hedges played it.
“Oh really?” Hedges replied.
Free then said she was “sorry” but she actually “hates” the tune.
At this point, an unimpressed Hedges had enough and shut her down, saying: “Sorry, I’m taking your mic down, it’s my show, Arielle. Have some respect, please.
“See you later. Get out of here,” she added.
A BBC spokesperson told the Standard: “Whilst we would not comment on individual matters, we have strict codes of behaviour for staff and presenters, and any breaches are taken extremely seriously.”
The Standard has also contacted Arielle Free’s representatives for comment.
@ariellefree @ahj that was awful, Charlie did well to shut you down. Any other job and you would be fired!.
— Paul (@pmcollins71) July 29, 2023
Show some respect Arielle Free @BBCR1 Well done @charliehedges 🙌
— Leanne Barrett (@TheRealLeanne_B) July 29, 2023
Listeners on Twitter were stunned by the exchange and quick to back Hedges.
“@ariellefree @ahj that was awful, Charlie did well to shut you down. Any other job and you would be fired!” wrote one person.
“Show some respect Arielle Free @BBCR1. Well done @charliehedges,” penned another.
“This is so cringe from Arielle, at the end of the day it’s a huge privilege being a R1 DJ why would you embarrass yourself and the station like that” added a third.
