An Australian journalist has been left feeling “mortified” after committing an interview no-no that ultimately led to his TV station losing its Adele interview.
Matt Doran from Channel Seven made the 10,000 mile trip from Sydney to London on November 4 to interview Adele about her upcoming album 30 - only to admit to the hitmaker that he hadn’t actually listened to her album ahead of talking to her about it.
Back at it with the boys! This one is going to be pretty special … 🤫@7newsspotlight #london @ London, United Kingdom https://t.co/LZcgxZAV2A
— Matt Doran (@mattdoran22) November 3, 2021
As you can imagine, this confession apparently went down like a lead balloon with the Easy On Me singer who was reportedly offended by this.
Adele had reportedly asked what he thought of her new album after the Weekend Sunrise host hadn’t asked any questions about it, The Daily Telegraph reported.
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Despite the 30-minute interview being filmed, Adele’s label Sony has reportedly denied Channel Seven permission to air it. This is a big blow for Channel Seven since they had been the only outlet in Australia to get a sit-down interview with the star and it was said to be part of a package deal costing £539,065 (nearly $1m AUD) which also gave the network right to CBC TV special Adele: One Night Only.
As a result there has been backlash from Adele fans, music lovers and fellow journalists over Doran’s error.
Why would anyone do that? And to @adele?! #Adele30 #mattdoran https://t.co/wRgMKBChjp
— Nik (he/they) (@nikroybal) November 21, 2021
I can’t stop reading tweets about the Matt Doran Adele interview colossal fail. pic.twitter.com/LmmQcEzIA6
— Meg Rayner (@megrayner) November 21, 2021
Only four songs deep into Adele’s 30 and no wonder she was so fucking furious at Matt Doran for not listening to the album. Besides the obvious and frankly mind-blowing unprofessionalism, when an artist is that vulnerable in a piece of work and pours their soul into a project,
— Michelle Law 羅敏儀 (@ms_michellelaw) November 22, 2021
I would have died for the chance to interview Adele. Matt Doran simply could not give a shit. The absolute disrespect. 😡 https://t.co/oR664xwMhn
— Triana Butler (@trianabutler) November 21, 2021
This is what happens when Channel 7 doesn't invest in good music journalism - and instead flies Matt Doran with zero care about the artistry and storytelling of music, having not even being bothered. His fancifical rationale of excuses is akin to "the dog ate my homework". https://t.co/TsyfffVbtZ
— Anth W. 🌏 (@anth0888) November 21, 2021
The state of arts journalism in Australia. On the one hand, many passionate writers and critics are working for free or for absurd rates like $40 a review. On the other hand, this…. https://t.co/hKDl4kqt5D
— Briony Kidd (@BrionyKidd) November 21, 2021
Re: Adele/Ch7. I’ve spent over a decade interviewing major actors, musicians around the world. Negotiating access, researching for genuinely interesting convo? That’s the hard part. Literally the *easiest* part is listening to the album on a 14hr (likely biz class) flight.
— Marc Fennell (@MarcFennell) November 21, 2021
Others saw the funny side to the situation, with some comparing Doran’s interview to the improvised press junket interview in rom-com film Notting Hill where Hugh Grant’s character William Thacker has to do to talk to actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), where he pretends to be from magazine The Horse and Hound and has no idea what Scott’s movie is about.
Hi Adele, I'm Matt Doran from Horse & Hound magazine. Any horses on the album? Or hounds for that matter; our readers are intrigued by both species.
— Sam Twyford-Moore (@samtwyfordmoore) November 21, 2021
Why does Matt Doran have an Apple computer?
— Byron Kaye (@byronkaye) November 21, 2021
BECAUSE HE’S NEVER HEARD OF ADELE 😬
I’ve always thought ‘our’ Matt Doran was more of a Taylor Swift fan anyway.. @MattDoran91 https://t.co/lMX00crwEo
— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) November 22, 2021
Adele knew Matt Doran hadn’t listened to her album when he said his favourite thing about it was the “ripping guitar solos”. #Adele30
— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) November 21, 2021
Footage from Matt Doran’s interview with Adele for Channel 7.
— Sanny Rudravajhala (@SannyR1985) November 22, 2021
The interview was canned after the Aussie journalist admitted to her that he hadn’t listened to her Album despite the channel spending $1m and flying him to London to secure it.#Adele #MattDoran pic.twitter.com/4VoTq2EJTr
Doran has since apologised for his gaffe and explained to The Australian newspaper that he was “mortified and unequivocally apologetic” and hadn’t realised a link to the album was attached to the email he received about the interview beforehand.
“I have since discovered it was sent to me as an ‘e card’ link, which I somehow missed upon landing in London. “It was an oversight but not a deliberate snub,” he told The Australian newspaper. “This is the most important email I have ever missed.”
The TV shot also disputed claims that Adele stopped the interview after he made the blunder, telling the publication: “Adele didn’t storm out. In fact, it was the polar opposite. What was meant to be 20 minutes was extended to 29 minutes.”
Although Doran was not on air for a weekend, he has denied reports that he was “formally” suspended by Channel Seven over his mistake.
On top of all this, Doran isn’t the only Matt Doran who has been received flack over his inaction.
In an unfortunate coincidence, an ABC political reporter who goes by the same name has been flooded with critical tweets from people mistaking him for the Weekend Sunrise host.
Though he appeared to take the confusion all in good stride, and joking tweeted an apt Adele lyric: “Go easy on me...”
Go easy on me…
— Matthew Doran (@MattDoran91) November 21, 2021
But not everyone got the joke...
R u the goose who flew over to 🇬🇧 to interview Adele about #30 and didn’t listen to it?
— Jess O’Reilly 🦋💉💉 (@JessOreilly1997) November 21, 2021
Seriously disrespectful of the artist and your commitment to quality journalism
— AAP (@_AusAP) November 21, 2021
Isn't this just an example of the lack of professionalism in journalism today. Too many journalists ignoring the. expectation of being knowledgeable on their subject and skilled in the art. To be anything less, is a great disservice to the people you should be informing.
— Janey (@some_sense) November 21, 2021
Indy100 has contacted Channel Seven, Sony and Adele for comment.
