Ouch: the stars of RTL do not dare to freely express their opinion about Matthijs van Nieuwkerk. “I think it would be wise to say as little about it as possible,” says Gijs Rademaker.
How incredibly strange: apparently journalists and program makers at RTL do not feel free to give their opinion about the Matthijs van Nieuwkerk issue. Since this week, the presenter has also been accused of sexual and physical misconduct – he allegedly grabbed someone by the throat – but that is no problem for RTL.
Gijs doesn’t dare
Peter van der Vorst, the TV boss of RTL, seems to be disappearing, but what do his presenters think? Can Matthijs stay at RTL? “Yes, I find that difficult,” answers Gijs Rademaker, the channel’s pollster The Friday Move.
Host Wilfred Genee: “Why?”
Gijs: “Well, you know why. I work at RTL and I am not in a position to say anything about that.”
Wilfred: “You are in a position, but you don’t want it? That’s what it comes down to.”
Gijs: “Yes, I think it would be very wise to say as little as possible about that now.”
Let me think a moment
Wilfred finds it strange that Gijs reacts so conservatively. “You have a feeling about it, I assume?”
Gijs: “I still have to think about that, you know?”
Wilfred: “You are becoming a politician now, Gijs.”
Gijs: “Well, these are broadcasting policy matters of great importance and you have to think very carefully.”
Ah, that’s where the monkey comes out of his sleeve: Gijs doesn’t know whether RTL is happy with him expressing his opinion. Bizarre.
A bit worse
Wilfred believes that we should not look away. “It has now become a bit worse. That story of Mrs. Kunzeler, who also tells that Matthijs allegedly put someone against the wall and grabbed him by the throat and had an affair and that she was bought off because she could no longer work there.”
He finds it characteristic that Gijs does not dare to talk. “I understand what is happening to you, but it also shows how it works in this world and how hierarchy also works and how it also works with interests. That people often tolerated situations because they thought: then I will get in trouble for it, then I will get inconvenienced by my employer.”
Eddy is also silent
Eddy Zoëy is also a guest on the broadcast a little later, but does not dare to say much. “It also appears that there has been sexual misconduct, so I will wait a while to see what happens, but up until the moment RTL said: ‘We are going to do business with you’, I still thought that was logical. .”
Wilfred: “At RTL everyone waits a while, I notice.”
Eddy: “Yes, I think that’s smart. Otherwise we will receive a message that we have to refer you to someone from RTL.”
The presenter of RTL Boulevard allows himself to be silenced. So much for journalistic independence at RTL…
No heroes
Jordi Versteegden, reporter for De Telegraaf, states that RTL stars backstage are a little more loose-lipped about Matthijs. “So I hear in the corridors in Hilversum that the presenters of RTL are currently also thinking: what should we do with this new colleague at this time?” he says in the podcast. Strictly Private.
Private boss Evert Santegoeds: “Yes, I don’t think they are heroes, so they don’t open their mouths, but it is strange that they put him to work at RTL.”
And of course SBS 6 star Evert is completely right about that. Greetings to Peter Gillis by the way!