Margreet Reijntjes, one of the presenters of NPO Radio 1, had a rather tough interview with Gordon on the radio. She holds up a mirror to him in this. “Whoever bounces the ball!”
When Gordon receives criticism, you know one thing for sure: he becomes furious and takes on the role of victim. And presenter Margreet Reijntjes delicately confronts him with this in a long interview in the program The Press Stand on NPO Radio 1. She is not one for nonsense and notes: “A hand in your own bosom is always important in life.”
A lot of hassle
Margreet thinks Gordon should do that more often. “You are also someone who is surrounded by a lot of fuss, who regularly says things about colleagues that are not necessarily appreciated and who was also fierce as a jury member. Could it be that it also has to do with yourself?”
Gordon then says with difficulty: “Certainly. I think it also has to do with that. I think they think: yes, but of course he also says the necessary things himself. Well, I have to be very honest and say that I haven’t done that for years. I mean, I haven’t been a jury member for nine years. But it is something that sticks.”
Negative things
Gordon says he criticizes the negativity of the media, but he himself is also regularly negative, says Margreet. “It is not the case that you have not said negative things about colleagues in recent years.”
The entertainer then: “Yes, but you know, this is what I’ve learned about myself lately: stop responding. Of course I am a very easy victim. I’m a flapper. I say whatever comes to mind and I don’t really have a filter, so that filter is just very thin.”
Fascinating
In other words: Gordon sees himself as a victim. Margreet: “But how do you explain that? I just find that fascinating. Because you are vulnerable. That’s what you say. It touches you when that is said about you. How do you reconcile that with Gordon who can also be ruthless every now and then?”
If he does it, it is funny, Gordon then explains. “Yes, is it really ruthless? I think there is a lot of satire in it for me. You’ll never hear me say anything to really bash someone into the ground. I think that’s more of a satire, a joke.”
Disrespectful
Margreet finds it striking that Gordon calls the men of VI ‘disrespectful’. “Do you think that you, in turn, have always treated people with respect? Of course, a lot of things happened, things that you wrote in your book about people being outraged about that. So whoever rebounds the ball… You know the expression.”
Gordon: “Yes, I know, I know. That book, I must honestly say, was not the most useful move in my life. But what it says is my truth and whether it is disrespectful, I don’t know. I just said certain things and I don’t take them back.”
Heartless
Does Margreet realize that Gordon is the big victim here? He emphasizes it again: “I consider myself disproportionately disadvantaged by the media. Really in a very heartless, tasteless way.”
Margreet: “Well, okay, that’s kind of my point, that I think: should you also apologize to others?”
Gordon: “Well, you know, during the period that I was in the clinic for drink and drugs, you have to apologize anyway. (…) I did all that too. Yes, many people I have confronted with alcohol and drugs. Didn’t call, but texted.”
Through production
Margreet watched some old clips in preparation for the interview. “I see on YouTube how you went on a rampage as a jury member on Idols and said things about their appearance… Well, that went quite far, Gordon. Do you also find that embarrassing now when you look back?”
Well, that wasn’t his fault either, Gordon decides. “I have to be very honest… It was also a bit fueled by the production, because the more I said something like that, the more powerful they thought it was.”