Merel Westrik is humiliated in a horribly sexist way by Emile Bode, a butt buddy of Bert Huisjes. “I found her very attractive, but she was a lazy whiner.”
It is almost terrifying what primitive language is being unleashed now that Bert Huisjes is under fire for his disgusting behavior as boss of broadcaster WNL. Fons van Westerloo, Rick Nieman, Sven Kockelmann: they are selected one by one. It’s all old boy raisin bread. And now a certain Emile Bode is joining the discussion.
Nagging Blackbird
Emile, who was responsible for WNL’s programs in the early days as editor-in-chief of Telegraaf Video Media, shows his support for Bert in a disgusting way. “I led WNL together with Bert in the first few years, although Bert was the first boss and I was soon called back to solve problems at De Telegraaf.”
He continues LinkedIn: “Merel Westrik who is now complaining always whined like a spoiled Sunday child. I found her very attractive but shared Bert’s opinion that she is lazy and a whiner.”
‘It didn’t make any sense!’
Emile, who currently works for MAX Magazine of the equally questionable Jan Slagter, continues: “She was given the opportunity to present an evening program. I arranged Wilders, but she didn’t do anything as an interviewer, always blaming others for her own failures. She now makes podcasts that no dog listens to.”
Not only Merel, but also talk show queen Eva Jinek stands up to Bert. What does he think of her? “Eva Jinek was much more talented, but also quite hysterical and unreasonable in the early days. It’s a shame that they and all those other former employees are now criticizing Huisjes like this.”
Sexism
Comedian Peter Pannekoek cannot believe what he reads, he writes X. “The former editor-in-chief of WNL denies sexism with the arguments ‘very attractive but lazy and a whiner’ and ‘rather hysterical and unreasonable’. Wow.”
Op1 celebrity Talitha Muusse: “This is not a level, unbelievable 😓.”
Sylvana Simons: “Affirm a culture of misogyny without wanting to confirm a culture of misogyny. Self-written and published. Shameless, because it is generally accepted thinking (in his world).”
Star quality
Journalist Ton F. van Dijk, former broadcaster boss of the then Nederland 1, finds it bizarre. “I also happened to be editor-in-chief of Merel Westrik. One of the most talented presenters I have had the pleasure of working with. Extremely smart too. Whose deed. ‘Star quality without star allure’.”
And that podcast where that creepy Emile Bode talks about, Gonzo? According to X-influencer Miesbee, this is excellent. “I rediscovered Merel Westrik at the Gonzo podcast. Great, without a doubt.”
Problem-Fons
Fons van Westerloo, who sits on the Supervisory Board of WNL, is no better, says NPO Radio 1 presenter Lara Billie. “The fact that he chooses to use the word ‘wimps’ says everything about how he sees women. So how structural the problem is. Because it is precisely that view that is leading in transgressive behavior. Seeing the other as less.”
And RTL 5 star Thijs Zeeman: “Fons van Westerloo again brings out of the mothballs the old reaction about people who express criticism: ‘disappointed people who could not cope with the level’. All the women who have stepped forward have taken a step higher after leaving WNL. So that kite doesn’t fly.”
X
Bewilderment about the scary Emile: