Fons van Westerloo has always been a reputable TV personality, but the former director of RTL and SBS loses all respect in one fell swoop. “Sorry grandpa, you have to leave too!”
What a disgrace: Fons van Westerloo, who sits on the Supervisory Board of broadcaster WNL, dismisses the very convincing criticism of broadcaster Bert Huisjes with great ease: “The Supervisory Board considers itself fortunate to have an editor-in-chief who, of course, like any human being, is not without sins, but has achieved enormously.”
‘Come on!’
Fons downplays the intense stories supported by prominent figures such as Eva Jinek and Leonie ter Braak. According to him, the criticism mainly comes from ‘disappointed former presenters and former employees’ who are out to destroy Bert. “In those ten years, one employee has ever gone to the confidential counselor,” he says A.D.
78-year-old Fons, who says he feels strengthened by the reactions of Sven Kockelmann and Rick Nieman, laughs at the statement that employees did not feel safe to report. “Come on. Journalists aren’t wimps, are they? Everyone knows that they can always contact me with complete confidence.”
Not cynical
Presenter Simone Weimans cannot believe what Fons is saying. “Leave this article unread if you do not want to become cynical about cultural change at the Media Park,” she writes on X.
Hans Laroes, former Journal boss, believes that Fons and the two other members of the Supervisory Board reacted far too quickly. “It is horrifying that the Supervisory Board of WNL completely abandons so many women, former and current employees, in such a serious matter within an hour. It’s ridiculous.”
‘Get out, grandpa!’
TV expert Rob Goossens notices that Fons does not take the complaints seriously. “The devil is in the tail, because he says: ‘I can’t imagine it all. Eva Jinek thanked Bert Huisjes extensively for everything in her book. What about that?’ A kind of camp seems to be developing, in which he takes the director’s side.”
According to those involved, Fons and the rest of the Supervisory Board know exactly what is going on. And according to Rob, that only makes it worse. “Apparently he knew the full extent of these mistakes. Then I think: sorry, grandpa, you have made a huge impression in the media world, but then you have to leave,” he says in RTL Boulevard.
‘He has to go’
Roos Moggré, former presenter of Goedemorgen Nederland, thinks it is time for a major cleaning. She says in it A.D: “I think a new editor-in-chief and a new independent Supervisory Board are needed to solve the problems. I think today’s response from the Supervisory Board is a slap in the face for all employees who feel unsafe.”
And Margreet Spijker, currently a presentation coach at WNL, responds: “The Supervisory Board is not sustainable. There are people in it who are affiliated with politics. Journalism and politicians, there should be a thick wall between them.”
In addition to Fons, the Supervisory Board consists of former VVD member Loek Hermans and the Amersfoort CDA councilor Micheline Paffen-Zeenni.