Radio DJ in trouble for sex joke

Thane Kirby, pictured with partner Sophie Nash. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

A radio host who joked about having sex with his unconscious fiancee "Uncle Bully" style has been taken off air.

George FM DJ Thane Kirby, who is also the music reviewer on the TV One show Good Morning, told listeners that his partner, model Sophia Nash, had recently come home from a hens night in an amorous mood.

He initially spurned her advance but later, after she fell asleep, he had felt a "tingling" downstairs and had sex with her.

Kirby laughed that the intercourse was "Uncle Bully", a reference to the despised character from the film Once Were Warriors.

However, George FM bosses failed to see the funny side and suspended Kirby from presenting duties.

A statement from parent company MediaWorks said: "A comment was made last week by a George FM announcer which was intended as humour. George FM wants to make it clear that the comment was unacceptable and has taken immediate disciplinary action. There will be no further comment on what is now an employment matter."

Kirby, who co-founded the station in the late 1990s, is due to marry Nash next month. He did not return calls.

Meanwhile, an Auckland bar has suspended a bouncer for using a homophobic slur towards a group of men on a stag do.

Neighbourhood Bar in Kingsland took action after the doorman told a group of men on a stag do that they didn't let in "gay c****".

The groom was dressed in pink with fishnet stockings.

Music journalist Duncan Greive, who was among the group, praised Neighbourhood, part of the Mac's Brewbar chain, for taking swift action.