Broadcaster Ray Hadley acknowledged in a Sydney court that he used homophobic slurs and disparaging language toward fellow radio personality Alan Jones following the withdrawal of a confidential $4 million contract offer intended to replace Jones in the breakfast show slot at 2GB.

During his testimony on the second day at Downing Centre local court, Hadley admitted sending text messages expressing hostility toward Jones. One message, read out in court, stated that Hadley would not rest until he “buries Jones, figuratively and literally” and would “tear his supporters apart.” In another message sent on the eve of a Sydney Morning Herald investigation into allegations against Jones in late 2023, Hadley wrote, “That cunt will be in the foetal position when he reads the story in the morning. It’s been 50 years in the making.”

Hadley described having a “tumultuous relationship” with Jones during cross-examination by defense barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC. Jones, 85, is currently standing trial on 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching involving six men. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hadley testified that a colleague had informed him Jones had mobilized associates to “dig up some dirt” on him. In 2019, after being accused of an unrelated assault on a colleague, Hadley said he confronted Jones and called him a “cunt and a dog,” corroborated by a police statement presented in court. The assault allegation was later dropped after 2GB CCTV footage failed to show any incident.

Hadley conceded he harbored animosity toward Jones at that time and admitted to frequently referring to Jones as a “grub.” He also confirmed that in a text exchange displayed during cross-examination he called Jones a “faggot.” Defense counsel Bashir has characterized the charges against Jones as a “trial by media” fueled by “hatred and jealousy,” asserting that Hadley was intent on damaging Jones’s reputation.

When questioned about his reaction to the cancellation of the contract offer to replace Jones, Hadley denied being upset and noted that he kept hosting his own morning show, with Jones’s contract subsequently renewed in May 2019 for two additional years. Hadley maintained that the peak of his career was increasing his salary from $2 million to $4 million while continuing his current show, rather than securing the breakfast slot.

Hadley testified that management had approached him in late 2018 indicating dissatisfaction with Jones’s ongoing defamation cases and offering him the breakfast show role. Hadley said the financial incentive motivated him to accept the role despite the early hours.

A later text message from Hadley, expressing affection toward Jones, was contested by Bashir as insincere. Hadley explained that when he said “I love you” he qualified it with “above ground,” referring to a past comment by Jones about the flu shot potentially saving his life and avoiding burial at Rookwood Cemetery.

During the hearing, Hadley admitted to winking at someone in the public gallery, mistakenly believing she was the Herald reporter who had described him as “scruffy.” The publication had in fact characterized him as speaking “gruffly.” As a result, Judge Glenn Walsh ordered a sheriff to investigate whether an unidentified journalist had inappropriately contacted Hadley during his testimony, which would breach court directions prohibiting such communication.

The trial is ongoing with Hadley expected to continue giving evidence.