These ‘witches’ claim to have brought down Kyle, Karl and Alan Jones. In fact, they’re bullies

July 19, 2026 — 5:00am

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Now this is risky, and could end in tears. We could all be “cancelled” for even thinking about it. But here goes: the increasing impact of media pressure group Mad F—ing Witches is an unhealthy sign for democracy and media in Australia.

MFW is a powerful lobby that has painted targets onto some of Australia’s biggest media “stars” and claims to have set back the careers of people like Eddie McGuire, Karl Stefanovic, Sam Newman, Kyle Sandilands, Pauline Hanson and Alan Jones.

It began in 2016 and runs what it calls “collective boycotts” where supporters pressure advertisers to withdraw their money from programs and commentators of which they do not approve.

In a democracy, the witches (as they call themselves) are entitled to do this, but it’s an ugly power game, working under the principle that you must believe what we believe or we come after you.

And underlying that is a question: who or what should decide what it is appropriate for you to see, hear or read, other than some basic laws and a system of self-regulation that has worked reasonably well in this country for nearly 200 years.

Witches founder goes to police over Sandilands’ remarks

Calum JaspanMedia Writer

This isn’t to argue the media is anything other than flawed. A fertile environment has been created for MFW by management slow to react and regulators, such as they are, looking weak and bureaucratic.

But the witches are playing with a fragile system.

Their website expresses particular pride in........

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