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Wilfred Genee, Johan Derksen and René van der Gijp, the presenters of the Dutch talk show Today Inside, have not yet taken the mandatory online course on respectful collaboration for employees of RTL, NPO and Talpa, among others. Derksen also has no intention of doing “this kind of nonsense”, he said on Tuesday in Today Inside.
Two years ago, the three presenters of the talk show Today Inside were discredited, after Derksen’s much-discussed story that he allegedly penetrated an unconscious woman with a candle half a century ago. He later recanted, saying there had been no penetration, but the story still sparked a storm of protest. Especially considering the laughable tone about an act of transgressive behavior. When the other two table guests, René van der Gijp and Wilfred Genee, also announced that they did not want to continue with the show, the program was temporarily canceled.
It is therefore all the more striking that the three indicated in the talk show on Tuesday evening that they have not yet completed the mandatory online course on respectful collaboration. The broadcast included lawyer Job Knoester, who said that he recently completed the course. “I had received an email,” he said, after which the Today Inside trio claimed to have seen nothing. “I didn’t get anything,” Derksen said.
“Nonsense”
The TV analyst then made it clear that he had no intention of taking the course either. “No, no, I’m not going to do this kind of nonsense at 75. There’s nothing about that in my contract, so I just don’t do that.” Genee then warned Derksen that he could be suspended for up to two months and that his salary will be withheld if he does not do the e-learning. “What nonsense, man,” said the former footballer. Political reporter Merel Ek added that everyone at Talpa has received the invitation for the course and that it must be done before April 12.
The training was set up by the Media Pact Respectful Cooperation, a collaboration between various parties that was founded after abuses at The Voice of Holland. The aim of the course is to combat undesirable behavior in Hilversum.