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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

James O'Brien

49 replies

Havesomecommonsense · 12/09/2025 08:06

I've been watching some of the commentary around the assasination of Charlie Kirk. I watched James OBrien who I have seen intermittently before. He did a very snide toned introduction with lots of little barbs at Charlie Kirk which were misplaced in tone. (For clarity I am in direct opposition to the views of CK and find lots of them depressing/outrageous)
So far so normal, radio host opines on something with own political leaning.
However then a caller messaged in to say that he found the tone mean spirited etc and then James O Brien totally gaslighted him saying he didn't do it! He did it all while doing that kind of never ending low mumble style of just going on and on. It was totally disingenuous and I was very shocked! (I know I'm probably totally naive and he maybe does this all the time)
Anyway chatting on here as its such a niche thing that no one I know in real life is likely to have listened to it so no one to discuss with!

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 12/09/2025 08:11

So don't listen to him then 🙄

FYI he has about 1.3m listeners so maybe you do know someone.

Nevergotdivorced · 12/09/2025 08:14

Unfortunately I cannot listen to the man anymore, he is a rude, arrogant, self opinionated, hypocritical bully.

Yes he does do this all the time.

Sundaymorningcalla · 12/09/2025 08:15

James O'Brien is one of the most arrogant broadcasters there is, I despise the man.

BlueJuniper94 · 12/09/2025 08:15

James O'brien has long been a nasty piece of work. But I'm enjoying the left showing the world who they are, lest there was any doubt. Pay attention

Jc2001 · 12/09/2025 08:16

Eyesopenwideawake · 12/09/2025 08:11

So don't listen to him then 🙄

FYI he has about 1.3m listeners so maybe you do know someone.

People are allowed to comment and debate what they hear or read. Just saying "don't listen to them then" to shut down any options that you don't agree with isn't how it works

If you're not interested in debating it, then just don't comment.

BallerinaRadio · 12/09/2025 08:16

"Totally naive"

Right OP 🙄

KhakiTiger · 12/09/2025 08:21

James o Brian is a bit of a nasty, angry, disgruntled man. And also not very good at presenting whatever dross he presents.

araiwa · 12/09/2025 08:29

James must have the patience of a saint dealing with the many idiots that call him.

Didn't hear it today so can't comment on this particular call

JoanChitty · 12/09/2025 08:37

I used to listen to LBC many moons ago. There was one occasion where James O Brien was having a go about Frank Lampard. This was way before FL was married. JOB was saying how awful he was leaving his children and not paying towards them. He was having a good old rant in the way he does. Unfortunately for him , Frank Lampard had been listening to him and had rung it to dispute the claims. It was wonderful to hear the blustering JOB taken apart.
i have no time for any presenter who cannot form a reasonable argument but just shout and bullies their callers.

Havesomecommonsense · 12/09/2025 08:42

BallerinaRadio · 12/09/2025 08:16

"Totally naive"

Right OP 🙄

Yes, not listened to huge amount by him so not sure if this is his normal schtick

OP posts:
chocolate08 · 12/09/2025 08:43

I didn't hear the intro but I do listen to him regularly and heard most of the programme yesterday. As he said in the programme, you can be shocked and saddened by what happened to him whilst also highlight and show the type of man he was and what he believed in. OP, did you watch a tiktok type video with crops?

Havesomecommonsense · 12/09/2025 08:44

Jc2001 · 12/09/2025 08:16

People are allowed to comment and debate what they hear or read. Just saying "don't listen to them then" to shut down any options that you don't agree with isn't how it works

If you're not interested in debating it, then just don't comment.

Yes, exactly this . I just want to chat about it as despite working in a busy place, I really think no one will have heard it or be interested in talking about it

OP posts:
Swiftie1878 · 12/09/2025 08:47

I don’t listen to him, but have heard him from time to time when excerpts end up on SM due to how controversial he’s been.
He seems like a bit of a nob, generally!

charliehungerford · 12/09/2025 09:15

araiwa · 12/09/2025 08:29

James must have the patience of a saint dealing with the many idiots that call him.

Didn't hear it today so can't comment on this particular call

It’s interesting that only the ‘idiots’ seem to get through! I like a good debate and hearing different opinions and perspectives, but he belittles and bullies those he clearly sees as being less intelligent than him.

Eyesopenwideawake · 12/09/2025 09:36

BTW, I listened to the program yesterday but completely missed the "snide toned...little barbs" – he said, like lots of people on a MN thread of yesterday, that he was not aware of CK and had had to research him as a result of his death.

ChestnutSquash · 12/09/2025 09:47

He isn't nearly as clever as he thinks he is, in spite of his expensive education. I feel sorry for his daughters - he has a nasty misogynistic streak. I switch off these days if I hear or see him, he annoys me so much.

Havesomecommonsense · 12/09/2025 09:52

Eyesopenwideawake · 12/09/2025 09:36

BTW, I listened to the program yesterday but completely missed the "snide toned...little barbs" – he said, like lots of people on a MN thread of yesterday, that he was not aware of CK and had had to research him as a result of his death.

It was when he reiterated a couple of times how CK was trounced by oxford uni students (this was one example)
Don't get me wrong , this is true - but the timing and tone was questionable - all wrapped up in how J O'B didnt know him, but this is what he found out..
There were a couple of other bits I thought were a bit tone deaf
For me, it wasn't the CK bits really- it was the way that despite there being real validity to what the caller said - J O'B just totally lied and actually gaslit the man - saying that if he felt that, it was because the man was projecting- it was really staggering in its manipulation i felt.

OP posts:
Havesomecommonsense · 12/09/2025 09:53

chocolate08 · 12/09/2025 08:43

I didn't hear the intro but I do listen to him regularly and heard most of the programme yesterday. As he said in the programme, you can be shocked and saddened by what happened to him whilst also highlight and show the type of man he was and what he believed in. OP, did you watch a tiktok type video with crops?

No , You Tube. I don't have TikTok

OP posts:
bapples1 · 12/09/2025 09:54

He's a pompous, arrogant dick, I can't listen to him.

bapples1 · 12/09/2025 09:56

Even when callers agree with him, he talks over them to prove he knows more.

susiedaisy1912 · 12/09/2025 09:56

KhakiTiger · 12/09/2025 08:21

James o Brian is a bit of a nasty, angry, disgruntled man. And also not very good at presenting whatever dross he presents.

This.

PiggyPigalle · 12/09/2025 09:57

I don't listen to him. After Farage was sacked from LBC, O'Brien said something like, "now we have our station back." Proving that what he wants, is his own echo chamber. I like open debate, not being dictated to.
I don't listen to the simpering tone of St Sheila who follows him either.

I do miss Maajid Nawaz, who was telling us things years ago that only now are being discussed openly.
He made the mistake of criticising the covid boosters, so Ian Dale who was so terrified of covid he wouldn't go beyond his 12 acre garden, stirred the pot and LBC sacked him.

I prefer LBC at weekends presenter wise. Ali Miraj and Matt Frei are good.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 12/09/2025 09:59

That’s his USP though - the way he interrupts and argues people down.

It’s basically an entertainment show in the end.

Often he says things I agree with (not on every topic but often) but being rude to callers is his whole selling point. I definitely wouldn’t try calling him up!

Ddakji · 12/09/2025 09:59

James O’Brien is awful. I remember when he was speaking with Kellie Jay Keen and she mentioned social contagion and he pretended not to know what social contagion was, got out his dictionary to look up the word contagion, and basically tried to rip her apart.

But, funnily enough, I wouldn’t want him dead.

Lottapianos · 12/09/2025 09:59

Yep he's always like that OP. Extra helpings of sanctimony these days because he's been in therapy for a while, so likes to bang on about how he's not an angry snide little gas lighter anymore, but of course, he still is

His show can be entertaining in a perverse sort of way