New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has drawn the ire of radio host Alan Jones, who labelled her a “joke” and a “complete clown” in an extraordinary rant. Audio: 2GB

Big-name advertisers are turning their backs on shock jock Alan Jones amid widespread condemnation over his “appalling” comments about New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern.

The controversy began last Thursday, when the 2GB host attacked Ms Ardern on-air after she criticised Australia’s climate change policies.

The 78-year-old unleashed an extraordinary spray in response, labelling the respected leader a “complete clown”.

“She’s a clown, Jacinda Ardern; a complete clown,’’ Mr Jones said.

“I just wonder whether Scott Morrison is going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat.’’

He went on to describe her as “a swallower” of the climate change “hoax” and a “joke”.

“She is a joke, this woman; an absolute and utter lightweight,” he said on social media.

Within hours, Mr Jones faced an onslaught of criticism from Aussies and international leaders alike.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was one of the first to slam Mr Jones on Twitter.

“The people of the Pacific, forced to abandon their homes due to climate change, don’t have that luxury,” he tweeted.

“Try saying that to a Tuvaluan child pleading for help.”

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also weighed in, posting: “Jones should also apologise to @jacindaardern for his latest misogynistic rant.”

Since then, a slew of companies — including Anytime Fitness, Snooze, Koala and ME Bank — have revealed they are pulling their ads from Mr Jones’ show.

In a tweet, Koala mattresses told 2GB it was “time to wake up”.

“Climate change is real, violence against women starts with words and the bloke has had too many chances,” Koala wrote in a pointed reference to Jones’s reactionary views.

In a Facebook post, Snooze said it took Mr Jones’ comments “very seriously” and that they did “not reflect the values of Snooze”.

“We have pulled all advertising from the show and we currently do not have any advertising planned for the 2GB station at this time. Before making any further statements, we will look to understand 2GB’s plans for their network and the hosts that represent them,” the company confirmed.

“Thanks for your feedback - we take this very seriously and these types of comments don’t reflect our values. We’ve expressed our concerns to 2GB and have pulled advertising,” ME Bank confirmed on Twitter.

Koala has cut ties with Alan Jones. We’re a significant buyer in the medium, and it’s something we should have done earlier. Climate change is real, violence against women starts with words and the bloke has had too many chances. @2GB873 time to wake up. — Koala (@KoalaMattress) August 19, 2019

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph reports Mr Jones has received death threats in the wake of the scandal.

While the exact nature of the threats were not revealed, the publication described them as a “string of vile and threatening messages” posted on social media which have “rattled” the veteran broadcaster due to their “violent nature”.

This morning, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also weighed into the debate, but defended Mr Jones on ABC’s News Breakfast.

When host Michael Rowland asked whether it was time for Mr Jones to be taken off the airwaves as a result of his “repeated violent language towards women, particularly women in power”, Mr Frydenberg said: “Those comments were clearly inappropriate … but I do want to acknowledge Alan Jones is also a mainstay of our media.”

Mr Frydenberg’s failure to fully condemn Mr Jones angered many viewers.

.@mjrowland68: "Given Alan Jones' repeated violent language towards women, is it time for him to be taken off the airwaves?"



Treasurer @JoshFrydenberg: "Those comments were clearly inappropriate … but I do want to acknowledge Alan Jones is also a mainstay of our media"#auspol pic.twitter.com/s7zNGdu5BJ — News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) August 18, 2019

Mr Jones has previously sparked outrage by suggesting former prime minister Julia Gillard should be “put into a chaff bag and thrown into the sea’’, and saying her recently-deceased father had “died of shame”.

In 2016, Mark Latham appeared on Mr Jones’ show to criticise anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty, and in 2017 Mr Jones published a tweet which many interpreted as a joke about the lynching of Sydney mayor Clover Moore.

Later that year, he also warned NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that her head was “in a noose” over a state government mining policy.

“You can guess what many people would rather hang 58 metres over George Street...and it’s not a Cloud Arch,” he posted.

Mr Jones has apologised over his comments, but they have prompted many members of the public to point out the commentator’s previous track record of concerning and potentially violent comments about women.

“Alan Jones continues to be seriously triggered by women in power. His rage immediately goes to calling for violent acts towards them. We just want all his microphones to be disconnected,” Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Sally McManus tweeted.

“32 women have been killed by violence in Australia so far this year. Words matter,” Swinburne University of Technology senior lecturer Belinda Barnet wrote.

If there's one thing we can know for sure, it's that there's basically no upper limit of verbal attacks Jones can launch on women in public life that would disqualify him from his public role. If it was going to happen, it would have happened already. pic.twitter.com/JrdJ7BjSD0 — Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) August 15, 2019

Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate has also publicly warned Mr Jones will be sacked if he makes similar comments in future.

2GB is owned by Macquarie Media, which recently re-signed Jones on a multimillion-dollar contract for a further two years.

ALAN JONES ADVERTISER LIST 16/08/19



Alan Jones is a toxic misogynist now blaming social media for misrepresenting his "shove a sock down her throat" comment



Let his advertisers know how you feel



Contact as many as you like/can: cc @slpng_giants_oz



Please B RESPECTFUL#Auspol pic.twitter.com/jXRWvE9okK — 💧 Sleeping Giants Oz 📣 (@slpng_giants_oz) 15 August 2019

have you noticed that many old men are so threatened by successful & assertive women & girls like AOC, Jacinta Ardern & Greta Thunberg, that they threaten them with violence ? — Josh Bornstein (@JoshBBornstein) August 15, 2019

Meanwhile, Ms Ardern has brushed off the offensive remarks.

“I don’t know that I’m going to give that the light of day, that comment. I think I’ll just leave it where it is,” she said.