Belgian radio hosts “jokingly” smash statue of Jesus and Virgin Mary on air

The hosts comment on the incident involving the statue of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary during a live broadcast. Photo: screenshot from a Facebook video

On March 24, 2026, hosts on Belgium’s public radio station Studio Brussel smashed a statue of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary during a live broadcast, presenting it as a humorous sketch, Tribune Chrétienne reports.

The incident took place during an entertainment segment of the program, in which the hosts were demonstratively destroying various objects in the studio. Among them was a statue of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. What caused particular outrage was the fact that the episode aired on a public radio station funded by the state.

Responding to journalists’ questions, the hosts tried to downplay what had happened, saying that Belgium is “not a very religious country.” At the same time, they acknowledged that they would not have done anything similar with symbols of other religions, citing possible consequences and the risk of a negative backlash.

The participants in the broadcast also said they considered themselves Catholics and viewed what happened as a form of self-criticism. Critics, however, argue that such explanations only make matters worse, since they show how badly the line has been blurred between freedom of expression and open disrespect for religious shrines.

The incident sparked broad discussion online. Users pointed to double standards in the treatment of religions and stressed that the desecration of Christian symbols is increasingly being treated as acceptable in public life, without drawing the condemnation it ought to provoke.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the number of thefts and acts of vandalism in chapels and churches had risen in Germany.

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