Studio Brussel hosts destroy statues of Jesus and Mary as a “Blue Monday” stunt, igniting backlash over double religious standards.
Newsroom (25/03/2026 Gaudium Press) Studio Brussel, a state-funded Belgian radio station, has sparked outrage after its presenters destroyed statues of Jesus and Mary on-air in what they dubbed a “rage room” stunt — while openly declaring they would never do the same to an image of Muhammad.
On January 19, hosts Sam De Bruyn, Eva De Roo, and Dries Lenaerts filmed themselves smashing Christian statues with a sledgehammer to mark “Blue Monday,” a day popularly associated with sadness and low morale. The segment, titled “Beating the Blue Out of Monday,” quickly drew condemnation from religious figures and listeners who called it an act of sacrilege disguised as humor.
The controversial program resurfaced after Catholic journalist Colm Flynn interviewed the Studio Brussel team at the Radiodays Europe conference in Riga, Latvia. When asked whether destroying religious symbols might have offended Christians, De Roo replied with visible amusement: “I think it might offend people, but in Belgium not really. We are not a very religious country.” She added that she might have acted differently “in another country,” where such acts could provoke stronger backlash.
But Flynn’s next question — whether the presenters would dare smash a depiction of Muhammad — changed the tone. “That is a very dangerous question,” one host responded gravely. Another interjected, “No, no, that would be inappropriate.” All three were equally hesitant when asked about doing the same with Jewish symbols.
By the end of the conversation, the hosts seemed to realize the contradictions in their comments. They offered an apology, saying that if anyone was offended, they would welcome dialogue and acknowledge the hurt caused.
Belgium, once among Europe’s most devoutly Catholic nations, has undergone a profound cultural shift. The birthplace of pioneering Catholic figures like physicist-priest Georges Lemaître and humanitarian Saint Damien of Molokai, Belgium’s Catholic identity has largely faded in recent decades. Nearly 60 percent of its citizens now identify as religiously unaffiliated, while only about 31 percent still call themselves Catholic.
This secularization has coincided with controversial social policies. Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 — then one of only two nations to do so since World War II — and expanded it in 2014 to include minors of any age.
Studio Brussel, owned by the Dutch-language public broadcaster VRT, markets itself as an “alternative” station aimed at younger, progressive audiences. Once celebrated for its cultural edge, it has seen a steady decline in listenership in the past decade, being labeled “the big loser” in the 2024 Belgian radio ratings.
Following widespread criticism, VRT issued a public apology emphasizing the need for “respect for every religion.” The broadcaster stated:
“Studio Brussel misjudged the ‘Blue Monday’ sketch. Eva and Dries apologise. The video was intended as a humorous act, but they underestimated how sensitive religious symbols can be.”
The statement continued:
“VRT considers it important that all its employees show respect for every religion. Our aim is not to compare religions, but to treat everyone’s beliefs with care.”
The incident has reignited debate in Belgium about the limits of satire, freedom of expression, and whether the country’s secular culture has begun targeting Christianity while showing fear or deference toward other religions.
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- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald
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