Keith Urban Hangs Up After 'Embarrassing' Interaction with Radio Hosts

It started as a lighthearted radio interview on the country star's press tour. But within minutes, an unexpected question turned the air icy, and what happened next left listeners speechless and the internet divided.

Country music star Keith Urban abruptly ended a live radio interview over Zoom with Adelaide's Mix 102.3 after being caught off guard by what many are calling a distasteful and uncomfortable question about his wife, Nicole Kidman.

The moment unfolded during a chat with morning show hosts Hayley Peterson and Max Burford, leaving both fans and listeners stunned. During the interview, co-host Burford veered into uncomfortable territory when he brought up the Netflix film "A Family Affair," in which Kidman stars alongside Zac Efron.

Urban, who had been promoting new music and chatting amiably until that point, responded with an awkward laugh before promptly ending the call. Burford had asked, "What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron having these beautiful love scenes on TV and radio?"

When the call disconnected, the hosts were shocked. Burford asked, "Oh. Why has that happened? What's just happened here?" A producer then shared that Urban's team ended the call because they probably didn't want that question asked.

The Netflix movie follows an unexpected romance that sets off a chain of comedic events involving a young woman (Joey King), her mother (Nicole Kidman), and her movie-star boss (Zac Efron), as they navigate the tangled dynamics of love, sex, and self-discovery.

The moment quickly went viral, sparking a wave of online reactions across Instagram, Reddit, and entertainment news pages. On US Weekly's Instagram, netizens were quick to call out the hosts.

One comment pointed out, "Its an inappropriate question. Of course he may have appeared uneasy. Duh! 😂 [sic]." Another simply added, "That's embarrassing," summing up the general sentiment shared by many viewers.

On E! News's Instagram page, the division of opinion was just as clear. One fan supported Urban's decision, writing, "I don't blame him. Completely inappropriate. You see how protective Keith is over [sic] Nicole. Reporter and journalist, know your audience."

Another applauded Urban for protecting his boundaries, "Good for you Keith Urban for putting up boundaries on your personal feelings. Interviewers can be so invasive with their questions [sic]." Still, not everyone agreed; one commenter pushed back, writing, "She's a versatile actress, always has been. What’s Keith's problem???"

Netizens on Reddit also had strong opinions. One stated, "I mean, it's a poor taste question at best, and downright obnoxiously rude at worst." Another added, "I mean yeah I would end the conversation there if I were him too lol, why would anyone think he'd be interested in talking about that," while a third was blunt, "Shouldn't of [sic] even asked that question!!"

Meanwhile, Kidman made headlines of her own while promoting "Babygirl," her erotic thriller that premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024. Variety reports that Kidman, who spoke at a press conference at the film festival, described the film as "very freeing" to make and hopes it serves as a "liberating story" for women.

"It's obviously about sex, it's about desire, it's about your inner thoughts, it's about secrets, it's about marriage, it's about truth, power, consent," she said.

In "Babygirl," Kidman plays a high-powered CEO who risks her career and family by starting a passionate affair with her much younger intern, portrayed by Harris Dickinson. The A24 film also stars Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, and Esther McGregor. Kidman credited director Halina Reijn with creating a safe and empowering set.

"I knew she wasn't going to exploit me. However anyone interprets that, I didn't feel exploited. I felt very much a part of it. There was enormous caretaking by all of us, we were all very gentle with each other and helped each other. It felt very authentic, protected and, at the same time, real [sic]," she said.

Though Kidman admitted feeling "exposed and vulnerable" as the film headed into wider release, she emphasized the intimacy and collaboration behind its creation. Director Reijn added that one of her goals with the movie was to address the orgasm gap between men and women, sparking laughter at the press conference.

As the conversation about Burford's embarrassing question continues online, the moment serves as a reminder for interviewers to tread carefully, especially when personal relationships and privacy are involved. Urban has yet to make any further comment on the matter, but his hanging up has certainly spoken volumes.