Justin Ang & Vernon A. (The Muttons)

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Justin Ang & Vernon A.
The Muttons.jpg
OccupationRadio presenters
Years active2006 - present day
AwardsBest Radio Show (2010, 2011, 2013)

The Muttons are a Singaporean duo comprising of radio presenters Justin Ang (born 5 January 1982) and Vernon Anthonisz (born 12 May 1972). The duo launched their career as The Muttons in 2006 on 987FM, a Mediacorp radio station. Together, The Muttons are an award-winning duo having clinched the "Best Radio Show" title thrice at the Singapore Radio Awards.[1][2][3] As of 15 May 2020, The Muttons have 28,000 followers on their joint Instagram account 123,000 followers on Facebook.

Background

Vernon Anthonisz

Vernon A. and Jayne Tham on their wedding day in 2014. Photo from Her World.

Before his career as one-half of The Muttons, Vernon was largely recognised for his voice-over work. His ‘bassy’ voice often landed him the role of “Voice of God”, a title given to the “invisible voice in the background”. Vernon has also done voice-overs for the Singapore’s National Day Parades in 2001, 2003 and 2004.[4] On 6 July 2014, Vernon tied the knot with his girlfriend of two years, Jayne Tham. The garden-themed wedding took place at The Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. He has a son from his previous marriage.[5] On 6 July 2018, Vernon announced that he and Jayne were expecting their first child together.[6] On 2 January 2019, their son, Liam, was born at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.[7][8]

Justin Ang

Justin started his career in radio at 16 years old. According to his page on Toggle, his first gig as a radio DJ was in 1998 at SAFRA Radio. Following that, he moved to 987FM in 2006 where he met Vernon and formed the Muttons.[9] Besides his career as a DJ, Justin is also a voice-over artist having done voice-overs for clients such as Singapore Tourism Board, Listerine and the Ministry of Health.[10] In 2011, Justin made an appearance in the movie 'It's a Great, Great World' as the character, Ah Beng.[11] Justin has been married to Ilona Loo, a Director at a market research firm, since 2008.[12][13]

Radio (2006 - present day)

The Muttons moved to Class 95 in 2015 where they are colleagues with another established radio presenter, Jean Danker (third from right).

According to Justin Ang, the duo chose their moniker because “Mutton is the only meat with no negative connotations like cowardly chicken or fat cow”.[14]

Years Active Show Segment Time Slot Radio Station Refs.
2015 - present day Muttons in the Morning 5am - 10am Class 95 [15]
2010 - 2015 Muttons on the Move 4pm - 8pm 987FM [16]
2007 - 2010 Muttons to Midnight 8pm - 12am [17]
2006 - 2007 Muttons Weekdays 6am - 10am [18]

Hosting & media appearances (Events)

The Muttons (far right) hosting at the 2013 Singapore Radio Awards.
Year Event Notes Refs.
2019 Game of Thrones Final Season Premiere at Capitol Theatre Hosts [19]
2016 Singapore HeritageFest 2016 [20]
2014 Strepsils: The Right Note Finals [21]
Mediacorp Hong Bao Run [22]
Celebrate TV50 [23]
2013 Singapore Radio Awards [24]
Canon DJ Photo Challenge Won the competition against radio duo The Double Ds [25]
TODAY Movement Dance Championships (TDMC) Hosts [26]
2012 Levi’s Exchange at Ion Orchard [27]
Canon Photomarathon X Competed in the Celebrity Challenge [28]
TODAY Fantasy League Participated and competed in the event [29]
RaceMe! Soapbox Derby Race Hosts [30]
2011 Singapore Radio Awards [31]
Smurfs in the City Exhibition Launch [32]
Cold Stone Creamery Launch [33]
Mambo Jambo at Zouk [34]
The Mysteries of the Haunted Island [35]
2010 Singapore Radio Awards [36]
2009 987FM Life’s a Beach [37]

Awards & accolades

Year Event Title Notes Refs.
2013 Singapore Radio Awards Best Radio Show Justin won Most Popular Radio Personality [38][39]
2011 Vernon won Most Popular Radio Personality [40]
m:idea Youth Choice Awards (MYCA) Celebrity Duo I Wanna Chill With - [41]
2010 Singapore Radio Awards Best Radio Show [42]

Other endeavours

Business ventures - Co-founders

The Muttons celebrating Fook Kin's first birthday in 2019. Photo from Fook Kin's Facebook Page.

The Muttons started three food and beverage ventures together: FatBoy’s The Burger Bar (renamed as Lil’ Papas), FatPapas and Fook Kin.[43] On 30 June 2019, a fire broke out at Fook Kin, located at Killiney Road. Fortunately, its staff and some 40 diners were safely evacuated from the shop and the flames were shortly put out by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Fook Kin was closed for two weeks to make way for renovation and repair works. It was reopened on 15 July.[44][45]

987FM "No Bra Days with The Muttons" incident (2007)

In March 2007, the Muttons hosted a 5-minute radio segment called “No Bra Days with The Muttons” over three days.[46] The segment featured aspiring models who were competing for the FHM Girl Next Door Award 2007. In the broadcast, the DJs challenged the models to take off their bras “on-air” in the shortest possible time, without taking off the rest of their clothes.[47] The DJs narrated the proceedings while the models stepped up to the challenge. Video clips of the segments were then posted on Mediacorp Radio’s website.[48] The videos eventually found their way to YouTube.[49]

MDA response

On 14 April 2007, The Straits Times reported that the Media Development Authority (MDA) received a complaint regarding the segment. According to MDA, a member of the public found the broadcast “offensive” and had flagged its inappropriate content.[50] In response, MDA conducted an investigation and found that Mediacorp had contravened two paragraphs of the Radio Programme Code. Furthermore, they deemed that it “was entirely inappropriate for Mediacorp Radio to feature a contest organised in conjunction with FHM, an adult-oriented magazine, on a youth-oriented radio station over an extended period of three days”.[51]

Mediacorp statement

Following the investigation, Mediacorp was fined S$15,000 for airing a controversial segment on a morning show. In its response statement, MediaCorp “accepted MDA’s decision and recognised that the segment could be seen as being controversial”. Additionally, they apologised to the listeners who had been offended by the segment.[52]

References / Citations

  1. “Radio’s most glamorous night”. Today. November 29, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  2. “Top DJs honoured at S’pore Radio Awards”. Channel News Asia. November 25, 2011. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  3. Loh, Genevieve. “Going radio gaga”. Today. March 19, 2010. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  4. “Vernon A Asian English”. Voiceovers Asia. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://voiceovers.asia/voice_talent/vernon_a_asian_sg_english/
  5. “Mediacorp jock marries for second time”. Asia Radio Today. July 9, 2014. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.asiaradiotoday.com/news/mediacorp-jock-marries-second-time
  6. Vernona. Instagram. July 6, 2018. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk4Kg6PnMMk/
  7. Jaynetham. Instagram. January 3, 2019. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/BsJr_OBh9vt/
  8. “Radio DJ Vernon A and influencer-wife Jayne Tham welcome baby after 17 hours of labour”. Young Parents. January 3, 2019. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.youngparents.com.sg/pregnancy-baby/vernon-a-jayne-tham-baby/
  9. “Justin Ang”. Toggle. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://celebs.toggle.sg/en/celebs/the-celebrities/male/justin-ang-6146958
  10. “Justin Ang Asian English”. Voiceovers Asia. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://voiceovers.asia/voice_talent/justin_ang_asian_sg_english/
  11. "It’s a Great Great World". IMDB. January 27, 2011. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821689/
  12. “This Mutton’s big on Apple”. The New Paper. January 30, 2012. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  13. “Iggylona”. Instagram. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from Instagram.
  14. “Is it the year of the goat or the sheep? The Muttons explain”. 8 Days. February 28, 2015. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://lifestyle.toggle.sg/en/lifestyle/food/news/is-it-the-year-of-the-5209240
  15. “The Muttons move to Class 95FM in big radio revamp”. Today. February 24, 2015. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  16. “987FM to broadcast from new studio in downtown *Scape”. Channel News Asia. July 16, 2010. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  17. Loh, Genevieve. “Going radio gaga”. Today. March 19, 2010. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  18. Yong, Hazel. “ Radio plays a new tune”. The Straits Times. July 18, 2006. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  19. Loh, Desiree. “Fans attend premiere screening of final season of Game of Thrones”. The Straits Times. April 15, 2019. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/fans-attend-premiere-screening-of-final-season-of-game-of-thrones
  20. “Where to go on the first weekend of Heritage Fest 2016”. Today. April 30, 2016. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/heritage-fest-2016-where-go-first-weekend
  21. “Happenings - Films”. The Straits Times. June 6, 2014. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  22. “Inaugural MediaCorp Hong Bao Run to offer top prize of S$88,888”. Channel News Asia. November 29, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
  23. “Countdown party not multi-lingual enough”. The Straits Times. January 3, 2014. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  24. “Radio’s most glamorous night”. Today. November 29, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  25. “Canon DJ Photo Challenge: The fans have spoken;... and picked The Muttons over The Double Ds”. Today. December 13, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
  26. Farah Daley. “Smooth moves”. Today. February 25, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  27. “Short shorts”. Today. November 23, 2012. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  28. “Canon Photomarathon X”. Today. November 3, 2012. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  29. “Corporate chieftains and celebrities all set for kickoff”. Today. August 18, 2012. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  30. “Singapore’s first soapbox derby race”. Channel News Asia. September 3, 2012. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  31. “Radio’s most glamorous night”. Today. November 29, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  32. “Page 11 Advertisements Column 1”. Today. August 6, 2011. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  33. “Premium brand Cold Stone Creamery offers premiums for its launch today”. Today. March 12, 2011. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  34. Zhang Weifang. “Blast to the past”. Today. August 6, 2011. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  35. “What’s up this week”. The Straits Times. October 28, 2011. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  36. Loh, Genevieve. “Going radio gaga”. Today. March 19, 2010. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  37. “Bikini babes and hunky monkeys; a day of sun, sand and super fun DJs”. Today. June 22, 2009. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  38. “Radio’s most glamorous night”. Today. November 29, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  39. Fong, Kimberly. “Muttons win Best Radio Show again”. Today. November 16, 2013. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/celebrity/muttons-win-best-radio-show-again
  40. “Top DJs honoured at S’pore Radio Awards”. Channel News Asia. November 25, 2011. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  41. Teo, Bjorn. “I talk nonsense to engage youth”. The New Paper. January 18, 2011. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  42. Loh, Genevieve. “Going radio gaga”. Today. March 19, 2010. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  43. “Is Singapore’s latest F&B empire being built by these cheeky Muttons”. Channel News Asia. October 8, 2018. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/dining/the-muttons-class-95-dj-fat-boys-fat-papas-fook-kin-10795246
  44. Yip Jieying. “Class 95 DJs the Mutton’s restaurant Fook Kin caught fire, 40 diners safely evacuated”. 8 Days. July 6, 2019. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandopening/class-95-djs-the-muttons-restaurant-fook-kin-caught-fire-40-11697058
  45. Fook Kin. Facebook. July 15, 2019. Accessed 3 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/fookkinsg/photos/a.2001071106850284/2183052221985504/?type=3&theater
  46. “MediaCorp Radio fined for bra stunt”. Today. May 31, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  47. Stunt was exploitative and inappropriate, says MDA”. Today. June 5, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  48. Ng, Desmond. “DJs tell FHM model-wannabes: Take bra off, wave it in air”. The New Paper. April 13, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  49. “MediaCorp Radio fined for bra stunt”. Today. May 31, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  50. Lee Sze Yong. “Radio show too raunchy?”. The Straits Times. April 14, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  51. Stunt was exploitative and inappropriate, says MDA”. Today. June 5, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  52. “MediaCorp Radio fined for bra stunt”. Today. May 31, 2007. Accessed 2 September 2019. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.