Karl Stefanovic is expected to leave Nine following a controversial interview with a British anti-Islam activist, as the prime minister and home affairs minister join a growing list of critics.
The network reportedly decided to cut ties with its long-standing Today show host on Wednesday after the release of a now-deleted podcast interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson, who has been accused of fuelling violent anti-immigration protests in the UK.
Stefanovic has been criticised for failing to challenge Robinson during the nearly hour-long interview, in which he praises his guest’s “tenacity” and “courage” for “trying to stand up for what you believe is right”.
On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke questioned the merit of giving a platform to someone such as Robinson.
“He certainly wouldn’t get a visa under me, he certainly wouldn’t get a platform under me,” Mr Burke said of Robinson, who has been denied entry to Australia by previous governments.
“The last thing we need in Australia is for the temperature to be raised by people who want to spread hatred being given a louder voice.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed into the matter, telling a speaking event in Canberra: “I don’t want to get into a debate about Nine at the moment, but you know, look at what’s happened.
”You go down that road and you get further and further out on the edges of what is mainstream political debate in this country, and … I think that that can have, you know, an impact.”
The Karl Stefanovic Show episode was published on Tuesday evening but was pulled down from multiple platforms by the following morning.
It was resurrected on YouTube by Pauline Hanson, who Robinson praised during the interview.
The episode reportedly sparked a full day of executive crisis talks at Nine.
While the network is not involved in the running of the podcast, it has kept Stefanovic on the payroll as the co-host of its flagship breakfast program.
As pressure mounted on Wednesday, Nine took pains to distance itself from the podcast.
“The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production,” a Nine spokesperson told AAP at the time.
“Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes.
“However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”
Radio giant ARN, which hosts a once-weekly podcast with Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire, has also put itself at arm’s length, telling multiple outlets The Karl Stefanovic Show is independent and not representative of ARN’s editorial standards or views.
The interview sparked a rebuke from activist group Mad F***ing Witches, a grassroots group known for pressuring advertisers to pull money from media outlets in its crosshairs.
The organisation has previously drained funds from the employers of shock jocks Alan Jones and Kyle Sandilands.
On Wednesday, it appeared to take credit for Stefanovic’s expected departure from the network.
“Congratulations, witches,” it wrote, sharing a news report. “We did it again.”
It is unclear why the episode was taken down or who made the call.
However, Senator Hanson reposted the video of the episode on her YouTube channel on Wednesday morning, claiming Nine was “trying to sack my good friend Karl Stefanovic”.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan also rushed to Stefanovic’s defence once news broke he was set to depart the network.
“Australian journalists should not lose their jobs for talking to someone,” he wrote on X.
“Reports of Karl’s sacking, if true, are a win for the thought police.”
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was a co-founder of the now-defunct anti-Islam English Defence League movement.
He has twice cancelled speaking tours of Australia after being denied a visa and has multiple criminal convictions.
In a video teasing the episode online, Stefanovic puts his arm around Robinson.
“I really do admire your tenacity and the courage that you’re showing in trying to stand up for what you believe is right,” he said during the interview.
Stefanovic has co-hosted the Today show on and off for more than two decades, after first joining the network as a reporter in 2000.
Stefanovic and ARN have been contacted for comment.
Comments 47
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Although I am not a fan of Karl and never have been. I don’t think he should be sacked for interviewing Tommy Robinson. If you’ve ever been to England and seen the mess it is in, then you’ll understand why! JMHO. Thank you!
Do agree with you on all aspects Jane. What happened to democracy and freedom of speech?
Goodbye Freedom of Speech! Shades of facism when you can't freely express an opinion . People don't have to agree with you, but I support your right to your opinion. The one thing the Gov can't control is our thoughts. Not yet anyway.
Australia has still got free speech I believe. Whether I agree with the speech or not. Tony Burke allow known terrorists the isis brides back into Australia. He only has the labour government’s best interest at heart
Labour has very long tentacles. Channel 9 is just one of them
Exactly my thoughts too. And just today the announcement the last of the Isis brides is now allowed back with the stipulation she has to present herself to authorities???!!! God help us!
Very true, people are starting to wake up.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion
We need to be told what is going on. This man is trying to save Britain while politicians there and here are putting their heads in the sand. No more channel 9 for me!!!
Or Me. Always playing to the minority, and not listening to the majority
No. Maybe a warning. What right has channel 9 got to sack one for freedom of speech. This is socialism.
I don’t give a toss if he’s sacked or not. Don’t listen to the guy anyway, can’t stand his smugness.
I like him he's honest speaks his mind - do you ?
Since when has freedom of speech been denied in Australia, I thought we were supposed to be living in a democracy not ab autocracy. Shame on those Labour ministers wh I voted for in the last election. Everyone should be entitled to their opinion.
Haven’t we now got laws about antisemitic speech and hate speech
I don’t give a toss whether he’s sacked or not. I never watch him can’t stand his smugness.
No Karl should not have been sacked. Blessing in disguise though. Mainstream media has a narrative, it’s not the truth. How can you be controversial when you’re just speaking the truth. Truth you’ve lived and seen. TR, KS and anyone else who wants to let the public know exactly what is going on behind closed doors, so many of those in government, should be applauded.
What we the public take from that is up to us. So go forth Karl, you are no longer shackled.
Pleased he’s gone, never could stand the guy!
He should have been sacked years ago for some of the rubbish that has come out of his mouth.
I think he's honest and a great entertainer - could you do better?
Fully support Karl Stefanovic! Go you Karl, about time that what the majority of us is thinking, replaces the vile propaganda we currently have shoved at us as TRUTH !!
So why is a certain ethnic group allowed to spread violent hate speech? Seems to me that the government and channel 9 for that matter are determined that only the woke, cancel culture arm of their regime have their support.
He should have gone years ago.
We don't want racist and bigoted attitudes amplified here in Australia.
Glad he was sacked.welldone channel 9
Karl did not deserve the sacking, and it's a great interview with a top protester.
Agree 100%
I've been following Tommy Robinson for more than ten years. I'm 80 years old and have been a student of politics for more than 60 years. It would be difficult to find a political figure anywhere in the world that has more half truths and lies surrounding him.
In your article, you state that he is anti Islamic. That is simply untrue. He is anti gang rapes of white girls, mostly in the north of England by men of the Islamic faith, predominantly from Pakistan. For many years, these men were protected by police who turned a blind eye because they didn't want to be accused of racism. As a result, these gangs operated with impunity, ruining the lives of countless white girls, some of whom committed suicide. The only person in the UK who spoke out about this was Tommy Robinson. He has suffered indescribably because of his courage. One example: he and his wife with their children were enjoying a pub lunch when several police officers arrived and told the family to leave instantly. When he asked why, he was told that a patron had called the police, saying he'd been causing trouble. The publican insisted that it wasn't true and offered to show them the CCTV footage. The police declined, and threw the family out.
I'm not a fan of Karl Stefanovic, but he has every right to interview whomsoever he chooses. Or does he, if he risks saying something the bullies in the mainstream media disagree with?
Anyone who genuinely wants to know what Robinson was fighting should watch a series of three episodes, called 'Three Girls', starring the brilliant Maxine Peake. Anyone who sees this and still sees fit to vilify Robinson, should have a good hard look at themselves.
Yes Joy tha is all true what you have said. Have many friends in the UK and this is well known to be happening and the Goverment have just covered it up. I have Two Daughters and Grandchildren and would never want this to happen to them. It takes courage to stand your ground not fill your pockets with Tax Payers money.
wow i wish there were more people like you around...well responded and you make so much commonsense...i agree and applaud you and karl
A very good summary of the facts.
No, Karl does not deserve to be potentially sacked.
He is only showing the truth and facts.
I am not a fan of Karl either BUT I don’t believe he should be sacked for this interview with Tommy, when are the Politicians going together get their head out of the sand, what Tommy is saying 90% of people agree,what happened in the U.K will happen here because you are not stopping these Islamic people coming here and bringing the terror here, yet you stop 1 Man speaking from experience coming here and wanting to stop this Interview being viewed, this Country of Ours is becoming weak and in ruin of Australian standards, pathetic
Unsure why Karl is being sacked for allowing Tommy to tell his story. A good interview, Karl let Tommy do the talking with a few prompts from Karl, excellent.
Goes to show this Country is becoming like a Communist Country, what happened to free speech, even on this post it is being Monitored for acceptance, how pathetic
Thrilled to say AT LAST we are RID of KARL STEFANOVICS RW BIASED ARROGANCE & EGOMANIACAL MAGA TRUMP PLAYBOOK BS INCITING FEAR & DIVISION VIA HIS MAJORITY FAVES RW GUESTS ‘GRAB INTERVIEWS’ RUBBISHING OUR LABOR GOVERNMENT with LIES MISINFORMATION DISINFORMATION & SCREAMING In OVERTALKING LABOR GUESTS & THEN HIS IMITATION USA JOE ROGAN CONTROVERSIALPODCAST inflating his EGO STRATOSPHERICALLY he thought …UNTIL HE MASSIVELY OVER STEPPED HIS…IM AM UNTOUCHABLE mark & IT ALL CAME STUPENDOUSLY CRASHING DOWN ON HIM & THAT I WHATS KNOWN AS KARMIC JUSTICE 🥊💥 So YES I AM HAPPY STEANOVIC was OUT OF CONTROL by HIS OWN DOINGS…LIVE BY THE SWORD DIE BY THE SWORD & HE MOST CERTAINLY FELL ON HIS SWORD 🗡️ GOOD RIDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH 👏!!!!
Absolutely brilliant interview 👍 one of the BEST and most entertaining media events ever
devised👏👏👏….. well done Karl and great stuff “Tommy”…..maintain the rage and keep exposing the hypocrisy of mainstream media….. very sad that channel 9 seems to be joining the woke socialists in their bitter censorship of free speech
I’m not a Jarl fan but I say good on him for tackling the thorny issues no-one wants to address. If he is sacked over this it is a travesty. As for bourke and his mob who speak untruths; I’d sack them given half the chance.
I think KS is over-indulged and over-paid and would not be upset if he was sacked. He appears to have established a new business anyway, so he will hardly be on struggle-street. It isn't really a free speech issue. I am always a bit wary of high profile media figures providing a platform for divisive folk with "soft" interviews (or attack dog tactics to generate ratings).
Hate speech between family members in the hundreds of thousands of homes in Australia and across the world is taking place every day which often leads to physical domestic violence resulting in serious injuries and deaths and this has been going on for more centuries than we can count. Look what's happening in the Middle East right now. The combatants are hardly being nice to one another. But there's never been any attempt by governments to ban it. Free speech freedom of expression and fair comment has to be a given in a democracy and if it's not then we're on the slippery slope to what daily life is like for people living in an autocracy.
I've never liked Karl but I totally agree with the interview
What is our country becoming? I thought it was only in communist countries that people were denied freedom of speech. Why should Kal be punished for interviewing someone with views that differ from the Government's? Seems like overkill to keep the 'powers that be' safe & happy. It is all just political rubbish. Where are journalists rights. I hope Karl gets a lot of support from the rest in his profession . Good luck Karl.
KR.
Karl should definitely not loose his job for this interview. He did nothing wrong. 9 should be supporting him.
Karl should not loose his job because of this interview, he did absolutely nothing wrong. 9 should be supporting him
Tommy Robinson has lived the experience of muslim crime in his town. I think it is the working class people who are exposed to the worst of it. All the bleeding hearts don't live among it and haven't had any trouble in their trendy suburbs. Karl went up in my estimation for his bravery.
I certainly don't think that Karl should be sacked for doing an interview which was both interesting and controversial, exactly what he, as a journalist, is supposed to be doing. Freedom of speech still exists I'm sure in this country and I'm glad he's got his own podcast and although it's sad to see him go from "9" I expect he got totally bored doing the same thing day after day for years. England is in a dreadful state at the moment and now they've got rid of that waste of space Keir Starmer maybe things might get better. Tommy Robinson is a hero, says what he thinks just like Pauline Hanson and we need more people like them here.
Nine has the right to distance themselves from comments they believe damage their reputation. I find Stevanovic obnoxious and for that reason alone I don't watch his channel Nine breakfast program. He is not a journalist in any true sense of the word. I know I am not alone in considering his wise cracks and sniggering detract from his so called commentary so I expect Nine decided it was a bridge too far. No doubt Channel 10 will welcome him with open arms where he can join his good friend Pauline Hanson. So he has not been denied 'free speech' . His employer just exercised their rights just as football clubs who have a code of ethics, censor players who bring the game into disrepute. I recall a colleague , a really pleasant person on a daily basis, being reprimanded for referring to someone as a ' d*ckhead' in an email. She was reprimanded for doing so. He can exercise freedom of speech but if he wants to be paid $2 million to do so maybe he could work for Gina Rinehart.
If we don't hear both sides, how can we make a judgement call? It's time the media stopped manipulating and also patronising the general public. The 'Diary of a CEO' channel on You Tube habitually interviews people from both sides of an opinion, across many sectors and agendas. That's how it's supposed to be. That was the raison d'etre of the debating groups and societies. Do they still exist?
A news reader presents news and then gets sacked for doing so ! - What, I don’t understand. ?
Stefanovic..........There are better interviewing journalists out there....
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