TV Host Reportedly Axed After Interview With British Influencer Tommy Robinson

Australian TV host Karl Stefanovic has reportedly been axed by media giant Nine Entertainment after interviewing right-leaning British influencer Tommy Robinson.

Stefanovic will leave Nine and is negotiating the terms of his exit after a full day of executive crisis talks, according to AAP.

Stefanovic has been a long-time Nine Entertainment TV identity, but recently began hosting his own podcast series where he discusses political and conservative-leaning issues.

Recently, Stefanovic hosted Robinson, who spoke about his support for Australia’s One Nation and the party leader, Pauline Hanson, alongside concerns around radical Islam and mass migration.

The episode lasted about an hour and was uploaded on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Instagram on June 23 before disappearing by June 24, though it remains unclear whether the footage was removed by the platforms or by Stefanovic himself.

In introducing the episode, Stefanovic speaks of his admiration for Robinson, who founded the English Defence League Movement.

“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.

In a segment re-shared online by Hanson, Robinson speaks of his admiration for the party and the One Nation leader herself.

“I’ve watched her for years, she spoke up for me. She’s one of the only people that spoke up for me from that side of the world. And I respect her,” Robinson said of Hanson.

“Looking at her rise, do you know how happy I am for her? She’s been through what I’ve been through, she’s been condemned, attacked, battered, called every name under the sun and here she is—she’s carried on against all of that backlash, all of that whirlwind … and it’s not easy.

“I’m a man, it’s not easy, so for a woman, the amount of slander, the amount of horrible disgusting things [people have] had said about her, she should carry on fighting and the truth comes out in the end.”

Hanson condemned Nine Entertainment over its alleged response to the interview.

“It looks like they’re trying to sack my good friend Karl Stefanovic for his interview with Tommy Robinson,” she said on social media.

“Tommy Robinson has a lesson for Australians. If we don’t learn from the UK’s mistakes on immigration and radical Islam, we are going to face the same destruction.

“This is exactly what Karl was trying to bring to Australia’s attention.”

In response, Nine said it was taking the recent episode “seriously,” despite it being produced independently of the network.

“The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production,” a Nine spokesperson said in comments obtained by AAP.

“Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes.

“However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”