Source : Perth Now news
A reporter from A Current Affair has gone rogue in a potentially viral moment involving a Lord of the Rings character.
While confronting convicted property fraudster Glenn Stevenson, journalist Steve Marshall’s line of questioning turned bizarre.
It was during a feature on a scandal involving Mr Stevenson, who allegedly promised to build underground ‘Hobbit homes’ for a couple whose NSW home was destroyed in the Black Summer bushfires.
Mr Stevenson had appeared in court ahead of the interaction, where he pleaded guilty to his role in a $1.3m fraud case.
He was filmed calling journalists “leeches” – much to the ire of reporter Mr Marshall.
But the interaction then took a bizarre turn when Mr Marshall brandished a printed out photograph of Andy Sirkus as the character Gollum in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the JRR Tolkien fantasy novels.
“Hobbit houses? Are you more like Gollum, sir? Is that you?” Mr Marshall asks, while holding the picture against Mr Stevenson’s head.
The stunt is a reference to the goblin like creature who appears in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books.
Originally a gentle creature called Smeagol, the character is gradually corrupted over the years by the ring, causing him to become paranoid, spiteful and bitter.
“Gollum’s traits – terrible things, betrayal, addicted to riches, is that you?” the reporter adds.
“You should bury yourselves underground with those homes, sir, it’s an absolute disgrace.
“I hope your Hobbit homes have a mirror inside so you can take a good look at yourself.”
The news item centred on a couple whose home was destroyed during the Black Summer fires.
The pair allege they had paid Mr Stevenson to build new, underground Hobbit homes, but had not delivered on the scheme and ran off with their money.
Mr Stevenson remained silent throughout the feature, besides the “leeches” comment.
