Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has accused Nine of “trying to sack” Today host Karl Stefanovic after the veteran broadcaster interviewed an anti-Islam activist on his namesake podcast.
Stefanovic’s lengthy interview with Tommy Robinson, which heavily centred on immigration, was made private on YouTube just hours after it was uploaded on Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear why the video was made private but Senator Hanson on Wednesday posted a clip of the interview and suggested Nine’s “weak management” was behind it.
“It looks like they’re trying to sack my good friend Karl Stefanovic for this video with Tommy Robinson!” she wrote.
“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.”
A spokesperson for Nine told NewsWire: “The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production.
“Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes.
“However, Nine is taking this matter seriously,” the spokesperson said.
In the clip that Senator Hanson posted, Mr Robinson praised her and her rise.
“I love Pauline,” he said, adding that he had “watched her for years”.
“She spoke up for me. She’s one of the only people who spoke up for me from that side of the world and I respect her.
“So, looking at her rise, do you know how happy I am for her? Because she’s been through what I’ve been through.
“She’s been condemned, attacked, battered, every name under the sun and here she is. She’s carried on against all of that backlash.”
Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was a member of the fascist British National Party in the 2000s and later co-founded the English Defence League – an anti-Islam movement.
He has also appeared on Russian state media and promoted Kremlin talking points on the war in Ukraine.
Mr Robinson has been convicted of assault, mortgage fraud and using a false passport.
