Karl Stefanovic's cosy video outing with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson has sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about the boundaries between media personalities and extremist ideologies. The Channel Nine presenter, known for anchoring major live news events and co-hosting the Today breakfast show, was seen walking down a London street with his arm slung around Robinson in a promotional clip for Stefanovic's podcast.
Notably, the video features Stefanovic using derogatory language towards former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, fuelling criticism from anti-racist groups and politicians. Robinson's own chequered past is well-documented, with a lengthy record of convictions including violence, public order offences, and financial and immigration frauds.
Stefanovic's podcast has courted controversy by featuring right-wing guests, including Pauline Hanson and Tony Abbott, drawing comparisons to the format adopted by US podcast host Joe Rogan. The show has reportedly earned Stefanovic $2.8m from Nine, highlighting the commercial viability of his brand.
Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate has denounced Robinson as a 'far-right extremist', calling on Stefanovic to exercise greater discernment in choosing guests for his podcast. The organisation drew attention to Robinson's history of sharing graphic content online, including footage of a Sudanese refugee accused of carrying out a knife attack in Belfast.
The incident has reignited debate about the proliferation of far-right ideology in both the UK and Australia, with some arguing that Stefanovic's platform is inadvertently normalising extremist views. Conversely, others have defended Stefanovic's right to showcase diverse perspectives on his podcast.