Karl Stefanovic has divided fans after he invited British far-right activist and campaigner Tommy Robinson onto his new podcast for an interview.
The breakfast show host, 51, posted a video of the pair on Tuesday, saying Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the ‘ultimate disruptor’.
‘Tonight. 5PM. In a historical change, Keir Starmer is out,’ he wrote in the wake of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation on Monday.
‘We speak to Tommy Robinson. The guy you’ve all been asking for. The ultimate disruptor. Many say, a voice for the people. This is a wild chat you can’t miss.’
In the clip, Stefanovic put his arm around Robinson as they walked along a street.
‘Can I ask you a question?’ the English Defence League founder said, prompting Stefanovic to fill in the blank. ‘Keir Starmer is a…?’
Karl Stefanovic, 51, (left) has divided fans after he invited British far-right activist and campaigner Tommy Robinson, 43, (right) onto his new podcast for an interview
‘W***er,’ Stefanovic finished, with the pair laughing at the joke.
Aussies were left divided in the comments, with many slamming Stefanovic for inviting Robinson, a convicted criminal, on The Karl Stefanovic Show.
‘Karl, platforming Tommy Robinson is a terrible choice,’ one person wrote.
‘So a convicted fraudster and violent man who has been to jail. What a choice. You really have gone full cooker,’ another commented.
‘Wow, you’ve really hit an all time low. I can’t believe I used to respect you,’ a third noted.
‘And you put your arms around the grub. You’re f***ed, mate. I hope you get the violent country you want. I hope your children enjoy it!’
Meanwhile, other fans came forward to express their support for Stefanovic.
‘So awesome to see you interviewing Tommy Robinson,’ wrote one user.
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Should controversial figures like Tommy Robinson be given a platform by mainstream media hosts?
The breakfast show host, 51, posted a video of the pair on Tuesday, saying Robinson whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the ‘ultimate disruptor’
Aussies were left divided in the comments, with many slamming Stefanovic for inviting Robinson, a convicted criminal, on The Karl Stefanovic Show, while others supported him
‘Tommy has more integrity than the whole of the Labour and Tory parties combined. Go and watch The Rape of Britain, it will disgust you and rightly so,’ another said.
‘Karl, this is an incredible guest to get, thankyou for doing what legacy media refuses to do. This is HUGE!’ commented another.
‘I’m keen to watch this,’ someone else wrote.
In the 55-minute interview, posted to The Karl Stefanovic Show YouTube page on Tuesday afternoon, Robinson he said he has been made a ‘figure of hate’ and believes he is speaking up for those who fear doing the same.
‘I haven’t been investigated to do with racism and hate, and here I am invisible because you put me on the level with someone who murdered 5000 people in one day, because I use speech you don’t agree with, my free speech,’ he said.
‘I say facts, not opinions, facts.
‘If you are sitting in Australia, you may share my views. You may be concerned about immigration. You may be concerned about Islam, but I’m pretty sure you know what happens when you open your mouth,’ he continued.
‘You’re probably sitting at a good job and you have lots of bills and a decent family. You have a good life. Well that was me.’
The 55-minute interview was posted to The Karl Stefanovic Show YouTube page on Tuesday afternoon (pictured)
Robinson he said he has been made a ‘figure of hate’ and believes he is speaking up for those who fear doing the same
Elsewhere in the chat, Robinson said he ‘loves’ One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and is grateful for her support.
‘She spoke up for me. She’s literally one of the only people who spoke up for me from that side of the world,’ he said.
‘Looking at her rise, do you know how happy I am for her. She’s been through what I went through.
‘She’s been condemned, attacked, battered, called every name under the sun. It’s not easy. For a woman, the amount of horrible, disgusting things said about her.’
Robinson believes there is a ‘cultural revolution’ underway in the UK and that the right-wing will take power within the next three years.
‘I want to go into the roughest areas of Britain, the working class communities. Captivate them, re-energise them and make them believe they matter and that will cause a f***ing earthquake,’ he said.
‘We all believe in free speech, we’re against mass migration, we’re against Islam, we’re a Christian nation and we’re against LGBTQ indoctrination of children.’
Robinson told Stefanovic that he ‘loves’ Pauline Hanson (pictured) and is grateful for her support
Robinson has been a prominent figure in right-wing activism in the UK for almost a decade, and has a lengthy criminal record.
His convictions include violence, public order offences, contempt of court, stalking and harassing journalists, as well as financial and immigration frauds.
Stefanovic, one of Australia’s most famous television presenters, has taken to interviewing right-wing personalities on his podcast, which he launched in January.
He has welcomed the likes of Pauline Hanson, and others from the party such as Barnaby Joyce and Sean Bell, onto the show.
Other right-wing guests include former Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, and Coalition figures Alex Antic, Matt Canavan and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
