Channel Nine television presenter Karl Stefanovic has sparked controversy by posting a video of himself embracing UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who is set to appear on his podcast. The clip, shared on social media on Tuesday morning Australian time, shows Stefanovic walking down a London street with his arm around Robinson, a prominent figure in recent nationalist demonstrations in Britain.
In the video, Robinson asks Stefanovic to complete the sentence: "Keir Starmer is a …" Stefanovic responds with "wanker," and both men laugh. The post's caption describes Robinson as "the ultimate disruptor" and announces him as the next guest on Stefanovic's independently produced podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.
Stefanovic's Rightward Shift and Podcast Guests
Stefanovic, one of Australia's most famous television presenters, reportedly earns $2.8 million at Nine, where he co-hosts the Today breakfast show and anchors major live news events. However, he is understood to be planning an exit from television. Nine approved the podcast launch late last year in exchange for a pay cut, and the network declined to comment on the podcast, which Stefanovic runs independently.
His podcast has featured a string of right-wing figures, including One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, former Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, and Coalition figures Alex Antic, Matt Canavan, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australia's Labor premier Peter Malinauskas have also appeared. Stefanovic's rightward shift and podcast success have drawn comparisons to US podcast host Joe Rogan, a comparison Stefanovic has embraced, quipping "Joe Bogan."
Robinson's Controversial Background
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been a prominent far-right figure in the UK for nearly a decade. He has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for violence, public order offences, financial and immigration fraud, stalking and harassing journalists, and two contempt of court convictions. He was banned from entering the US but visited earlier this year, hosted by the Trump administration.
Earlier this month, British police seized Robinson's phones under counter-terrorism laws upon his return from a trip to Russia, where he met Elon Musk's father. He was detained for about three hours before being released. Robinson was among those who shared graphic footage of a Sudanese refugee alleged to have carried out a knife attack in Belfast, which anti-racist group Hope Not Hate described as a trigger event exploited by the far right to blame "mass migration" for violence. Homes and cars were burned in subsequent riots.
Interview with Ant Middleton
In a separate interview on Monday, Stefanovic spoke with Ant Middleton, a former special forces soldier who has appeared alongside Robinson at "unite the kingdom" rallies. Middleton told Stefanovic that British culture and identity were being suppressed while "outside or external cultures" were being accelerated, leading to confusion, frustration, anger, and violence. He said he did not condone violence but "can understand the civil unrest situation," adding, "People have had enough."
Stefanovic replied that there were people "who I'd love, you know, to follow, because they're able to articulate it," naming Robinson as an example. He then asked Middleton how to convert Reform UK's popularity into parliamentary seats, lamenting that the right had been led by their emotions, "over-passionate" and "over-patriotic." Stefanovic responded, "You can't be over-patriotic," before telling Middleton, "You'd make a great prime minister." Middleton said there was "definitely a calling for that" but it was at least a decade off.
The pair also discussed using military forces to "stop those boats." Middleton expressed hope that Australia would "look at the UK and you'll learn from us before you get to the stage that we're at and it's potentially too late," warning of the "woke mind virus."
