‘Why sack him?’ | Ben weighs in on Karl Stefanovic drama

What in the world is going on with Karl Stefanovic and Channel 9?The TV personality is set to be sacked.It comes after he sat down for an interview with the UK commentator Tommy Robinson.Now this was not done for the Today Show or for 60 Minutes.Karl's on annual leave.And he recorded the chat for his own independent podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.

Now apparently executives at Nine have spent 24 hours in crisis talks and reporter Steve Jackson at the Australian newspaper says they're going to punt him.The One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has told Sky News she's happy to give Carl a job.

So there's Pauline Hanson talking about Carl.

The latest drama involves this interview that Carl did with Tommy Robinson.Now, Tommy Robinson shot to fame after naming and shaming rape gangs and exposing UK police for failing to act.He put together several rallies under the banner, Unite the Kingdom, calling out high immigration and radical Islam.He's told Karl Stefanovic that he watched Britain change, including his hometown of Luton.

Luton was the launch pad for the 7 -7 bomb plot, the fertiliser bomb plot, the Stockholm suicide bomber, the limo bomb plot, the Luton army base bomb plot, I could go on and on and on.Bomb plot.Bomb plot.Bomb plot.Terrorism.Terrorism.

Terrorism.Jihad.Jihad.Jihad.

So there's Tommy Robinson talking to Carl on the podcast that seems to have caused all this drama.Tommy Robinson has produced a number of documentaries about Pakistani rape gangs.He's been forced to cancel speaking tours, including to Australia, after being denied a visa.He's done several stints in prison after being convictedof assault and contempt of court and people either love him or hate him.The trillionaire Elon Musk is a big fan and when he bought Twitter he allowed Tommy back onto the platform.

The UK reform leader Nigel Farage is not a fan, saying Tommy is entirely unsuitable to be in any political party.Then you've got the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.He's described Tommy as a far -right thug.Tommy Robinson says millions of people know that he's right.

To anyone, even if you're not in Australia, it's like If not now, then when?We're losing our country, you're losing your culture.We've got a thousand years of Christian English history in this country, and they've given it away in 70 years.They've caused the destruction of our entire nation.They've had a successful left -wing revolution.Attack the family, attack the church, attack masculinity, attack everything.

But a counter -revolution has now started and they ain't gonna be able to stop it.

So it's been quite a week for Karl Stefanovic.On Tuesday he uploaded that interview that you've just heard with Tommy Robinson.By Wednesday he'd deleted it from Spotify and from YouTube.And now here we are on Thursday and he's facing the chop from Channel 9.Why are they sacking him?Can someone explain that to me?

Plenty of people have interviewed Tommy Robinson.Is it because activists have threatened to boycott the Today Show?Is it because the bosses at Nine believe that Carl didn't ask Tommy Robinson any tough questions?Or is it because they're sick of seeing Carl's podcast perform so well, while the Today Show is routinely thrashed in the ratings?It all seems very strange to me.Joining me on the line, 2GB's Entertainment Editor, Peter Ford.

I totally agree with you.I can't see that he's done anything that makes it a sackable offense.Now, I guess what we don't know at this point is what the wording of the statement is going to be.be, presuming there is going to be one.Are they going to say he's dumped, he's axed, is it mutual agreement, let go of, all those things?Oh, I guess that famous old Channel 9 word, boned.

So we don't know that.And of course, why that will be relevant is that may give us an indicator as to whether they are going to pay him out for the next six months.and they can't be forced to put him on TV, but if they have no grounds to let him go, they may have to pay out his contract in full.Some people think that's exactly what Carl has been wanting anyway, but I agree with you, interviewing Tommy Robinson in itself is not wrong, but I think there are other factors at play that made it difficult.Number one was when he dropped a very cosy promo with Tommy walking along like best mates and using some slang words, and then there was the mysterious deletion of the interview, and then the sort of bizarre involvement of Pauline Hanson, who seems to have been leaked the full interview and given the inside word, on what's been happening with Nine management.And then, as you say, once the mad witches said, we're coming after you, I think that's when Nine thought, we have a massive problem here.

Yeah, this podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, has been a thorn in the side for Channel Nine, but they approved it.

They did.And I don't think they, for a second, thought that it was going to be as right -leaning or conservative -leaning as it has been.There's been no secret about that.But I do think Tommy Robinson was probably a step too far.But that in itself, there was no clause that was put to Carl to say, you know, we have to have you know, approval of any guests you're going to have on your podcast.So, I can't see that legally he's done anything wrong at all.

No, and if they wanted to see Tommy Robinson held to a higher standard as far as the questioning from Karl Stefanovic, well, that would make sense.it was on 60 Minutes or the Today Show because it's their network, their platform, and they'd say, hey, Carl, just keep in mind this is a controversial figure.We've got to ask him the tough questions while also hearing his points of view.But it's very different on a podcast.Podcasts aren't subject to the same standards, expectations, or codes.

No, and nine, as they freely admit, had no involvement whatsoever, so you then can't criticize someone for the way they've conducted an interview.But what I do think is an interesting picture here, Ben, is that Carl was offered something that nobody else has ever been given, that I'm aware of, and that was this kind of golden parachute, a 12 -month notice.and then we are going to be letting you go, your contract's not going to be renewed.You know how it is in radio and TV, normally the security guard turns up and they cancel your swipe card and you're taken out immediately.So he got something, got an incredible gift, which in itself was amazing because everybody may forget that the Today Show lags so far behind Sunrise.It's not like Carl was fronting the number one show and therefore they have to forgive a lot of sins.

I mean, the show has been tanking forever, and only seemingly getting worse.

And just on the Today Show, would that be part of the pain at Channel 9, that the Today Show is struggling, as it has been for a long time, while Carl's independent podcast is rising?

Well, it probably would irk them.I mean, I don't think that would please them, and they may be thinking, gee, why didn't we embrace this and get involved with it ourselves?But yeah, and I should declare here, Ben, I do appear on Sunrise, so I get paid to do it.So, you know, Sunrise is far and away the number one show.So the fact that Carl has been given almost like special treatment and no other on -air talent has been given through the years in itself has always been very mysterious to a lot of people.

And speaking of the mystery, we still don't know whether he's employed by Channel 9.They won't say right now.

No, I think that's the legalities that they have to try and sort out as to how do we word this and how do we, you know, clear ourselves of any wrongful dismissal type situation.

We appreciate your expertise as always, Pete.Thanks so much.