Sky News host Peter Stefanovic apologises after interview ambush

Sky News First Edition big Peter Stefanovic has apologised for his heavy criticised interrogation with Northern Territory teen Keegan Payne past week.

The 19-year-old Katherine section was invited onto the amusement to observe his prize drawback astatine the Million Dollar Fish angling competition, wherever helium caught a barramundi worthy $1 million.

Peter Stefanovic has apologised to Keegan Payne unrecorded on-air pursuing his highly criticised interrogation with the teen past week.Credit: Sky News Australia

During the interview, Stefanovic questioned Payne astir an incidental that occurred implicit 3 years ago, which progressive the alleged theft of 2 vehicles.

The host, who has worked connected the programme since 2019, drew an contiguous backlash for turning what was expected to beryllium a feel-good infinitesimal into disapproval of Payne. During the interview, Stefanovic asked Payne whether helium had been progressive successful the theft of 2 vehicles belonging to his erstwhile employer, Bob Cavanagh.

“There is simply a assertion online that you stole a Polaris Ranger and Polaris quad that you and your friends stole and damaged from a concern a fewer years back. First of all, is that true?” Stefanovic asked.

Payne, intelligibly caught disconnected guard, confirmed helium had been involved. He past said: “Bob Cavanagh, I’ve yet done it, I’m richer. I’m atrocious astir your buggy, I privation I could wage you back.”

According to Cavanagh, nary charges were laid against Payne astatine the clip of the incident, arsenic helium chose to talk with Payne’s parents alternatively than instrumentality the substance further with police.

“An apology from me, past Wednesday we invited Keegan Payne onto our amusement to sermon his triumph successful the Million Dollar Fish contention successful the Northern Territory,” Stefanovic said unrecorded connected the meal quality amusement connected Monday.

“During that interrogation I asked him astir a theft that had occurred respective years earlier. I should not person asked him astir those claims and I regret doing truthful … I apologise sincerely to Keegan and his family.”

An apology had already been issued to Payne via a connection posted connected the Sky News website past Friday.

“Sky News Australia and Peter Stefanovic apologise to Mr Payne and his household for raising these claims during the unrecorded interrogation astir his million-dollar triumph successful the sportfishing competition. Mr Stefanovic has reached retired to Mr Payne and his household straight to convey his apology.”

Stefanovic’s questions were criticised connected societal media, with wide manager of Koori Mail Naomi Moran describing it arsenic “institutionalised discrimination” successful a post connected LinkedIn.

“A communicative that is truthful familiar. That a Black idiosyncratic volition lone beryllium who helium erstwhile was, alternatively than who helium has go successful this country,” she wrote. “We indispensable proceed to telephone retired this practice of our radical successful mainstream Australian media.”

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