Channel 9 has issued a statement distancing itself from Karl Stefanovic’s podcast after his interview with anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson was completely wiped online, less than a day after it aired.
In the episode of the breakfast TV host‘s podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, Robinson claimed an uprising is in progress in Australia, declared he “loves” Pauline Hanson, and said he’s causing a “f**king earthquake” in the UK.
Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was a member of the neo-Nazi-adjacent British National Party (BNP) in the early 2000s and has a lengthy criminal record. The activist helped found the English Defence League, an anti-Islam movement that’s organised street demonstrations across Britain. He has convictions for assault, mortgage fraud, using a false passport and contempt of court, when he was jailed in October 2024 after he ignored a court order not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee, who sued him for libel and won.
Robinson attracted further attention in recent weeks following unrest in Northern Ireland, where he shared graphic footage online after a stabbing attack in Belfast allegedly carried out by a Sudanese-born suspect and subsequently promoted demonstrations that later descended into violence, including attacks on migrants and the burning of homes.
Channel 9 distances itself from Karl Stefanovic’s podcast
A Channel 9 spokesperson asserted in a statement to news.com.au on Wednesday that the network has no involvement in Karl’s controversial side hustle, but said they were taking the matter seriously.
“The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production. Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes,” they said.
“However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”
This comes amid reports that Channel 9 doesn’t plan on renewing Stefanovic’s contract when it expires in December, and the TV personality himself is keen to leave the network to focus on his new venture.
What happened to Karl Stefanovic’s podcast episode?
On Wednesday morning, less than 12 hours after it debuted, Stefanovic’s interview with Robinson became unavailable on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
No reason was given for the disappearance, and Stefanovic had promoted the interview on his X account on Tuesday night.
“What happens when speaking your mind comes at a cost? Now live on the show, Tommy Robinson shares his story, chatting all about free speech, censorship, immigration and the direction he believes Britain should be heading in,” Stefanovic captioned a 39-second clip of the interview.
In the clip, Stefanovic places his arm around Robinson, who says, “Can I ask you a question? Keir Starmer is a…?”
“W**ker,” Stefanovic replies, as the pair laugh loudly together.
Tonight. 5PM. In a historical change, Keir Starmer is out.
— Karl Stefanovic (@karlstefanovic) June 22, 2026
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. pic.twitter.com/Rluuk21kX4
What did Tommy Robinson say on Karl Stefanovic’s podcast?
Robinson took the opportunity on Karl’s podcast to espouse his “values”.
“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 said, adding that he wants to “reach the 50 per cent of non-voters and register them to vote”.
“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**king earthquake,” he said, to which Stefanovic responded: “Well, why not. This is a great country, and it’s just so lost.”
“I love Pauline,” Robinson also said at one stage, referring to the One Nation leader. “She spoke up for me. She’s literally one of the only people who spoke up for me from that side of the world. Looking at her rise, do you know how happy I am for her.”
He continued: “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.”
Making his support clear, Stefanovic noted during the interview that authorities “want to eliminate your voice” and told Robinson, “I can’t believe you’re alive”.
Pauline Hanson blames Nine for deletion of Stefanovic’s podcast
Pauline Hanson came to Stefanovic’s defence in an X post on Wednesday, going as far as to accuse the Today co-host’s employer, Channel 9, of “trying to sack” him — based on her inference that the podcast has been deleted to cast aspersions on her “good friend”.
It looks like they're trying to sack my good friend Karl Stefanovic for this video with Tommy Robinson!
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) June 23, 2026
Deb Knight was a huge flop for Channel 9 and while she was busy grilling me over One Nation’s polling Channel 9's ratings were in the toilet.
In 2019 on live TV with her, I… pic.twitter.com/kAVlr6ZA9z
Stefanovic’s podcast launched five months ago. He’s interviewed other controversial identities, including Hanson, celebrity chef Pete Evans, and billionaire Clive Palmer.
This was originally published on Mediaweek.
The post Nine Speaks Out After Karl Stefanovic’s Podcast With UK Far-Right Activist Tommy Robinson Deleted appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
