Kathy Licciardi 🇦🇺 :
Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) who’s supported by white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, has been convicted multiple times, including for assault, fraud, stalking, and contempt of court. Falsely accusing a 15-year-old Syrian refugee of violent behaviour after the boy had been filmed being bullied.
Over the years, he has also used several other aliases, including Andrew McMaster, Paul Harris, and Wayne King, in different contexts. One of those aliases, Andrew McMaster, led to a criminal conviction after he used another person’s passport to try to enter the United States.
In my view, this went beyond journalism aimed at hearing another perspective. The friendly tone, walking together in the park and laughing, gave the impression that Karl Stefanovic was sympathetic to Tommy Robinson rather than critically interviewing him. Regardless of the questions asked, that presentation risked humanising and legitimising someone with a long history of promoting divisive views, making him appear more likeable than many believe is warranted.
2026-06-26 05:08:42