Sky News Australia has canceled a show, designed to platform controversial debate, after a guest voiced anti-Islam views while wearing a shirt decorated with bacon.
Freya Fires Up, hosted by free speech champion Freya Leach, was taken off air just a month after its launch on the Rupert Murdoch-owned network.
It follows the platforming of Ryan Williams, a social media personality from the UK who has gained followers for his views on Islam.
Williams appeared on Freya Fires Up last week and immediately explained his outfit: “I’ve got bacon on my shoulders because the terrorists are a charming lot, and they threaten to behead me every single day. So [it’s] a little bit of protection.”
He launched into a speech about the “Islam invasion” in the UK, while also taking aim at women who wear burqas. After his monologue, Leach said sorry to viewers: “Been told we do have to apologize for what was just aired.”
Sky News Australia later said Williams’ remarks were “wholly inappropriate and unacceptable and have no place on our network.” It launched a review of Freya Fires Up, and now, the network has canceled the show, though Leach will remain a co-host of Sky News Australia’s Late Debate.
Deadline has contacted a Sky News spokesperson, but in a statement issued to local media, the network said: “We have undertaken a thorough internal review, implemented its recommendations, and taken appropriate action with everyone involved in this incident.
“We took immediate action during the live broadcast to cut off the guest, our host promptly apologised, and we ensured the content was not published or republished to any of our digital platforms.”
Freya Fires Up launched on August 17 and promised to “tackle controversial topics with no holds barred.”
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