Nathanael Cooper, Jonathon Moran and Jackie Epstein
25 June 2026
Karl Stefanovic has withdrawn from this week’s Gold FM radio show following controversy surrounding his podcast interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Earlier in the day, co-host Eddie McGuire had said the pair would both be on air despite Stefanovic being overseas.
“Of course I’ll be on, and so will Karl, but he’s overseas so we’re working through it all. We don’t know, it’s all happening.”
However, ARN later confirmed that Stefanovic had decided not to appear on the program this week.
McGuire and Stefanovic launched their Friday 12–3pm Gold FM show two weeks ago. What Stefanovic’s absence means for his future with the station remains unclear.
Industry observers note that ARN has previously faced advertiser pressure from activist group MFW, which campaigned against former presenter Kyle Sandilands by encouraging advertisers to withdraw support.
According to industry insiders, despite the Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show attracting around a 10-point audience share, advertiser concerns reduced its commercial performance to the equivalent of a five-point show. Brand safety concerns were also cited as contributing to a $26 million decline in ARN’s revenue.
At the company’s annual general meeting in May, CEO Michael Stephenson said:
“There were a number of advertisers that had concerns about the safety, or the brand safety, of some of our content, and as a result, it impacted our revenues through the period.”
He added:
“Over time, I expect that a significant percentage of the $26 million of revenue, that was lost through the year because of brand safety concerns, to return.”
Following Stefanovic’s interview with Tommy Robinson, ARN is expected to be conscious of similar advertiser concerns.
One of the groups campaigning against Stefanovic has been MFW, which has called on supporters to contact Nine’s advertisers. While it has not yet targeted ARN, the company is likely monitoring the situation closely.
On Wednesday, ARN sought to distance itself from Stefanovic’s podcast, saying:
“Karl’s association with ARN is limited to specific radio engagements. His external media activities, including his podcast, are undertaken in a personal capacity and are entirely separate from the network. They do not represent ARN’s views, editorial standards or programming.”
Stefanovic’s decision to step away from Friday’s show gives ARN time to assess the situation before deciding whether any further action is required.
He had been signed to host a light-hearted Friday afternoon program covering sport, entertainment and politics, and ARN is reportedly assessing whether that role remains compatible with the direction of his podcast.
Despite concerns about advertiser reaction, at least one podcast sponsor has publicly reaffirmed its support.
Ringers Western executive director Emma Salerno said:
“From what we can see, Karl is giving a voice to people from all spectrums and freedom of speech is essential to any free and fair democracy.
“The motto of Ringers Western is Stickin Together and we live by it. We support and stand by The Karl Stefanovic Show and will be continuing our sponsorship of the show.”
Former KIIS FM breakfast host Kyle Sandilands has also publicly supported Stefanovic by signing the “Save Karl!” petition, which had attracted more than 5,200 signatures.
The petition states:
“Their (Nine) message is obvious: if you speak to the wrong person, you should pay a price.”
It continues:
“This goes far beyond Karl. Once presenters, journalists and broadcasters are made to fear the consequences of interviewing controversial figures, the whole media culture changes.”
The petition concludes:
“Australia should be better than that. We should be a country where difficult issues can be discussed openly, where viewers are trusted to think for themselves, and where media figures are allowed to ask questions without being treated like they have committed some unforgivable offence.”
Original article can be found here: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/nsw/karl-stefanovic-pulls-out-of-radio-show-amid-farright-podcast-controversy/news-story/52ac306f11d56328eeb82dae4eb1cb4c?btr=9978c36cade707cc3e80e7c0629903ee