Sky News Australia has axed its short-lived debate program Freya Fires Up just six weeks after launch, following an on-air stunt in which a guest draped raw bacon on himself and delivered inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks.
The fallout has pushed the network into a deeper review of its editorial processes, guest vetting, and risk management.
The turning point came on 21 September when guest Ryan Williams, billed as a conservative political strategist and social media figure, appeared in the Perth studio wearing strips of raw bacon.
He claimed the bacon would “protect him” from terrorists before launching into offensive remarks about Muslims.
The broadcast was cut short, with host Freya Leach later issuing an apology. Sky confirmed that the segment would not be published or republished on any of its digital platforms.
Mediaweek later revealed behind-the-scenes footage showing a studio technician assisting Williams with the bacon before airtime.
Senior programming executive Mark Calvert was also seen returning to the newsroom earlier than expected amid the controversy, underlining how seriously the network treated the incident.
Behind-the-scenes footage showing a studio technician assisting Williams with the bacon before airtime.
From format changes to full cancellation
Initially, Sky attempted to manage the fallout by shifting Freya Fires Up from live to pre-recorded. But within a week, the network opted to cancel the program altogether.
A Sky News spokesperson said: “We have undertaken a thorough internal review, implemented its recommendations, and taken appropriate action with everyone involved in this incident.”
They added: “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.”
Leach will remain with the network as co-host of The Late Debate.
The cancellation played out abruptly on Sunday night when viewers expecting Freya Fires Up instead saw Kieran Gilbert’s Sunday Agenda.
The change was so last-minute that Foxtel’s on-demand listings continued to show Leach’s program even while the replacement aired.