Bec Judd has publicly declared her support for Karl Stefanovic following his resignation from Channel Nine, asserting that "everybody deserves the right to their opinion." Judd announced her decision to unfollow the network on Instagram Stories, a move she made in solidarity with Stefanovic after his departure from the Australian broadcasting company.
Stefanovic resigned from Channel Nine after a controversial interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, which he had initially uploaded to his YouTube channel podcast, "The Karl Stefanovic Show," before deleting it amid backlash. Stefanovic had been on leave in London when the network decided to part ways with him.
Judd, who has been vocal about her conservative viewpoints and critical of the Labor government, shared her thoughts on freedom of speech in her Instagram post. "No matter what side of politics you sit on, everybody deserves the right to their opinion, even if you don't agree with it," she wrote. "Freedom of speech nurtures critical thinking, prevents groupthink and allows people to build a tolerance for perspectives that are outside their own. Most importantly, it is integral to a strong democracy."
Judd previously worked with Channel Nine as a weather presenter and host on the travel series "Postcards." Her Instagram post included a screenshot indicating she had unfollowed the network.
Stefanovic, after his resignation, posted a video stating, "I am free," and expressed gratitude to his independent podcast listeners, emphasizing the significance of freedom of speech. He had been with Nine for approximately 25 years.
Channel Nine confirmed in a statement to The Daily Mail that an agreement was reached for Stefanovic to leave the network immediately. The network stated it was not possible for him to continue hosting "Today" concurrently with his independent podcast. Although Stefanovic and Nine had previously agreed he would depart "Today" at the end of the year, this decision was accelerated.
Reports indicate that Stefanovic avoided legal action and accepted an undisclosed six-figure settlement as part of his departure package. He reportedly had six months remaining on his contract, valued at over $1 million.