Rory Stewart Explains Viral Newsnight Stare, Cites Family Orders
The former MP and podcast host says his family instructed him to disable social media following his unusual on-air moment.
Rory Stewart has broken his silence regarding a viral moment on the BBC's Newsnight program where he unexpectedly spun and stared intensely at journalist Ailbhe Rea. Stewart, now a podcaster and former MP, stated in a social media clip that his family ordered him to turn off all social media on his phone after the September 18 broadcast.
Stewart, co-host of "The Rest Is Politics" podcast, had been abroad since the program aired and explained he was on an Army base before traveling further. "Under strict instructions from my family I have disabled all social media on this phone," he said in a video posted to Newsnight's TikTok account. He then re-enacted the head swivel, suggesting he has seen the humor in the situation.
The clip of Stewart's pivot to Rea, the New Statesman's political editor, gained significant traction online, with metrics indicating it was viewed millions of times on X, formerly Twitter. Social media users drew comparisons to various scenarios, including a jackknifing lorry and a dog reacting to the rustling of a crisp bag.
Rea herself has also acknowledged the moment, sharing a GIF of Stewart's spin and jokingly captioning it with a desire for similar attention levels for her latest interview.
Stewart's on-air behavior has been characterized by some viewers as eccentric, a trait noted during his political career. He previously ran for Conservative leadership and later for London Mayor, developing a reputation for unusual public interactions, such as taking unpolished selfies and removing his tie during televised debates to escape the "alternate reality" of the studio.
During the Newsnight segment, Stewart had been discussing artificial intelligence, warning against British society's dependence on U.S. and Chinese-owned AI firms. As Rea was about to speak, Stewart turned and leaned towards her. He was also noted to be wearing a plaster on his face during the broadcast, the reason for which was not explained.
Stewart, a former Army officer and diplomat, has a background that includes a walk across Asia and writing the acclaimed book "The Places In Between." He served as an MP for Penrith and The Border from 2010 until he resigned the Conservative whip in 2019 over his stance on Brexit and later stepped down as an MP.