Peter Stefanovic forced to apologise to teen after viewers called him out over ... trends now
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Sky News journalist Peter Stefanovic has been forced to apologise to a teenager after confronting him live on air about his troubled past when he won a fishing competition.
Keegan Payne, 19, who lives in the central Northern Territory town of Katherine, caught a barramundi that had been released with a tag that could be redeemed for a $1million prize on Sunday.
However, his joy at winning the fishing competition was cut short by a blunt question from Stefanovic about a crime Payne had committed as a 16-year-old, which he admitted to.
'There is a claim online that you stole a Polaris Ranger and Polaris quad that you and your friends stole and damaged from a business a few years back, first of all, is that true?' Stefanovic asked from his Sydney studio during the live interview.
Payne, who was speaking from the Darwin, simply answered: 'Yes'.
'So, what happened?' Stefanovic asked.
Payne explained he and his friends 'were young', and 'weren't thinking at the time' but having come up with the idea they 'went for it'.
Stefanovic asked Payne if he regretted the act and he said he did 'big time'.
The question has attracted scorn rather than praise from viewers, who complained online.
Now Stefanovic has been forced to issue an apology.
'On Wednesday 1 May 2024, Sky News Australia broadcast a live interview of Keegan Payne by Peter Stefanovic on First Edition. The interview concerned Mr Payne's win in the Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish Competition,' the apology read.
'During the interview Mr Stefanovic asked Mr Payne questions about claims he had been involved in the theft of a Polaris Ranger and Polaris Quad from his former employer in 2021.
'Mr Payne confirmed the claims and apologised to his former employer on-air. Mr Payne's former employer subsequently told Sky News Australia that he did not proceed with police charges and had accepted Mr Payne's apology.
'Sky
