Peter Stefanovic has issued an apology to Northern Territory teen Keegan Payne after controversy erupted over his interview on Sky News Australia.
The 19-year-old angler, from Katherine, made national headlines on Monday after hooking a barramundi worth $1 million as part of a comeptition.
Then during a live interview this week, questions turned to a dark chapter of the teenager’s past.
“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.
Mr Payne responded, “Yes”.
The teenager, seemingly remorseful, added he and his friends “weren’t thinking at the time”.
Viewers criticised Stefanovic for bringing up the teenager’s past in an interview inteded to be about celebrating his win, with some commenting it reinforced negative stereotypes about Indigenous teenagers.
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