Sunrise host Sam Armytage lashes out at ABC star Julia Zemiro after she publicly boycotted the breakfast show for having Pauline Hanson as a guest
Sunrise host Samantha Armytage has lashed out at ABC star Julia Zemiro after she publicly boycotted the Channel Seven breakfast show for having Pauline Hanson as a guest.
Julia, 53, had slammed Sunrise as well as Nine’s Today show on Twitter on Monday for giving the One Nation senator a platform to share her right wing views.
But Samantha hit back on Tuesday, accusing Julia of hypocrisy by pointing out that she was ‘happy to take money’ from commercial networks in the past.
Hitting back: Sunrise host Sam Armytage (pictured) has lashed out at ABC star Julia Zemiro after she publicly boycotted Seven’s breakfast show for having Pauline Hanson as a guest
‘Ladies and gents, I give you The Sisterhood in all its glory 2020-style. Also a woman who was happy to take the money of a FTA tv network when it suited her, and host its upfronts,’ Sam tweeted.
She added: ‘I was happy to stay out of this (factually incorrect) conversation, but this BS is just too much.’
Her tweet came after Julia, 53, found herself in a Twitter stoush with Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell, who is also Sam’s close friend.
She had drawn the ire of Pell, who is known in the industry for his acid tongue, for publicly boycotting Nine and Seven’s breakfast shows in response to Hanson being banned from Today for describing residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers as ‘drug addicts and alcoholics’.
Boycott: Julia (pictured) had slammed Sunrise as well as Nine’s Today show on Twitter on Monday for giving the One Nation senator a platform to share her right wing views
‘I have long said no to going on Sunrise to promote anything because they continue to invite Hanson on regularly. The Today show has been added to the list,’ Julia tweeted.
Pell snapped back, claiming Julia had in fact been on his show last year but hadn’t been invited to appear as a guest recently.
‘Well that’s just not true. You came on Sunrise last year. Plus, we don’t continue to invite Pauline on regularly. You’re incorrect. It’s also incorrect to say we have even asked you on in 2020. You can’t decline when you haven’t been invited,’ he wrote.
Julia responded: ‘In 2019, I requested no in-studio interviews with Kochie and Mel on Sunrise breakfast. There were 2 live crosses from Adelaide 7 with the weather cross on site. As you know, contractually we are obliged to do certain spots. But my request not to be front and centre was heard.’
This was where she made a gaffe, however; Melissa Doyle hasn’t hosted Sunrise since 2013, when she was replaced by Samantha.
Gaffe: After being questioned on Twitter by Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell, Julia claimed she had specifically requested no interviews with ‘Kochie and Mel’ last year.
Whoops: Melissa Doyle hasn’t hosted Sunrise since 2013, when she was replaced by Samantha Armytage. Pell pointed out Julia’s error, tweeting: ‘Julia, with respect, you don’t even know who the hosts of @sunriseon7 are… Your stance seems meaningless and just for show’
Pell called out the RocKwiz host on her error, tweeting: ‘Julia, with respect, you don’t even know who the hosts of @sunriseon7 are.’
He added: ‘We didn’t ask you to come into the studio to promote the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and never would. Plus, Pauline hasn’t been a regular for near 18 months. Your stance seems meaningless and just for show.’
Julia’s comments come after Pauline was banned from the Today show for branding residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers ‘drug addicts and alcoholics’.
Error: Julia referred to the Sunrise hosts as ‘Kochie and Mel’, but Melissa Doyle left the show in 2013 after 14 years and was replaced by Samantha Armytage (left, with David Koch)
The One Nation senator said refugees living inside the towers should learn English during a controversial interview with co-hosts Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic on Monday morning’s show.
Her rant led to widespread outrage on social media and within hours Channel Nine announced she would no longer be a regular contributor on the Today show.
The end of Pauline’s year-long role at the Today show comes after she parted ways with Sunrise over a clash with host David Koch about the Christchurch massacre.
Controversial: Julia’s comments come after Pauline (pictured) was banned from Today show for branding residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers ‘drug addicts and alcoholics’