Sky News journalist Peter Stefanovic was forced to apologize to a teenager after confronting him 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 $1 million prize on Sunday.
However, his joy at winning the fishing competition was cut short by a direct question from Stefanovic about a crime Payne had committed when he was 16, which he admitted to.
“There is a claim online that you stole a Polaris Ranger and a Polaris quad that you and your friends stole and damaged from a business a few years ago, first of all, is that true?” Stefanovic asked from his Sydney studio during the live interview.
Payne, speaking from the Darwin, responded simply: “Yes.”
‘So what happened?’ Stefanovic asked.
Payne explained that he and his friends “were young” and “weren’t thinking at the time,” but when the idea came to them, “they tried it.”
Stefanovic asked Payne if he regretted the act and he said he did it “big time.”
The question has drawn more scorn than praise from viewers, who complained online.
Now Stefanovic has been forced to apologize.
“On Wednesday 1 May 2024, Sky News Australia broadcast a live Keegan Payne interview conducted by Peter Stefanovic on First Edition,” the apology posted on Sky News’ website read.
‘The interview concerned Mr Payne’s victory in the Northern Territory Million Dollar Fish Contest.
‘During the interview, Mr Stefanovic asked Mr Payne questions about claims that he had been involved in the theft of a Polaris Ranger and a Polaris Quad from his former employer in 2021.
‘Mr Payne confirmed the claims and apologized to his former employer on air. Payne’s former employer later told Sky News Australia that he did not proceed with police charges and that he had accepted Payne’s apology.
‘Sky News Australia and Peter Stefanovic apologize to Mr Payne and his family for raising these claims during the live interview about his million-dollar fishing competition win.
“Mr Stefanovic has contacted Mr Payne and his family directly to convey his apologies.”
Sky News presenter Peter Stefanovic has come under fire from those who say he ruined the teenager’s moment.
Keegan Payne (pictured, center left) is excited as he announces his catch of the million-dollar fish.
WhatsNew2Day Australia can reveal the teenager is back in touch with his old boss, Bob Cavanagh of Cav’s Mowing, and has offered to pay him back for the stolen vehicles.
“Out of the blue this morning, his dad called me and said, ‘Keegan wants to pay you,’ and you could have knocked me down with a feather,” Mr Cavanagh said.
“He said Keegan had always felt very bad about what he did.”
Cavanagh hired Keegan as a laborer for his grounds maintenance business when he was 15.
But during the Covid lockdowns, Cavanagh decided to move to Queensland and left his team unsupervised.
Keegan and a friend took the opportunity to steal his quad and buggy.
‘They were only 16, you know? There aren’t many of us who get through life without getting stuck at some point,” Cavanagh said.
‘If they can give you a second chance, that’s what I was willing to do for those two kids. I hope you made the best of it.
“There’s no point in going through this life holding grudges.”
Cavanagh said the robbery was a “one-off” mistake by a “good guy.”