- Sky News Australia aired an Islamophobic influencer named Ryan Williams, who was ‘wearing’ bacon on his shirt.
- Williams made deeply offensive remarks about the highly revered prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h) during a live TV broadcast.
A Sky News program featured a grotesquely offensive tirade against Islam by anti-Muslim social media influencer Ryan Williams. He appeared wearing a shirt covered in raw bacon rashers.
The Sunday night show, Freya Fires Up hosted by Freya Leach featured the man On air, Leach introduced him as a “social media sensation,” and he spent a minute calling Muslims terrorists and claiming he “wore” bacon to protect himself from alleged “beheading threats.” Williams later wrote online that his goal was “to inflict maximum damage on Islam.”
Williams was permitted to air his repugnant comments on live television, stating, “I have a message to Muslims,” before making remarks highly offensive about the prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h). Some of these are too offensive to repeat. However, the clip can be watched below. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is deeply revered and adored by 2 billion Muslims worldwide.
Although the show has since been axed, Leach remains a co-host of Sky News Australia’s The Late Debate, which airs four nights a week. Leach is director of youth policy at the Menzies Research Centre and a former Liberal candidate for Balmain. She can be heard in the clip agreeing with Williams.
A Sky News spokesperson said, “We have undertaken a thorough internal review, implemented its recommendations, and taken appropriate action with everyone involved in this incident.”
Footage posted online by Williams showed a cordial interaction with a technical studio assistant, suggesting Sky was aware of the guest’s intentions before the live broadcast. A Sky spokesperson told Guardian Australia: “The employee in the video is a casual technical guest liaison who meets and mics up studio guests. He was not aware of the guest’s background and not involved in booking the guest or any editorial processes.” Sky News declined to comment on whether any staff lost their jobs over the incident.
The Korean-Scottish social media influencer continues to spew vitriolic remarks on Instagram targeting Muslims, deepening societal divisions.
