Pete Evans "silenced" by Kyle and Jackie O
Pete Evans has been silenced while defending his controversial opinions on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
The disgraced celebrity chef appeared on the KIISFM show on Thursday morning in an attempt to clear his name, after destroying his own career by spreading misinformation about the Covid pandemic.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, Evans found himself in hot water after claiming that Covid-19 was a "f**king hoax", and was slapped with many fines after peddling fake, and often dangerous, treatments for the virus online.
Calling into the show from his property in north-eastern New South Wales, the 50-year-old doubled down on his opposition to Covid vaccines, masks and social distancing.
The former My Kitchen Rules judge also went on to cast doubt upon Covid rapid antigen tests and defended his claims about the "healing" abilities of the BioCharger lamps he was fined for promoting in 2020.
However, much of his conversation with Kyle and Jackie O was beeped out by the station's censor.
The censorship divided listeners, while some fans of the show called in to declare it was time to "un-cancel" him, because he is a "real man" who "stands up" for his beliefs.
Another alleged that Evans had "gone and done the research" and "wasn't just talking s**t", and therefore shouldn't be barred from sharing his opinions publicly, even if they are viewed as scientifically incorrect.
Others praised the work of the station's censor, saying the hosts and the station have a responsibility to stop dangerous misinformation being spread, especially when it could cause harm.
One caller, who was a medical professional, pointed out that Evans, isn't qualified to give health advice, and that what he said on-air was "just the tip of the iceberg".
"The issue is everyone with 100,000 followers, or whatever it may be, thinks all of a sudden they're a doctor or a personal trainer or wherever it may be and that they're qualified to give this health advice," she said.
Another argued that Evans should remain cancelled because he has never apologised over his claims that were proven wrong by Australia's top medical authorities.
Kyle Sandilands later explained why the censor had beeped out parts of Evans' interview, as well as some of what was said by the fans who called in to defend him.
"I believe that this isn't the censor beeping out what she doesn't believe is right or wrong. This is the censor beeping out what legally we can and cannot put to air," Sandilands explained.
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