Why it was only a matter of time before Pauline Hanson ‘blew up’ on Nine’s Today show

Pauline Hanson was banned from Channel Nine’s Today show for branding residents of Melbourne‘s public housing towers ‘drug addicts and alcoholics’ on Monday.

And former breakfast TV executive producer Rob McKnight has revealed the reason why it was only a matter of time before the One Nation senator ‘blew up’.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Rob said: ‘The axing of Pauline Hanson has been a long time coming.’

‘While there’s certainly a case to have an elected representative on the breakfast shows, there’s no doubt Pauline has used the breakfast shows as much as they have used her to generate ratings… it will be interesting to see where she goes from here.’

Rob went on to say he ‘didn’t feel comfortable’ with Today inviting Pauline to appear on their show after her clash with Sunrise host David Koch about the Christchurch massacre in 2019, which led to her parting ways with Seven.

‘I didn’t feel comfortable with the Today show picking her up after she had that big fight with Kochie on Sunrise, but each to their own. It was just a matter of time before it blew up.’

‘Ultimately the breakfast shows will do what they need to do to get ratings, but this is a clear sign outrageous opinions are not drawing viewers like they once possibly did.’

On Monday, Pauline was banned from Nine’s Today show for branding residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers ‘drug addicts and alcoholics’.

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 the morning 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 Today show has advised Pauline Hanson that she will no longer be appearing on our programme as a regular contributor,’ a Nine spokesperson said.

‘We don’t shy away from diverse opinions and robust debate on the Today show. But this morning’s accusations from Pauline Hanson were ill-informed and divisive.

‘At a time of uncertainty in this national and global health crisis, Australians have to be united and supportive of one another. We need to get through this together.’