ABC panel show Q&A has faced widespread criticism for fielding a question from disgraced writer and far-right troll Milo Yiannopoulos, who used last night’s program to personally attack Canadian professor and self-help author Jordan Peterson.
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Yiannopoulos, whose planned Australian tour was cancelled last year under ignominious and allegedly debt-ridden circumstances, questioned Peterson’s ideological backbone and willingness to stand up for the male figures Yiannopoulos said he had ignored – namely, the American schoolboys who openly mocked a Native American veteran last month, and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student when he was in high school.
For what it’s worth, Peterson largely dismissed Yiannopoulos’ question, and deflected (well-founded) accusations he has a “coterie of angry young white men surrounding me because they’re angry about feminism and all these other -isms”.
Peterson also said he didn’t believe Yiannopoulos is a racist, despite the fact Yiannopoulos sought feedback from white supremacists and neo-Nazis during his time at Breitbart, and was once captured palling around with Richard Spencer while the white nationalist chucked a Nazi salute.
Milo Yiannopolous asks Jordan Peterson why “when it actually comes down to it, you always seem to either fold, stay silent or betray your allies”? #QandA pic.twitter.com/trwvILNzLS
— QandA (@QandA) February 25, 2019
Yiannopolous’ unexpected appearance, and the undeniable weirdness of watching two questionable figures litigate their niche right-wing beef on the ABC, was criticised by Q&A‘s viewers.
Fielding a question from Milo is an appalling decision. I know QandA is engineered for heat and not light, but this is terrible.
— Eric George (@ericpaulgeorge) February 25, 2019
Peterson, Milo.. Is this alt-right night? Who’s next? Cottrell Skyping in from the fuhrerbunker? #qanda
— Tomtom (@forevertoremain) February 25, 2019
Milo? WTF #QandA. There’s a million people that you get to ask a question. Why choose this a-hole?
— Eddy Jokovich (@EddyJokovich) February 25, 2019
Milo’s repugnant views and deep ties to the far-right have been so thoroughly exposed, he can no longer get airtime anywhere except [checks notes]… the Australian national broadcaster
— Electric Railfan (@WashletJP) February 25, 2019
I love to turn on the television to see milo yiannopolous and jordan peterson having a beef on #QandA
extremely normal good important conversation to have on aussie tv
— Naomi Higgins supports the WGA (@nomstrositi) February 25, 2019
What on earth… ABC platforming Milo, an actual pedophilia-apologist, is an extremely bad look. #qanda
— HummusTruman (@HummusTruman) February 25, 2019
The latest criticism mirrors the reaction to the ABC’s decision to host former Breitbart chief and one-time Donald Trump advisor Steve Bannon on Four Corners last year.
Of course, the ABC is hardly the sole Australian outlet to broadcast the views of people who would very much like portraits of Adolf Hitler to hung in classrooms, but last night’s show was particularly galling to those who like to watch robust debates without the surprise appearance of right-wing edge-lord grifters.
