David Koch’s biggest controversies while hosting Channel Seven’s Sunrise

For 21 years, Kochie has been a familiar face in Australian households. Here’s 10 of his biggest moments — and controversies.

David “Kochie” Koch has weathered his fair share of controversies over the years on Sunrise.

For more than 20 years, he has been a familiar face in Australian households as the longstanding host of the Seven Network’s breakfast TV show.

And as the Channel 7 presenter quit the flagship morning program on Monday, we take a look at Kochie’s top ten biggest moments — and controversies.

2006 BEACONSFIELD MINING DISASTER

David Koch controversially jumped into the back of an ambulance carrying miner Todd Russell as it left Beaconsfield Mine in 2006. Picture: Seven

During the Beaconsfield mine collapse disaster in early 2006, Koch controversially jumped into the back of an ambulance with miner Todd Russell.

Two weeks after Mr Russell and Brant Webb were freed, vision emerged showing Kochie running and jumping into the back of one of the ambulances.

The footage sparked controversy with the news presenter criticised for getting too close.

However, Mr Russell revealed he was actually a fan of the show and called out for the presenter, who’d also become close with the man’s family.

“When the ambulance goes by and he tells you to come in and shake his hand, do you say ‘No, I’m going to ignore you’?” Kochie said at the time.

P*SSING OFF THE PM

Koch retold a viewer’s an unsavoury joke about John Howard and his wife. Picture: Damian Shaw

Former Sunrise executive producer Adam Boland revealed in a tell-all memoir that John Howard still hadn't forgiven Koch for his crass joke on-air about the former Prime Minister’s wife in 2004.

Koch retold a viewer’s an unsavoury joke of the day, which involved Mr Howard, his wife Janette, Kim Beazley, and a message written in urine in the snow.

Mr Boland said that here was an extreme backlash from the joke, to the point that Seven owner Kerry Stokes forced Koch to write a letter of apology to Mr Howard.

“Sunrise was never afraid to take the piss out of pollies, but David Koch took that to a whole new level in 2004,” Mr Boland wrote.

“There was hell to pay after he read out one viewer’s joke on air.”

David Koch jokes about shutting down Aboriginal protests after angry activists appeared during filming for Sunrise.

SUNRISE SWAMPED WITH PROTESTERS LIVE ON AIR

In 2018, Sunrise was forced to go into immediate damage control after protesters began holding Aboriginal flags and yelling behind hosts Samantha Armytage and Kochie.

The Channel 7 crew were reporting from the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games – just weeks before Martin Place in Sydney became a rally scene against the breakfast program following a “hot topic” segment over Aboriginal adoption which they believe had spiralled into “blatant racism”.

Kochie went to a sudden ad break today after angry people swamped Broadbeach, where the studio was set up.

Armytage clarified to viewers that the initial rally, which sparked the angry Sydney protest, was about Aboriginal “children at risk and not land rights,” which some of the rally-goers appear to be debating.

Kochie said although people were free to have their opinions, there “are a lot of families on holidays here” and urged people to avoid “aggression.”

EDDIE MCGUIRE AND KOCH BITTER FEUD

Former Collingwood Magpies President Eddie McGuire and Port Adelaide President David Koch were locked in a feud for years. Picture: Getty Images

Former Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire and Port Adelaide President Koch have been at loggerheads for years about the Power’s traditional black and white “prison bars” jersey, which bears a close resemblance to Collingwood’s stripe.

When McGuire was president, Collingwood only allowed Port Adelaide to wear the jersey on special occasions.

However, the stalemate between the clubs is now over after Magpies boss Jeff Browne said this year that the club would let Port Adelaide honour their history in the South Australian derby by wearing the traditional jerseys.

KOCH SINGS INXS IN CRINGE-WORTHY STUNT

Decked out in a dark suit and sunglasses, the Sunrise host gave viewers a priceless piece of truly cringe-worthy TV in 2014 as he breathlessly whispered the words to the rock classic.

Sunrise newsreader Natalie Barr couldn't even look, preferring to hold a pillow over her face to hide her laughter.

“I’m a massive INXS fan. I went to school with Kirk and followed the band in the early days – I’ve been in plenty of mosh pits,” Kochie told news.com.au.

“It's a Friday and we were having a tribute to INXS so I thought ’why not’? I’m a firm believer too that if you are going to do something like karaoke, you might as well go all the way. There’s no point in doing it half-hearted.”

LEGAL HOT WATER

Sunrise presenters Melissa Doyle and David Koch with newsreader Natalie Barr in background leave Melbourne Magistrates Court.

In 2006, Kochie and co-host Melissa Doyle, along with newsreader Natalie Barr, found themselves in a Melbourne court fighting contempt charges.

The drama related to their reports from two years prior that identified a 14-year-old boy who they said was seeking a “divorce” from his parents.

The trio was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

KOCH CALLS JUSTIN BIEBER OUT

David Koch takes a selfie with Justin Bieber years after he slammed him for his behaviour. Picture: Twitter

Koch accused Justin Bieber, then 16, he needed “a slap” after swearing at the floor manager just before he performed on the show during a promotional visit to Sydney in 2010.

“We had him on and he was a thoroughly nice bloke … really decent guy,” Koch told Sydney‘s Mix 106.5 radio station yesterday.

“(But) our floor manager was directing him to where he was about to perform and (Bieber) turned around and said to him: ‘Don’t ever f**king touch me again’.”

Koch said the stunned floor manager was re-assured by Bieber’s regular sound technician that “he tells us that all the time”.

Bieber performed on Sunrise five years after the incident, in 2015, by which time his behaviour had reportedly improved.

CRYPTO SCAM

Aussies were warned over scams using the name and image of Koch, after one woman was fleeced $150,000.

Scammers were trying trick Aussies into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes which prompted Koch to warn people about the scam.

“Beware … 2023 and the financial scams keep on coming more than ever,” Kochie wrote on Instagram at the time.

“The one on the left came up on @realestateaus as I was scrolling the site. The one on the right was sent to me yesterday from Instagram.

“They are scams trying to con you by illegally using my image and attributing fictitious comments to me.”

‘STRIPPERGATE’ SCANDAL

In 2014, an online fashion segment sparked a national controversy.

In the clip, Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage quipped that she was wearing “stripper shoes” before Kochie rolled out a pole that she wrapped her leg around.

The website Mamamia leapt on the footage and wrote a harshly worded op-ed targeting Kochie and describing the segment as sexist and demeaning.

However, Armytage strongly defended him.

MOB OF ANGRY MUMS

Breastfeeding advocates converge outside the Seven Network's Sunrise in Martin Place. Picture: AAP

In early 2013, Kochie sparked a protest by more than 100 mothers who descended on the Sunrise studio in Martin Place to breastfeed live on air.

Discussing a story about a Queensland woman who was told she couldn‘t feed her baby at a public pool, Koch said he supported breastfeeding, but that women should be “classy’’ about it.

The comments prompted an immediate backlash with enraged nursing mothers and other breastfeeding supporters setting up a Facebook page to encourage people to participate in the Sunrise protest.

Originally published as David Koch’s biggest controversies while hosting Channel Seven’s Sunrise