Jessica Rowe under fire for Pauline Hanson podcast

Jessica Rowe has issued a statement saying she has listened to the backlash about her chat with Pauline Hanson and is removing the podcast.

Broadcaster Jessica Rowe has issued a statement, saying she understands the backlash to her interview with Pauline Hanson.

Rowe came under fire after she chose to interview the controversial politician not about her politics but about “love … and why she keeps going”.

Ms Hanson has long been known for her divisive and incendiary views on a range of marginalised communities including Asian-Australians, Muslim-Australians and transgender children.

“Pauline’s political views are the opposite of mine. I have never agreed with her on those issues. Never will. Kindness is at the heart of who I am,” Rowe wrote. “Amongst the comments today I heard from some who I admire enormously including Nakkiah Lui and Grace Tame and I want to thank them especially for their candour.”

“This will be start of a bigger conversation for me and with those who this topic directly aaffects,” she said. “I have asked LISTNR to remove the episode ASAP.”

Rowe, who is an experience journalist and has hosted multiple morning shows, was criticised for what appeared to be a softball approach to the interview.

Australian of the Year and activist Grace Tame led the charge. She tweeted, “This is how discrimination and hate is subtly enabled and normalised.

“Everyone’s entitled to their own views but not all views should be valorised by promoting their source. Pauline doesn’t need help to be heard, but those whose oppression she’s both driven and reinforced do.”

Jessica Rowe has come under fire. Picture: Kevin Farmer

‘Jess, this is not it’

In a tweet promoting the episode, Rowe wrote, “My latest podcast guest is Pauline Hanson. She talks love, raising kids and why she keeps going”.

Rowe specifically said the interview “isn’t about politics” but rather “how Pauline has dealt with some of the darkest moments of her life and where she finds the resilience to keep going”.

Playwright and commentator Nakkiah Lui also took umbrage with Rowe’s choice. She wrote on Twitter, “Jess, I have a lot of respect for you but this is not it. You’re platforming a racist. You’re celebrating someone who has made a career/$$$ from degrading, disrespecting and dehumanising many people. If you’re not interrogating them, you’re validating those racist opinions.”

Rowe replied to Lui, “Nakkiah, that is not my intention at all. I have interrogated Pauline many times over the years. And I make it clear in the podcast I don’t support her views. And I’m sorry if that is how it comes across.”

This is how discrimination and hate is subtly enabled and normalised.

Everyone’s entitled to their own views, but not all views should be valorised by promoting their source.

Pauline doesn’t need help to be heard, but those whose oppression she’s both driven and reinforced do. https://t.co/47neuswec7

— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) September 29, 2021

NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong wrote, “Hi Jess – I love watching your evening lockdown outfit pics and the joy you have at home, so I feel sick to my stomach that you are doing this. Please don’t.”

Among those who supported Rowe was former Sky News journalist and now government adviser Charlotte Mortlock who wrote, “I think it’s really important to speak to people we don’t agree with to still try and understand them and connect with them. Good on your for taking a risk here. I am sure many will reprimand you for it.”

Rowe introduces each episode with a preamble that includes the line, “I’m going to dig deep to give you a new window into the souls of people we all love and admire.”

In this episode, she said of her relationship with Ms Hanson, “Over the years, we’ve butted heads over her political views and Pauline knows I don’t agree with her approach, but I’m fascinated by her as a person.”

Rowe also praised Ms Hanson for her vibrancy, energy and drive.

In the podcast, Ms Hanson trotted out one of her favourite subjects, arguing that society encourages people to “play the victim” instead of “picking themselves up”. This was not challenged by Rowe.

Pauline Hanson is Jessica Rowe’s latest podcast guest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

In the podcast summary underneath the episode, Rowe wrote: “In this honest and reflective conversation, Pauline recalls the moment she was sent to prison, and the deep depression that followed. And like any good D & M [sic], Pauline opens about her private 12-year relationship, and why having independence and giving each other freedom is their key to staying together.”

Since landing on the national political scene more than 25 years ago, Ms Hanson has been criticised for many of her opinions. During the marriage equality plebiscite, she suggested that gay marriage could lead to child marriage, and she recently argued transgender children should be taken away from their parents.

She famously said Asians would swarm Australia and wore a burqa into parliament as a stunt while calling for a ban on the religious garment. She also said Islam would a disease to be vaccinated against.

She blasted the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony for what she considered to be a “disgusting” focus on Australia’s Indigenous history.

Last week, she supported anti-vaccination rioters in Melbourne.

Previously, Rowe has interviewed Stephanie Rice, Sarah Wilson, Julia Morris, Osher Gunsberg, Sophie Monk and Karl Stefanovic.