‘Pasty white guys’: Republic movement savaged by Karl and Ally

Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon have taken aim at a push for an Australian republic, saying no cares about ‘pasty white guys’.

Today Show co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon have slammed those calling for debate to begin on Australia becoming republic so soon after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen’s death last week sparked calls over whether it is time for Australia to cut it ties to the British monarchy and become an independent nation.

On Saturday morning Stefanovic called it “rude” to discuss the idea during the mourning period.

He then took aim at Peter FitzSimons and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for fronting the campaign.

Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon both slammed Australia’s republic debate.

Peter FitzSimons is the current chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), while Turnbull led the unsuccessful 1999 referendum campaign.

Stefanovic said nothing would happen while there are “pasty white guys” representing the cause.

“There‘s still people out there doing it. I just think it’s so rude,” he said on Saturday morning.

“Let me tell you, it is not going to happen while you‘ve got pasty white guys like Peter FitzSimons and Malcolm Turnbull fronting up in Australia.”

Langdon added that she would not support a Republic as long as FitzSimons, who is a regular columnist for Nine newspapers, was ARM chair.

“I did tell Peter if he was at the front of the movement, I would always vote for a monarchy,” she said.

Ally Langdon said she would not support a Republic as long as FitzSimons, who is a regular columnist for Nine newspapers, was ARM chair

The ARM controversially called for the country to cut its ties to the British monarchy and become an independent nation less than an hour after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

FitzSimons said the country had flourished under her reign and said it was “unlikely we will ever see a Monarch as respected or admired by the Australian people again”.

The organisation suggested the death of the beloved monarch was the time to renew calls for Australian independence, which it says the Queen herself supported.

Australian Republican Movement FitzSimons said now is the time for a republic. Picture: Adam Yip

“The Queen backed the right of Australians to become a fully independent nation during the referendum on an Australian republic in 1999, saying that she has ‘always made it clear that the future of the Monarchy in Australia is an issue for the Australian people and them alone to decide,” the statement read.

An emotional and teary-eyed Turnbull said he and his wife were struck with grief following the Queen’s death.

“Last night as we were filled with such dread, because it was obvious that things would turn very bad,” he told the ABC last week.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull gave a touching tribute to the Queen. Picture: Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images

“I took the portrait of the Queen out and set it up and we just thought ‘what an amazing life, what amazing leadership.

“It is the end of an era and let’s hope that the future after the Queen’s passing is one where we will have leadership as dedicated and selfless as she has shown.”