Emotional Sonia: ‘It rocked me to my very core’

SONIA Kruger wasted no time this morning, explaining her “extreme” views during an emotional monologue.

SONIA Kruger opened today’s episode of Today Extra with an emotional statement addressing her controversial comments about banning Muslims from Australia.

Speaking on yesterday morning’s Mixed Grill segment, Kruger called for Muslims to be banned from entering the country due to terrorism concerns. The ensuing 24 hours have seen Kruger cop an intense online backlash, with many in the media denouncing her comments.

After issuing a widely-derided statement on Twitter yesterday afternoon, Kruger wasted no time in addressing the controversy this morning.

“Before we start the show, I would like to say a few things about what happened yesterday on the Today Show. The discussion we had was centred around a newspaper article which measured the correlation of Muslim population in certain countries and the number of certain terrorist attacks. I thought the article made relevant points. We witnessed too many atrocities in the name of terrorism. Last week’s attack on men, women and children in Nice left me in utter disbelief,” Kruger said, her voice breaking.

“Last week’s attack on men, women and children in Nice left me in utter disbelief.”

“I saw the image of a baby covered in a plastic sheet with a doll lying beside her and it rocked me to the very core. I imagined what that must have been like for the people of Nice, for the friends and families of the lost and the thought that it could happen here terrifies me. This type of attack affects people from all walks of life and I want to make it very clear that I have complete respect for people of all races, and religions.

“I acknowledge my views yesterday may have been extreme. The reaction overnight in the papers, online and via social media demonstrates that there are a myriad of opinions in Australia which I actually appreciate. It is a hugely complex and sensitive issue. It’s an issue with no simple answer. And it’s an issue that cannot be fully discussed in a short televised segment,” Kruger continued.

“Is there a solution? I don’t know. We elect politicians to make those calls. They analyse and then they decide and we hope they get it right. It’s a privilege to live in a country such as Australia which embraces a multicultural society. But there is no simple answer here and if we are to find a solution to the situation at the very least we need to be able to discuss it.”

Sylvia Jeffries was among Kruger’s colleagues to defend her character.

News.com.au understands that the phone lines at Nine have been flooded with calls from viewers over the past 24 hours, with a majority of them in support of Kruger.

Earlier, Kruger’s colleagues on the Today Show, newsreader Sylvia Jeffries and Mixed Grill panellists Shelly Horton and Peter Stefanovic presented a united front in defence of Kruger — if not her comments.

“Sonia is not racist. She is a compassionate, intelligent, and thoughtful person. She spoke yesterday with brutal honesty on her emotions as a mother,” Jeffries said.

“I don’t agree with Sonia’s argument, plenty of people don’t, plenty of people do, but I respect Sonia’s right to voice her opinion and it is worth pointing out as I said, there was a lot of support for Sonia yesterday but she is right now, yesterday and today and probably for the next few days, maybe week, copping a mountain of criticism,”

Jeffries then asked Horton and Stefanovic for their thoughts on the “over-reaction”.

Foot in mouth or taking a stand? Picture: Today

Horton began by echoing Jeffries’ statement.

“She is not a racist and I don’t think that is even — anyone who is saying that doesn’t know her and hasn’t watched her on TV for 20 years. I think — I have so much empathy because I am just as afraid as she is. That is what ISIS has done. We are afraid. A lot of the comments have been incredibly hurtful to her but a lot of people are also saying they support her and that she is brave to be saying out loud what they are too afraid to say. I can’t agree with her, so I don’t think that banning Muslims immigration is the answer,” she said.

Stefanovic also insisted his colleague is not a racist, and argued that her comments could help spark debate.

“What I hope is that it doesn’t stop people from having an opinion, because they are too scared of the reaction,” he said.

“I think what is good about it is that people are talking about it because it is an issue that a lot of people have an opinion on in Australia. Like you said, Sylvia, Sonia she is not a racist, she is a nice person, I have known her for a little while. I don’t agree with her opinions because most people know I come from a family of immigrants and that is how I got here.”

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