Married At First Sight 2024 groom Timothy Smith has made shocking allegations about Sky News host Peter Stefanovic – who confronted an Indigenous teen live on air about his troubled past when he won $1million in a fishing competition.
The 52-year-old reality television star slammed the Australian journalist, 42, for shaming 19-year-old Keegan Payne in a ‘train wreck’ interview last week.
In a scathing TikTok video, uploaded on Monday, Smith claimed Stefanovic joined him on a ’24-hour bender’ in Vancouver, Canada, two decades ago.
‘What people don’t know is Pete actually visited me 20 years ago in Vancouver,’ Smith said in the clip.
‘So Pete, do you remember the 24-hour bender that we went on in Vancouver?’
Married At First Sight 2024 groom Timothy Smith (left) has made shocking allegations about Sky News host Peter Stefanovic (right) – who confronted an Indigenous teen live on air about his troubled past when he won $1million in a fishing competition
Sources revealed to Daily Mail Australia that Smith and Stefanovic were acquaintances when the TV journalist dated one of his friends several years ago.
The video begins with Smith calling out the television presenter for his ‘gutter’ report, before calling on him to resign.
‘I’ve got to say, mate, I’m absolutely f**king disgusted in you,’ Smith said.
‘For a young bloke in the territory to actually turn his life around, and for you to point out something that he did five years ago … you should be absolutely disgusted in yourself.
‘You managed to gutter, grime, and pull something up and make something disgusting out of something that was so positive. And for you to sit there and lean forward to the camera and say, “Have you got anything to say? Like an apology?” Like you’re Mr. F**king Perfect.
‘You’ve done things wrong. And you’ve got the nerve to call out this poor young bloke that’s actually changed his life in the Northern Territory.
In a scathing TikTok video, uploaded on Monday, Smith also claimed Stefanovic joined him on a ’24-hour bender’ in Vancouver, Canada, two decades ago
‘Shame on you. Shame on Sky News. Get your resignation letter in and f**k off.’
Keegan Payne, 19, made headlines across Australia last Sunday after hooking a barramundi worth $1million in Katherine, 317km south of Darwin. His prize catch was part of a nine-year Million Dollar Fish angling competition aimed to boost Northern Territory tourism.
However, his celebrations were cut short during a harsh interview with Stefanovic on Wednesday morning.
The breakfast host asked point-blank if there was any truth to rumours Payne and a friend had once stolen an off-road vehicle and a quad bike from his former employer Bob Cavanagh.
In a stunning admission, Payne said the allegation was true – and offered a sincere apology to his old boss.
The segment sparked outrage among viewers who demanded Stefanovic resign for trying to turn a feel-good story into a scandal.
Stefanovic was forced to issue an apology after humiliating teenager Keegan Payne (pictured) on live TV after he brought up a youthful indiscretion while interviewing him about winning a $1 million fishing competition
Stefanovic issued an apology to Payne and said he ‘regrets’ ruining the teen’s big moment.
‘An apology from me, last Wednesday we invited Keegan Payne onto our show to discuss his win in the Million Dollar Fish competition in the Northern Territory,’ Stefanovic said during First Edition on Sky News on Monday.
‘During that interview I asked him about a theft that had occurred several years earlier. I should not have asked him about those claims and I regret doing so.
‘I apologise sincerely to Keegan and his family.’
A downcast Stefanovic was also seen arriving home from his appearance on Sky News Monday morning.
A downcast Stefanovic was also seen arriving home from his appearance on Sky News Monday morning
The father of two kept his head down while wearing a brown hoodie and black jeans
On Friday, Sky News issued a grovelling apology to Keegan Payne
Wearing a brown hoodie and black jeans, the father of two kept his head down while juggling two water bottles, his phone and a set of car keys in his hands.
Meanwhile, Smith — who ‘married’ fan-favourite Lucinda Light on MAFS — made headlines shortly after his stint on the dating show for opening up about his drug smuggling past.
The season 11 star’s criminal history was unveiled by A Current Affair last month, with viewers shocked to learn the real estate tycoon spent more than a year behind bars.
Smith had been caught using a helicopter to smuggle large amounts of marijuana from Canada into the United States 17 years ago.
During his prison sentence, tragedy struck twice when both his mother and younger brother died.
Smith’s criminal history was unveiled by A Current Affair last month, with viewers shocked to learn the real estate tycoon spent more than a year behind bars
Smith had been caught using a helicopter to smuggle large amounts of marijuana from Canada into the United States 17 years ago
‘I was a helicopter pilot in North America who did something really stupid,’ he said on the program, revealing he was paid to take flying lessons for the purpose of trafficking.
‘It’s something I’m not proud of. I’m definitely not proud of it, but it doesn’t define who I am and I’m not the same person I was 17 years ago.’
Smith said he would make $100,000 per trip across the border flying a helicopter full of marijuana.
The groom was sentenced for ‘trafficking marijuana over an international border’ in 2006, but Smith said he spent another ‘four or six months in immigration’ detention.
Smith said he did not tell producers on MAFS he was a convicted drug smuggler when applying for the show.
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