Influencer Bec Judd unfollows Nine and calls for ‘freedom of speech’ after Karl Stefanovic exit

Bec Judd has sensationally unfollowed and hit out at her former employer Nine for sacking Karl Stefanovic. The influencer unfollowed Nine and the Today Show on Instagram after the broadcaster announced that Stefanovic would leave the network immediately, following controversy surrounding his independent podcast. In a post to her Instagram story, Judd wrote that she believed in “freedom of speech and balanced news reporting”. “No matter what side of politics you sit on, everybody deserves the right to their opinion, even if you don’t agree with it,” she wrote. “Freedom of speech nurtures critical thinking, prevents groupthink and allows people to build a tolerance for perspectives that are outside their own. “Most importantly, it is integral to a strong democracy.” Judd used to work for Nine as a weather presenter and host on Postcards. Stefanovic broke his silence on Friday following his quick exit from Nine, ending a 21-year career. The former TV host posted on Youtube, which is monetised, rewarding him for views, to confirm he was “free”. “I’m free, truly independent,” Stefanovic said. “I didn’t get the chance to thank my free-to-air audience for 21 great years, so thank you for riding the ups and downs, you have my thanks and you have all of my love.” Stefanovic also used the video to explain the philosophy behind his independent podcast, saying he believed Australians should hear a range of perspectives and make up their own minds.