Channel Nine star Sonia Kruger has become embroiled in controversy this morning, after endorsing a suspension of Muslim immigration to Australia, in the wake of the Nice terror attack.
Speaking on the Today Show in response to a polarising opinion piece by newspaper columnist Andrew Bolt, Kruger said she was terrified by recent acts of violence, and suggested that immigration controls could be a solution.
While claiming she has a ‘lot of very good friends’ who are peace-loving Muslims, she added ‘there are fanatics’.
“I would like to see it stop now for Australia,” Sonia said of Muslim immigration, “because I want to feel safe as all of our citizens do when we go out to celebrate Australia Day”.
Her TV co-host David Campbell disagreed, saying that freedom of religion was just as important as freedom of speech. Speaking on Bolt’s article, he added: “This breeds hate. This sort of article breeds hate.”
Twitter users quickly reacted to Sonia’s comments, with some labelling them ‘disgusting’ and ‘racist’.
UPDATE: This afternoon Kruger took to twitter to respond to critics, with this post: