Lawn mower boss shares scathing message for Peter Stefanovic after Sky News host sparked outrage for ‘disrespectful’ interview with 19-year-old fishing champ Keegan Payne

A lawnmower boss has accused Sky News presenter Peter Stefanovic of ruining a champion fisherman’s moment of glory after unearthing his dark past on live TV.

Keegan Payne, 19, made headlines across Australia last Sunday after hooking a barramundi worth $1 million in Katherine, 317km south of Darwin.

His prized catch was part of a nine-year Million Dollar Fish fishing competition.

However, his celebration was cut short on Wednesday morning during a harsh interview with Stefanovic.

The Sky News presenter asked point-blank whether there was any truth to rumors that Keegan had once stolen an all-terrain vehicle and a quad bike from his ex-employer Bob Cavanagh.

In a stunning admission, Keegan said the accusation was true – and issued a sincere apology to his old boss.

The segment sparked outrage among viewers who demanded Stefanovic resign, prompting the Sky News presenter’s response to issue a groveling apology.

Mr Cavanagh told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday that Keegan deserved the apology and that he bore no ill will towards the former Cav’s Mowing employee.

Peter Stefanovic has contacted Mr Payne and his family has apologized directly for the harsh interview

“He’s a good kid who made a mistake,” Cavanagh said.

‘What should have been a moment of celebration was taken away from him. I’m glad he did [Stefanovic] apologized to Keegan, he deserved that apology.”

Mr Cavanagh, who now lives in Queensland, said like Keegan, Stefanovic probably learned a valuable lesson.

“We all make mistakes and I bet he regrets them,” he said.

“The fact that he has come out and apologized to Keegan and his family, I think he realizes he has overstepped his mark.”

In the days after his million-dollar win last week, Keegan contacted his old boss and offered to pay him back for the stolen vehicles.

“This morning his dad called me out of the blue and said, ‘Keegan wants to pay you back,’ and you could have knocked me out with a feather,” Cavanagh said.

“He said Keegan always felt so terrible for what he did.”

Mr Cavanagh explained that the teenager, who was just 15 at the time, apologized for what he and two others had done to his property.

‘We had quite large contracts that we had to take care of and I asked him: how are we going to do that now?

‘It was about showing the consequences [for what] they had done. Keegan felt terrible, you know.”

Keegan and his friend agreed to work for Mr Cavanagh on weekends to pay him back for the damage they caused, but the plan fell through after two weekends due to a lull in business.

“He ended up being a caretaker at a retirement home,” Cavanagh said.

‘I saw him eight to 12 months later and he still couldn’t look at me, he was just so ashamed of what he had done.’

The teenager has offered to pay back his old boss Bob Cavanagh after stealing two of his vehicles

Keegan Payne (pictured) won $1 million after hooking a 67cm barramundi in a fishing competition in the Northern Territory

In the days following the interview, Sky News and Stefanovic were forced to apologise.

“On Wednesday 1 May 2024, Sky News Australia broadcast a live interview with Keegan Payne by Peter Stefanovic on First Edition,” read the apology on the Sky News website.

‘The interview was about Mr Payne’s victory in the Northern Territory Million Dollar Fish Competition.

“During the interview, Mr Stefanovic questioned Mr Payne about claims that he had been involved in the theft of a Polaris Ranger and Polaris Quad from his former employer in 2021.

‘Mr Payne confirmed the claims and apologized to his former employer during the broadcast. Mr Payne’s former employer subsequently told Sky News Australia he did not follow through with the police and had accepted Mr Payne’s apology.

‘Sky News Australia and Peter Stefanovic apologize to Mr Payne and his family for making these claims during the live interview about his million dollar fishing competition win.

“Mr Stefanovic has contacted Mr Payne and his family directly to convey his apology.”