Australian Sky News presenter Peter Stefanovic publicly apologised on Monday for his widely condemned interview with 19-year-old Keegan Payne, the winner of a AU$1 million dollar fishing competition.
During the interview, Stefanovic asked Payne about alleged thefts he had carried out when he was 15.
His line of questioning drew criticism for perpetuating Indigenous stereotypes, and petitions have been launched online demanding he either resign or be sacked from the role.
On Monday's First Edition show, Stefanovic "sincerely" apologised, according to a report from news.com.au.
"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 the show.
"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."
After being asked again about the alleged theft, Payne told Stefanovic that he and his friend "weren't thinking at the time" and explained he regretted his actions "big time".
Sky News Australia as well as Stefanovic has since apologised.
"Mr Stefanovic has reached out to Mr Payne and his family directly to convey his apology," a statement on the outlet's website said.
Payne's former employer Bob Cavanagh "subsequently told Sky News Australia that he did not proceed with police charges and had accepted Mr Payne's apology", according to a statement from the broadcaster.
Cavanagh also told the Daily Mail that Payne was "a good kid who made a mistake".
"What was meant to be a celebratory moment was stolen from him. I'm glad he [Stefanovic] apologised to Keegan, he deserved that apology."
A Change.org petition demanding a public apology from Stefanovic had reached 11,000 signatures at the time of writing.
The petition said the incident had caused Keegan "unnecessary distress and humiliation".
"Sky News and Mr Stefanovic chose to engage in 'gotcha journalism', focusing on controversy rather than celebrating Keegan's accomplishment. This form of journalism is often criticised for its lack of ethics and integrity, as it prioritises sensationalism over accurate reporting," it said.
