17 August (2025-08-17)– 21 September 2025 (2025-09-21)
Freya Fires Up was an Australian television current affairs and commentary program, shown on Sky News Australia and hosted by conservative political commentator Freya Leach.[1] The program, which was broadcast on Sunday nights, began in August 2025 and was cancelled six weeks later in September 2025.[2][3]
Ryan Williams (left) wearing bacon on his chest while being introduced by Freya Leach on 21 September 2025
On 21 September 2025, Leach hosted a panel on the program with social media personality Ryan Williams (also known online as "the Scottish Korean") and American political strategist Joey Mannarino.[9] After being asked by Leach about his reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Williams made multiple anti-Islam remarks while wearing raw rashers of bacon across his chest.[10] Leach responded by saying there were "great moderate Muslims" in Australia, and briefly apologised for Williams' comments moments later, before continuing the remainder of the interview with Mannarino alone.[11][12] The comments were not republished by Sky News, but Williams posted the segment on his own social media accounts.[13][14]
The following day, Sky News initiated a review into the program, describing Williams' comments as "wholly inappropriate and unacceptable".[15] A full apology was also issued by Leach in a pre-recorded statement during The Late Debate later in the evening.[16] Following the review, Sky News chose to pre-record future episodes of Freya Fires Up instead of continuing to broadcast the program live.[17] Ben Espiner, the program's producer, was sacked on 25 September 2025.[18]
Although Freya Fires Up was expected to continue, the program did not air on 28 September 2025 and was replaced with a rerun of Sunday Agenda.[19][20] The following day, Sky News confirmed the program had been cancelled after six episodes, with Leach continuing at the channel as a co-host of The Late Debate.[21][22]
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