Veteran broadcaster and commentator Sean Plunket has announced that he will be publishing a 600-word op-ed in this Sunday's edition of the Sunday Star Times. The article is expected to address recent allegations and media narratives that have embroiled him and others in controversy, which Plunket describes as a “complete work of fiction.”
The origin of the allegations, according to Plunket, is an individual he identifies as Sam Hudson. Speaking candidly on The Platform, Plunket described Hudson as the primary source behind what he calls a “hit job” published by Stuff, allegedly authored by journalists Andrea Vance and Charlie Mitchell under editorial oversight from Tracy Watkins.
Plunket claims that in exchange for supplying “wack job, conspiracy theory stuff,” Hudson was promised anonymity and a platform for his story, despite the bizarre and explicit nature of his alleged background. “They promised Sam Hudson… that they would publish his weird story and they wouldn’t name him,” Plunket said, going on to question the editorial integrity of Stuff for making such an agreement.
Allegations involving Sam Hudson have also ignited widespread concern and backlash on social media platform X, after reports emerged accusing him of engaging in sexually explicit acts in public and uploading the videos to adult websites. Multiple users on X have expressed shock and outrage at the nature of the alleged behavior, particularly disturbing claims that some of the videos appear to have been filmed in public places where others, including families and children, could be heard in the background. Individuals familiar with the footage have described scenes where ambient background conversations suggest the presence of unsuspecting members of the public. The accusations, if proven true, raise serious ethical and legal questions about consent, public decency, and the distribution of adult content involving unknowing bystanders.
The most notable restriction, however, is that while Plunket will have the opportunity to respond in print, he is not allowed to mention Samuel Hudson by name in the Sunday Star Times op-ed. “I understand I can’t mention him by name,” Plunket acknowledged. “But they’re not the boss of me when I’m here on The Platform, are they?”
While Plunket maintains that his op-ed will pull no punches within the constraints imposed, his remarks on The Platform make it clear that he views these restrictions as emblematic of broader issues within New Zealand’s media landscape. These are issues he promises to confront head-on this weekend.
For readers and followers of the ongoing saga, Sunday’s edition of the Sunday Star Times is likely to be a highly anticipated and controversial read. As Plunket himself put it, “Man, I imagine the sales go through the roof, to be honest.”
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