Who is the unhinged Australian politician that threatened to punch a reporter on live TV?!

He’s nearly 80

1 hour ago

If you’ve seen a video of an older Australian politician shaking his fists and threatening to punch a reporter, that’s Bob Katter.

He’s a 79-year-old politician, leader of his own party, and, yes, he really did threaten to punch a journalist for bringing up his Lebanese heritage.

@theageaustralia

Bob Katter has cried racism and threatened to punch a Nine reporter in the mouth during a heated press conference at which the maverick federal MP threw his support behind a looming anti-immigration rally.Bob Katter has cried racism and threatened to punch a Nine reporter in the mouth during a heated press conference at which the maverick federal MP threw his support behind a looming anti-immigration rally. When the reporter followed up with Katter to ask about the dynastic political family’s Lebanese heritage, his temper escalated. #auspol #bobkatter #australiannews #australia

♬ original sound – The Age

The clip blew up last week after Bob lost it at a press conference in Brisbane. He was there to back the far-right “March for Australia” rally, when a reporter mentioned his Lebanese roots.

Katter instantly snapped: “Don’t say that! Because that irritates me, and I’ve punched blokes in the mouth for saying that. My family have been in this country for 140 years.”

His grandfather, Carlyle Assad Khittar, migrated from Lebanon in 1898.

Cue finger-pointing and intense fist-shaking.

So who even is this guy? Bob Katter has been an MP in Queensland since 1993. He’s known for being ultra-nationalist, anti-immigration, and once even compared same-sex marriage to people marrying toasters.

Credit: X/@RealBobKatter

Before that, he spent 18 years in state politics, which means he’s basically been yelling about “real Australians” longer than most people can remember. Basically: he’s been saying outrageous things far before TikTok got hold of him.

@michael.rusli

Going through self serve hoping it would be faster, next minute, please wait for assistance… 💀

♬ original sound – MRGREENSCREEN

But this time, the internet ran with it. Clips of him fist-shaking have been edited into WWE fights, dropped into Mortal Kombat edits, and captioned with “when someone disrespects your Nan’s cooking.”

People are calling him “Australia’s angriest grandad” and have looped the video into “don’t talk to me or my Lebanese heritage ever again” memes.

Wait, here’s what’s going on with all those rumours claiming Donald Trump is dead

Two huge revelations since the Netflix doc may hold key to what happened to Amy Bradley

Bonnie Blue reveals the one off-limits thing she’s never done with a guy, even in her challenges

@theninjamonkey11 AWW Mate don’t say that 😡 #bobkatter #dontsaythat ♬ original sound – UnstoppableU – Impact Agency

He hasn’t apologised, and The Guardian report s that Channel Nine’s parent company is reportedly considering legal action. On TikTok and Twitter, the footage has taken on a life of its own.

Whatever happens next, the image of a 79-year-old MP squaring up like he’s about to bare-knuckle box a journalist is now immortalised as meme fuel.

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook.

Featured image credit: ABC News Australia