TVNZ Reporter In Verbal Bust Up With Pink

I like Pink. I think she’s a feisty young thing who does what she wants and takes no rubbish from anyone, but that might be the marketing talking. Either way, I think she consistently delivers the pop goods, and she’s okay in my books. Every time I’ve ever seen her interviewed, she appears to be quick with the laughs and seems to make an effort, but if the footage of her interview with a TVNZ employee ever gets leaked, I may finally get to see a crankier Pink unleashing chit-chat hell.

An Australian-based TV journalist is being investigated by her employer over an interview she did last month in Sydney with visiting US pop star Pink.

The Grammy-winning singer walked out of the interview with TV New Zealand’s Australian correspondent, Hannah Hodson, after Hodson began asking her why she had sacked Hodson’s sister, a former assistant to the pop star.

Hodson started asking what? Good gracious. I’m no Andrew Denton, but taking an interview about a new album in that kind of direction strikes me as ever so slightly unprofessional.After the interview, there were some issues between Pink’s security team and TVNZ staff.

There was also a reported fracas as Pink’s minder and two TVNZ employees fought over the videotape of the interview. A source was quoted in New Zealand’s Sunday News as saying the interview “was an absolute nightmare … an absolute train wreck”.

“(Camerman) Jason (Hull) left the camera rolling at the end of the interview and you can hear Hannah going, “F*** off, this is TVNZ’s property. You can’t have the tape … I’ll call the cops,” the source said. “It started out okay … Pink was really trying … but she was looking over at her manager the whole time as if to say, ‘What the hell?’”

God, I want this thing leaked onto YouTube immediately! It seems unlikely to happen, however, after representatives from Sony BMG had a meeting with TVNZ management and it was agreed that the tape be labelled “NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN” and thrown into the fires of Mount Doom.

It’s not the first time Hodson’s ticked off a celebrity.

Last year, Hodson angered actress Nicole Kidman when she appeared on the red-carpet to promote her new film The Golden Compass. Hodson asked: “What about some of the reviews, I mean, one person called it an embarassing, colossal piece of crap. How do you take that kind of criticism?”

Kidman replied: “That’s a charming thing. I didn’t know that. You’re a sweet woman, aren’t you,” before walking away.

Not quite the Angela Bishop approach, is it? Hmmm. I am vaguely fascinated by Hannah Hodson. She’s a real journalist, yeah? Not just an Ali G-esque type who aggravates for laughs? Amazing.

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