ABC has apologised to News Corp columnist Miranda Devine after Hack Live guest Clementine Ford referred to her as a c**t during last night’s live broadcast.

The ABC2 show, which presents as a hot-button debate show pitched at Gen X and Gen Y viewers, was discussing the topic “Is Male Privilege Bullsh!t?”

But “angry feminist” Clementine Ford and anti-feminist writer Daisy Cousens, who have disagreed on social media, got sidetracked in a personal debate that left one guest asking what it had to do with the topic.

After Ford repeated a profanity she had used at Devine, host Tom Tilley took to the floor to steer the show back on track.

In a statement to TV Tonight, an ABC spokesperson said, “The ABC regrets any offence caused to journalist Miranda Devine regarding the use of a profanity by a guest on Hack Live last evening. Program producers provided all guests with a full briefing before the show asking them to be respectful during the live television broadcast.

“The nature of live television means it can be unpredictable and while the ABC never aims to offend, it is not responsible for what guests say.”

Last September ABC management ordered a debate on Aussie patriotism to air on a delay due to the risk of hate speech.

ABC has since bleeped the offending comment from replays and iview.

Related