An on-air disagreement erupted on Polsat News after a statement made by Waldemar Buda, a member of the ruling party. Krzysztof Śmiszek, a left-leaning member of parliament, reacted with visible emotion, and editor Agnieszka Gozdyra joined in, quickly taking the side of the left-wing politician and urging Buda to apologize. Viewers and online commentators offered varied interpretations of the scene compared to the presenter’s impression.
The studio discussion centered on the migration pact approved by the European Union Council. Buda noted that in the European Parliament vote on the Pact, left-wing MEPs and Third Way MEP Róża Thun had voted in favor.
I confirm that Śmiszek is well aware of the relevant details because, as some might point out, Biedroń also supported the Migration Pact.
– he stated, referring to widely known information about Krzysztof Śmiszek and Robert Biedroń allegedly being life partners.
“You’re just an idiot, a homophobe and you shouldn’t appear in public spaces. If you try to campaign for the European Parliament with such rude texts, you are a good representative of your party,”
– Śmiszek responded emotionally to Buda’s statement.
“Editor, I came to this program for a normal conversation, and if a PiS figure takes advantage of this situation, I will actually leave,”
– he added.
At that moment, the presenter moved closer to Buda and then addressed the PiS MP directly:
“I have a sincere request: Mr. MP, I rarely do this, for God’s sake, why did you say that? Sorry for what you said.”
Buda appeared surprised by the stir his words had caused in the studio.
“But there’s no problem, if you’re embarrassed about it, go ahead. Sorry. If this word is a problem, no problem. I thought this was normal for you; you bragged about it, but if you’re running from it, please go ahead,”
Buda replied.
“Mr Member of Parliament, Mr Minister, please don’t do such things in my program anymore,”
Gozdyra urged.
Storm on the Internet
The clash in the Polsat News studio sparked a broad online reaction. Commentators focused on Gozdyra’s handling of the moment, noting that she pressed Buda to apologize to Śmiszek while seemingly overlooking a sharp remark directed at the PiS member from Śmiszek.
Many observers criticized Gozdyra’s conduct, with some arguing she crossed the line from journalist to advocate. A portion of viewers believed she belonged on a different program and suggested East European talk shows would suit her style better.
Some voices insisted that Gozdyra should face scrutiny for pressuring Buda while not addressing Śmiszek’s phrasing, and others claimed the exchange exposed a bias in the program’s format and moderation.
Others argued that political debate naturally includes insults and strong language, and that the episode reflected the rough edges of live television rather than a systemic failure of journalistic standards.
There were calls for accountability and clarity about where lines should be drawn when personalities clash on air, as well as discussions about whether public figures should be shielded from criticism based on personal life details.
Some commentators expressed disappointment with the back-and-forth, describing the scene as a circus rather than a productive dialogue. A few viewers noted that Śmiszek had previously opposed recognizing certain relationships as marriage and connected this stance to the broader debate on rights and recognition.
In summary, the incident highlighted tensions between political factions, media moderation, and audience expectations in the era of rapid, widespread online commentary. The discussion and its fallout underscored how personal remarks and political positions can quickly become flashpoints in televised debates.
zxt/Polsat News/X
Source: wPolityce