As one of Australia’s most infamous jailbirds, convicted Bali drug smuggler Schapelle Corby is no stranger to answering tricky questions from journalists.
And the 43-year-old certainly put Sunrise host Sam Armytage in her place during an extremely awkward interview on Monday morning.
Speaking via video link from her home on the Gold Coast, Schapelle grew impatient while trying to promote her upcoming appearance on Channel Seven’s military-style reality series SAS Australia.
She’s not happy: Schapelle Corby (right) shut down Sam Armytage (left, with David Koch) for asking why she’s pursuing a reality TV career in a very awkward Sunrise interview on Monday
After a few softball questions, things took a turn when Sam said: ‘I covered part of your trial in Bali. If you’d said to me, fast forward 10, 15 years, I’d be interviewing you now doing a reality show, I’d have said, “Oh, for goodness sake.'”
Schapelle seemed to have difficulty hearing the question, asking: ‘If one of the what? If one of the what?’
As Sam repeated the question, Schapelle interrupted: ‘Well, I wouldn’t have had any clue what would be in my future.’
Setting the record straight: Schapelle, 43, shut down the question, telling Sam: ‘Nothing, it’s all about my own self. I did this for myself.’ The breakfast TV anchor replied curtly, ‘Fair enough’
Pressing the issue, the host asked: ‘What do you say to people that are surprised that you want to pursue a TV career?’
Shutting down the line of questioning, Schapelle declared: ‘Nothing, it’s all about my own self. I did this for myself.’
Appearing momentarily taken aback, Sam curtly replied: ‘Fair enough.’
‘I hope people enjoy it, but this is for me’: The former beautician, who served nine years in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison, has previously insisted she isn’t doing reality TV to win over the public
The former beautician, who served nine years in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison for marijuana smuggling, has previously spoken about her intentions for going on the show, telling Perth Now she wasn’t doing reality TV to win over the public.
‘I don’t care what people think of me. I hope people enjoy it, but this is for me. I’m doing this so I know I’m in control of my mind,’ she said in August.
Schapelle, who was released from jail in 2014, added: ‘We go into SAS as a number, not a name, which is significant for me because I won’t be Schapelle Corby, I will just be a human being.’
Tough: SAS Australia will see celebrities attempt to pass the selection process to join the elite Special Air Service. Pictured: Schapelle being grilled by ex-British soldier Ant Middleton
SAS Australia will see celebrities attempt to pass the selection process to join the Australian Army’s elite Special Air Service.
Other stars who have signed on include Roxy Jacenko, Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins, Candice Warner, Merrick Watts and Jackson Warne.
In 2004, Schapelle became a household name when she was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of cannabis wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag – a crime she still denies committing.
Convicted: In 2004, Schapelle became a household name when she was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of cannabis wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag – a crime she still denies committing. Pictured in the holding cells at Denpasar District Court on April 28, 2005
In May 2005, the world watched as she broke down in the Denpasar courtroom after being sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Due to a series of sentence reductions, Schapelle was released on parole in February 2014, having served nine years behind bars.
She lived in Bali with family until she was deported back to Australia in May 2017.
SAS Australia premieres Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Seven
Unforgettable: In May 2005, the world watched as she broke down in the Denpasar courtroom after being sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment