{{short description|Australian television presenter (born 1965)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2011}} {{Infobox person | name = Sonia Kruger | image = Sonia Kruger, 2017 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Kruger at ''[[The Mummy (2017 film)|The Mummy]]'' black carpet in 2017 | birth_name = Sonia Melissa Kruger | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|08|28|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Toowoomba]], [[Queensland]], Australia | education = [[University of Technology Sydney|University of Technology]] | occupation = {{hlist|Television presenter|actress|media personality}} | years_active = 1988–present | employer = [[Seven Network]] | notable_works = {{bulleted|Host of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' with co-host [[Chris Brown (veterinarian)|Chris Brown]], |''[[Today Extra]]'' presenter with [[David Campbell (singer)|David Campbell]]|Host of ''[[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother Australia]]''|Presenter of the [[2020 Olympics]] |Host of ''[[Holey Moley (Australian TV series)|Holey Moley]]''}} | spouse = {{marriage|James Davies|2002|2008|end=divorced}} | partner = Craig McPherson | children = 1 | website = }}
'''Sonia Melissa Kruger''' (born 28 August 1965) is an Australian television presenter, actress and media personality. She is best known for co-hosting the Australian version of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' alongside [[Chris Brown (veterinarian)|Chris Brown]], and for the role of Tina Sparkle in the 1992 film [[Strictly Ballroom]]. Kruger was also the host of [[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother Australia]] from 2012 to 2014 on [[Nine Network|Nine]], and later returned as host during its revival on [[Seven Network|Channel 7]], from 2020 to 2023.
During her time at the [[Seven Network]], Kruger has reported for numerous other events, including the network's coverage of the [[Olympics]], the [[Melbourne Cup]] and the [[Australian Open]]. In 2023, she was awarded the [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Silva|first=Angelica|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-31/logies-2023-awards-biggest-moments-australia-television/102666346|title=Sonia Kruger wins gold and tributes flow for Jock Zonfrillo: The biggest 2023 Logie Awards moments|date=31 July 2023|website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>
She has attracted criticism for her comments on immigrants and Muslims.<ref>{{cite news|last=Faruqi|first=Osman|date=31 July 2023|title=Sonia Kruger's Logie win wasn't a shock, but it was still depressing to watch|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/sonia-kruger-s-logie-win-wasn-t-a-shock-but-it-was-still-depressing-to-watch-20230731-p5dsgf.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location= |access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mascarenhas|first=Carla|date=31 July 2023|title=Sonia Kruger's Logie win sparks backlash after divisive 2016 comments|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/sonia-krugers-logie-win-sparks-backlash-after-divisive-2016-comments/news-story/4d7ccdec8b1234982585b7ffa9ced0c2|work=news.com.au|location= |access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rida|first=Adam|date=1 August 2023|title='I will never forget what Sonia Kruger said about Muslims'|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/i-will-never-forget-what-sonia-kruger-said-about-muslims-795939|work=Mamamia|location= |access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansards/27122/toc_pdf/Senate_2023_08_09.pdf|title=Senate: Hansard (Wednesday, 9 August 2023)|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=9 August 2023|website= |publisher=Australian Government|page=36|access-date=10 August 2023|quote=Senator Faruqi: ...Take Sonia Kruger, who has gone on to win a TV popularity contest. How disheartening that is. This is the same person who vilified people like me on national TV, when she went on a rant calling for an end to Muslim immigration. Given many chances, Sonia Kruger has never even come close to an apology for her hateful anti-Muslim remarks. Now she has won a Gold Logie. And it's not only that: Sonia Kruger continues to be platformed by major media outlets across Australia. How disappointing.}}</ref>
==Early life== Kruger was born in [[Toowoomba]], [[Queensland]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/ten-questions-sonia-kruger/news-story/340c4a11d683263152eaca04958deb69|title=Ten questions: Sonia Kruger|date=20 November 2017|publisher=The Australian|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> on 28 August 1965.<ref>[https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/sonia-kruger-dancing/ Australian Women's Weekly: Sonia Kruger ‘All women should feel sexy over the age of 50!’]</ref> She was raised in the south-east Queensland suburb of [[Waterford, Queensland|Waterford]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Nathanael|url=https://couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/logan-city-has-spawned-stars-from-savage-garden-to-cameron-smith-and-sonia-kruger/news-story/595f383b744f6461d32170aab3be6eeb|title=Logan City has spawned stars from Savage Garden to Cameron Smith and Sonia Kruger|date=13 June 2014|publisher=[[The Courier-Mail|Courier Mail]]|access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref> on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]-[[Logan, Queensland|Logan]] border and often spent weekends travelling to Gold Coast beaches in [[Burleigh Heads, Queensland|Burleigh Heads]] and [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]] when not competing in dance competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://omny.fm/shows/big-house-with-darren-james/talking-melbourne-with-sonia-kruger-sun-22-june-2025|title=Weekend Breakfast with Darren James - Sonia Kruger|date=22 June 2025|publisher=[[3AW]]|access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref> She completed her secondary education at [[Beenleigh State High School]] and graduated Year 12 in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|last=Selleck|first=Emily|url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/entertainment/today-show-host-sonia-kruger-returns-home-to-the-gold-coast/news-story/60daa9580cdf664bd1101ee4ea47ced7|title=Today Show host Sonia Kruger returns home to the Gold Coast|date=23 July 2016|publisher=[[Gold Coast Bulletin]]|access-date=17 May 2023}}</ref> Following graduation, she moved to [[Sydney]] to complete an Arts Degree at the [[University of Technology, Sydney]] and taught dance at the [[National Institute of Dramatic Art]] (NIDA).<ref>{{cite web|last=O'dwyer|first=Erin|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/2508759/sonia-kruger-on-learning-lessons-the-hard-way/|title=Sonia Kruger on learning lessons the hard way|date=24 August 2014|website=[[The Newcastle Herald]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|access-date=31 July 2023|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
==Career== In 1992, Kruger came to prominence in her acting debut as Tina Sparkle in the [[AACTA Awards|AFI Award]]-winning film ''Strictly Ballroom''. She was also a ballroom adviser for the film.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} This remains her only acting role to date.
Following her film debut she hosted the children's variety show ''[[Simon Townsend's Wonder World#Wonder World!|Wonder World!]]'' on the [[Nine Network]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
Kruger has been an entertainment reporter for Seven Network shows ''[[Today Tonight]]'', ''[[Sunrise (Australian TV program)|Sunrise]]'' and ''[[11AM (TV series)|11AM]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472613/|title=Sonia Kruger|work=IMDb|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> She previously hosted the morning program on the Sydney-based radio station [[KIIS 106.5|Mix 106.5]] with ''Dancing with the Stars'' judges [[Todd McKenney]] and [[Andy Grace]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/kyles-career-lives-on/2009/09/17/1252780391603.html|title=Kyle's career lives on (including additional news)|date=17 September 2009|publisher=Smh.com.au|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> [[File:Sonia Kruger and Daniel MacPherson at the 2011 Logie Awards-1a.jpg|right|thumb|Kruger (right) with [[Daniel MacPherson]] at the 2011 Logie Awards in Melbourne]] In 2004, Kruger joined the Seven Network reality dance competition series ''Dancing with the Stars'', the Australian version of the UK BBC television series ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''. She co-hosted the series with both [[Daryl Somers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/11/30/1196394595106.html|title=Daryl Somers quits Dancing|date=30 November 2007|publisher=Smh.com.au|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> and [[Daniel MacPherson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sevenwestmedia.com.au/docs/business-unit-news/7BD446E7A120B42CE1931F6F8AC509D835B9.pdf|title=DANIEL MACPHERSON TO HOST DANCING WITH THE STARS|publisher=Sevenwestmedia.com.au|access-date=11 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017224009/http://www.sevenwestmedia.com.au/docs/business-unit-news/7BD446E7A120B42CE1931F6F8AC509D835B9.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref> over the course of the eleven seasons in which she appeared. In September 2008, Kruger was confirmed to host the Seven Network makeover reality show ''[[10 Years Younger in 10 Days]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/sonia-kruger-to-host-10-years-younger-in-10-days-needs-recruits/news-story/3d71ec846f8b3c05917eeb2f06c5dccc|title=Twosomes needed for nip/tuck|date=21 September 2008|website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> Despite high ratings for its series premiere,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/week-17-2.html|title=Week 17|publisher=Tvtonight.com.au|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> Seven Network did not renew the series for a second season.
In November 2011, Kruger announced she was leaving both ''Dancing with the Stars'' and the Seven Network to pursue other opportunities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/sonia-kruger-leaving-dancing-with-the-stars-to-host-big-brother/story-e6frfmyi-1226196614821|title=Sonia Kruger leaving Dancing with the Stars to host Big Brother|work=NewsComAu|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref>
Kruger then signed a development deal with the Nine Network in November 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/11/16/sonia-kruger-host-big-brother/|title=Sonia Kruger to host Big Brother|work=Sunshine Coast Daily|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> She was confirmed to host her own daytime talk show, ''[[Mornings (TV program)|Mornings]]'', with singer and actor [[David Campbell (Australian musician)|David Campbell]].<ref>[http://www.mediaspy.org/2011/12/16/sonia-kruger-and-david-campbell-for-nines-mornings-report/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017001539/http://www.mediaspy.org/2011/12/16/sonia-kruger-and-david-campbell-for-nines-mornings-report/|date=17 October 2012}}</ref> The series was designed to replace ''[[Kerri-Anne]]'', which ended that same month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerrianne-kennerley-farewells-viewers-20111125-1ny95.html|title=Kerri-Anne Kennerley farewells viewers|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 November 2011|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> The series premiered on 6 February 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article/8414452/mornings-with-sonia-and-david|title=MORNINGS with Sonia and David|work=today|access-date=11 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008125732/http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article/8414452/mornings-with-sonia-and-david|archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> and continued into 2016 rebranded as ''[[Today Extra]]''.
Kruger was announced to host the Nine Network's reboot of the competition reality series ''[[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother Australia]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/11/sonia-kruger-to-host-big-brother.html|title=Sonia Kruger to host Big Brother?|date=16 November 2011 |publisher=Tvtonight.com.au|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> Kruger replaced [[Kyle Sandilands]] and [[Jackie O (radio host)|Jackie O]], who hosted the series on [[Network Ten]] in its eighth season, after which the show was cancelled in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/14/bigbrother.realitytv|title=Ten Network drops Australian Big Brother after Pamela Anderson fails to save show - Television & radio - theguardian.com|work=the Guardian|date=14 July 2008|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> ''Big Brother 9'' premiered on 13 August 2012 to 1.6 million viewers, the franchise's highest ratings since the series' third season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/big-brother-and-underbelly-prove-a-hit-with-viewers/story-e6frfmyi-1226449828274|title=Big Brother and Underbelly prove a hit with viewers|work=NewsComAu|access-date=11 October 2014|archive-date=17 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917080104/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/big-brother-and-underbelly-prove-a-hit-with-viewers/story-e6frfmyi-1226449828274|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 22 February 2015, it was announced that Kruger would be joining the fourth series of ''[[The Voice (Australian TV series)|The Voice Australia]]'' as a co-host with [[Darren McMullen]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|url=http://tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/sonia-kruger-to-co-host-the-voice.html|title=Sonia Kruger to co-host The Voice|publisher=[[TV Tonight]]|date=22 February 2015|access-date=22 February 2015}}</ref>
In November 2017, Kruger was announced as a co-host of Vision Australia's ''[[Carols by Candlelight]]'' alongside [[David Campbell (singer)|David Campbell]]. She replaced Lisa Wilkinson who had resigned from the Nine Network. Kruger was replaced by [[Allison Langdon]] after defecting to the [[Seven Network]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In August 2018, Kruger was announced as a presenter on the [[Nine Network]] new travel series, ''[[Helloworld (TV Show)|Helloworld]]'', which aired on 7 October 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://karryon.com.au/industry-news/destination/its-showtime-helloworld-the-tv-show-coming-soon-to-channel-nine/|title=IT'S SHOWTIME! Helloworld The TV Show: Coming soon to Channel Nine|website=karryon.com.au|date=31 August 2018|language=en-AU|access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref> But she, Lauren Phillips, [[Denis Walter]] and [[Steven Jacobs (television presenter)|Steven Jacobs]] were replaced by [[Giaan Rooney]] as a presenter, on the Seven Network.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In November 2019, Kruger announced her resignation from the Nine Network. She hosted ''Today Extra'' for the last time on Friday, 15 November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/sonia-kruger-resigns-on-air-from-nine-network-20191111-p539a8.html|title=Sonia Kruger resigns on-air from Nine Network|last=Lallo|first=Michael|date=2019-11-14|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref> Seven Network CEO [[James Warburton (Australian businessman)|James Warburton]] confirmed her joining the network and announced that her roles would include hosting their upcoming reality show ''Mega Mini Golf''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2019/11/24/seven-confirms-tv-blackbox-exclusive-re-sonia-krugers-new-roles|title=SEVEN confirms TV Blackbox exclusive re Sonia Kruger's new roles|last=Knox|first=David|date=24 November 2019|website=TV Black Box|language=en|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref>
In February 2020, the Seven Network announced that Kruger would host a revival of ''[[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother]]'', but due to filming commitments would no longer be hosting the upcoming series ''[[Holey Moley (Australian TV series)|Holey Moley]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/sonia-kruger-will-host-big-brother-on-channel-7-in-2020/news-story/5926eb659104bf866b3a202c329659a1|title=Sonia Kruger will host Big Brother on Channel 7 in 2020|date=5 February 2020|newspaper=News.com.au|language=en|access-date=5 February 2020|last1=Fowler|first1=Bella}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/big-brother-australia-2020-sonia-kruger-will-host-channel-7-reboot-c-682539|title=Big Brother 2020 host revealed|date=5 February 2020|website=7NEWS.com.au|language=en|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> However, in October 2020, Kruger was confirmed as the host of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/09/09/holey-moley-moves-to-south-east-queensland-with-production-commencing-this-october/|title=HOLEY MOLEY MOVES TO SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND WITH PRODUCTION COMMENCING THIS OCTOBER|last=Perry|first=Kevin|date=9 September 2020|work=TV Black Box|access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/10/01/sonia-kruger-and-matt-shirvington-join-cast-of-holey-moley/|title=SONIA KRUGER AND MATT SHIRVINGTON JOIN CAST OF HOLEY MOLEY ON SEVEN|last=Perry|first=Kevin|date=1 October 2020|work=TV Black Box|access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref>
In 2021, Kruger again hosted ''The Voice'' after Seven picked up the rights to the franchise following the Nine Network's failure to renew its contract with the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/the-voice-australia-to-return-in-2021-on-channel-7-c-1277472|title=The Voice Australia to return in 2021 on Channel 7|publisher=[[Seven News]]|date=31 August 2020|access-date=7 September 2020}}</ref> Kruger is the current co-host of Channel Seven's ''Dancing with the Stars'', starring alongside her original co-host Daryl Somers.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
Kruger was nominated for the [[Logie Award for Most Popular Presenter|Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter]] at the [[Logie Awards]] in [[Logie Awards of 2022|2022]], [[Logie Awards of 2023|2023]], and 2024. She was first nominated for the [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television]] in 2022, and won the award in 2023, before a further nomination in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/who-will-win-the-gold-logie-and-why-will-it-be-a-three-horse-race-20240624-p5jo3m.html|title=Who will win the Gold Logie and why will it be a three-horse race|last=Mitchell|first=Thomas|date=24 June 2024|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=24 June 2024}}</ref> Kruger won the "Most Overexposed Performer" award at the [[TV Tonight]] Awards for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-12 |title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2020 |website=TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2020.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-11 |title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2021 |website=TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2021.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2022 |website=TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2022.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2023 |website=TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2023.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |language=en-AU}}</ref> She was nominated for the [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television|Gold Logie]] in [[Logie Awards of 2025|2025]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/06/2025-logie-awards-nominees.html|title=2025 Logie Awards: nominees|date=16 June 2025|website=[[TV Tonight]]|access-date=30 July 2025|url-status=live|archive-date=16 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616155200/https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/06/2025-logie-awards-nominees.html}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kruger was married for six years (2002 to 2008) to James Davie, a British-born banker.<ref name=NI-marriage>{{cite web|title=Sonia Kruger: the Truth Behind My Marriage Split|url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/news/a/5988805/sonia-kruger-the-truth-behind-my-marriage-split|work=New Idea|access-date=25 August 2014|date=24 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113050348/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/news/a/5988805/sonia-kruger-the-truth-behind-my-marriage-split/|archive-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>
After the marriage ended in September 2008, she began seeing her current partner, Craig McPherson, executive producer of ''[[Today Tonight]]''.<ref name=news-mcpherson>{{cite web|title=Mornings host Sonia Kruger loved up with Today Tonight Producer Craig McPherson |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/sonia-krugers-love-light-still-glows/story-e6frfmyi-1226260195811|website=news.com.au|access-date=25 August 2014|date=2 February 2012}}</ref> She and McPherson had been trying for a child for years, through both IVF and natural methods.<ref name=courier-pregnant>{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/sonia-kruger-pregnant-announces-baby-news-on-twitter/news-story/b955485aa1dc93c78d5b60d142e0eb2c|title='I couldn't let myself feel happy'|date=23 August 2014|website=www.couriermail.com.au|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> She became pregnant several times, but they ended in miscarriages.<ref name=aww-miscarry>{{cite journal|title=Sonia Kruger: I'm struggling with IVF at 47|journal=The Australian Women's Weekly|date=26 September 2012|url=http://www.aww.com.au/news-features/in-the-mag/2012/9/sonia-kruger-im-struggling-with-ivf-at-47|access-date=25 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826161419/http://www.aww.com.au/news-features/in-the-mag/2012/9/sonia-kruger-im-struggling-with-ivf-at-47|archive-date=26 August 2014}}</ref> In August 2014, she announced she was pregnant, having conceived via [[in-vitro fertilisation]] (IVF) using a donor egg.<ref name=courier-pregnant/> In 2015, Kruger gave birth to a daughter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonia Kruger gives birth to baby daughter|url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/sonia-kruger-gives-birth-to-baby-daughter/story-fni0cvc9-1227195604474|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=24 January 2015|date=24 January 2015}}</ref>
==Controversies== In 2008, during an episode of ''Dancing with the Stars'', Kruger made a comment about a "sweat shop of illegal immigrants" working on her wardrobe for the Melbourne Cup carnival before referring to Chong Lim, the show's Malaysian-born musical director, with the words "How's the family, Chong? All right?" Channel Seven later issued an apology for her statement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/tv/sonia-puts-her-foot-in-her-mouth-again/story-e6frexlr-1111117978165|title=Sonia puts her foot in her mouth again|first1=Erin|last1=McWhirter|date=8 November 2008|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126172026/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/tv/sonia-puts-her-foot-in-her-mouth-again/story-e6frexlr-1111117978165}}</ref><ref name="kruger_muslim_comment" />
On 18 July 2016, during an appearance on the morning show ''[[Today (1982 TV program)|Today]]'', Kruger called for a complete ban on [[Muslims]] entering Australia, in agreement with an opinion piece by commentator [[Andrew Bolt]]. Kruger defended her comments, saying: "I believe it's vital in a democratic society to be able to discuss these issues without being labelled racist."<ref name="kruger_muslim_comment">Gavin Fernando (2016) [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/television-personality-sonia-kruger-calls-for-australia-to-ban-muslims/news-story/864b9941d5636e715e357ee6597df9da "Television personality Sonia Kruger calls for Australia to ban Muslims"] [[News.com.au]], 18 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/five-facts-to-fight-sonia-krugers-fear-of-muslims/news-story/f3167335462ab1949fcc36f3c5934e1b|title=Five facts to fight Sonia Kruger's fear of Muslims|newspaper=News.com.au|date=18 July 2016|access-date=1 January 2017|last1=Rizvi|first1=Jamila}}</ref> The firebombing of a Perth radio station initially linked by media reports to the presenters disagreeing with Kruger's views was later determined by police to be coincidental and to have "nothing to do with the Islam discussion".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/man-charged-over-fires-at-watoday-and-radio-6pr-20160729-gqh0vn.html|title=Man charged over fires at WAtoday and Radio 6PR|first=Brendan|last=Foster|date=29 July 2016|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>
A racial vilification complaint against Kruger was made to the Civil and Administrative Tribunal over her statement about Muslim immigration. The [[Nine Network]] applied to have the complaint dismissed without a hearing, but this was refused. The complaint was made by Sam Ekermawi, who was described by ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]'' as a "serial offence-taker". The tribunal heard that Ekermawi had been involved in thirty-two hearings before courts and tribunals. The matter proceeded for directions in June 2018.<ref>Daily Telegraph, 2018-5-30, p.7</ref> The Tribunal found that she had vilified Muslims in her comments, but that this was not racial vilification because Muslims are not a race.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-02-15 |title=Sonia Kruger vilified Muslim people in Australia but her comments were not 'racist' |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-15/sonia-kruger-vilified-muslims-but-comments-not-racist/10817772 |access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref>
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" style="width:35%;" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | style="text-align:center" | 2021 | [[TV Tonight]] Awards: Worst of 2020 | Most Overexposed Personality | rowspan="6"|Sonia Kruger | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-12 |title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2020 {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2020.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |website= |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2022 | [[TV Tonight]] Awards: Worst of 2021 | Most Overexposed Performer | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2021.html | title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2021 | TV Tonight | date=11 January 2022 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2023 | [[TV Tonight]] Awards: Worst of 2022 | Most Overexposed Performer | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2022.html | title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2022 | TV Tonight | date=10 January 2023 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2024 | [[TV Tonight]] Awards: Worst of 2023 | Most Overexposed | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2023.html | title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2023 | TV Tonight | date=10 January 2024 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2025 | [[TV Tonight]] Awards: Worst of 2024 | Most Overexposed | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2024.html | title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2024 | TV Tonight | date=10 January 2025 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2026 | [[TV Tonight]] Awards: Worst of 2025 | Most Overexposed Performer | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2026/01/tv-tonight-awards-worst-of-2025.html | title=TV Tonight Awards: Worst of 2025 | TV Tonight | date=15 February 2026 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2022|2022]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television]] | rowspan="2"|Sonia Kruger for ''[[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother]]'', ''[[Holey Moley (Australian TV series)|Holey Moley]]'', ''[[Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)|Dancing with The Stars: All Stars]]'', ''[[The Voice (Australian TV series)|The Voice]]'' and ''[[The Voice (Australian TV series)|The Voice: Generations]]'' | {{Nominated}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-19/winners-list-2022-tv-week-logie-awards/101161894 | title=Here are the winners of the Logie Awards 2022 | newspaper=ABC News | date=19 June 2022 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2022|2022]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Logie Award for Most Popular Presenter|Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter]] | {{Nominated}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-19/winners-list-2022-tv-week-logie-awards/101161894 | title=Here are the winners of the Logie Awards 2022 | newspaper=ABC News | date=19 June 2022 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2023|2023]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television]] | rowspan="4"|Sonia Kruger for ''[[Big Brother (Australian TV series)|Big Brother]]'', ''[[Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)|Dancing with The Stars]]'', and ''[[The Voice (Australian TV series)|The Voice]]'' | {{Won}} | align=center |<ref name="abc.net.au">{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-29/2023-logie-awards-nominations-and-winners-list/102648684 | title=Sonia Kruger wins the Gold Logie, Tony Armstrong and Amy Shark also win big | newspaper=ABC News | date=28 July 2023 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2023|2023]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Logie Award for Most Popular Presenter|Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter]] | {{Nominated}} | align=center |<ref name="abc.net.au"/> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2024|2024]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television]] | {{nom}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/06/logie-awards-2024-nominations.html | title=Logie Awards 2024: Nominations | TV Tonight | date=23 June 2024 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2024|2024]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Logie Award for Most Popular Presenter|Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter]] | {{nom}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/06/logie-awards-2024-nominations.html | title=Logie Awards 2024: Nominations |work=TV Tonight | date=23 June 2024 }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | [[Logie Awards of 2025|2025]] | [[Logie Awards]] | [[Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television|TV Week Gold Logie – Most Popular Personality on Australian Television]] | Sonia Kruger for The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Logies Red Carpet Show, Seven Network | {{nom}} | align=center |<ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/06/2025-logie-awards-nominees.html|title=2025 Logie Awards: nominees|date=16 June 2025|website=[[TV Tonight]]|access-date=4 August 2025|url-status=live|archive-date=16 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616155200/https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/06/2025-logie-awards-nominees.html}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0472613}}
{{Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kruger, Sonia}} [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:Australian people of German descent]] [[Category:Australian women television presenters]] [[Category:Australian television newsreaders and news presenters]] [[Category:Australian game show hosts]] [[Category:Gold Logie winners]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from the Gold Coast, Queensland]]