ABC defends Pickering over Armytage clip

ABC boss Mark Scott has defended Charlie Pickering against claims he provoked death threats against Seven Network host Samantha Armytage by making her appear racially insensitive.

Pickering, host of The Weekly on ABC TV, used an edited clip of an interview Armytage conducted with British twins of radically different skin tones.

Asked about reports Armytage subsequently received "Charlie Pickering-induced death threats" Mr Scott told a Senate committee on Wednesday that it was unfair to blame Pickering if viewers responded inappropriately.