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Viewers slam Gable Tostee’s ‘scary’ 60 Minutes interview

Gable Tostee said he recorded the date because he often lost his memory when drinking.

Gable Tostee said he recorded the date because he often lost his memory when drinking. Photo: 60 Minutes

Gable Tostee’s much-publicised “tell all interview” with 60 Minutes on Sunday night posed as many questions as it answered with viewers labelling him “creepy” and “unconvincing”.

Mr Tostee was acquitted of murdering New Zealand woman Warriena Wright three weeks ago after a nightmare Tinder date two years ago ended in her death.

The 26-year-old fell 14 floors after Mr Tostee locked her on his balcony during a violent argument.

Mr Tostee recorded the entire incident on his phone – the audio serving as key evidence and sensational media fodder during the trial.

In the 60 Minutes interview, Mr Tostee attempted to explain various perceived holes in his version of events, including why he locked Ms Wright on his balcony and not simply kicked her out of the apartment.

Viewers slammed the Queensland carpet layer’s performance as unconvincing and “scary”, with a number of them drawing comparisons between Mr Tostee and OJ Simpson, the former American football player acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend in 1995.

https://twitter.com/JakeChatty/status/797745706437984256

‘Why did you press record?’

Channel Nine and 60 Minutes were criticised after reports Mr Tostee was paid a six-figure sum for the interview surfaced last week.

The network refused to comment on the figure, and are actively avoiding controversy after weathering a public relations storm when four members of the 60 Minutes crew were arrested during a failed child rescue in Lebanon earlier this year.

Reporter Liam Bartlett pulled no punches during the interview, pressing Mr Tostee on why he had decided to make the hours-long recording in the first place.

Mr Tostee said he often lost his memory when he drank alcohol, and the recording had been a safety net.

“It’s more of a just-in-case thing … you’re better off having it than not having it,” he said.

“In this day and age, it’s as easy as pressing a button.”

Gable Tostee and Warriena Wright

The pair just hours before the New Zealand tourist plummeted to her death.

CCTV footage aired during the interview showed Mr Tostee and Ms Wright purchasing a six-pack of beer, but the carpet layer admitted they had graduated to homemade vodka, or “moonshine” later in the evening.

The recording ultimately helped Mr Tostee walk away from the charges, but several sections presented him in a dark light.

At one stage, Mr Tostee yelled at Ms Wright, “You’re lucky I haven’t chucked you off the balcony”.

He admitted they were a “horrible choice of words”.

“I know how it looks,” Mr Tostee said.

He was also pressed on his actions immediately after Ms Wright fell from the balcony, with Bartlett asking Mr Tostee why he chose to call his father, his lawyer and eat a slice of pizza before calling for help.

The Queenslander said he was extremely drunk and needed to “clear his head”.

“What had happened had happened,” he said.

“There was nothing an ambulance could do to change that.”

‘I like meeting girls’

Reporter Bartlett asked Mr Tostee about his “playboy” reputation, and past claims that he has slept with 180 women.

Tostee interview

Mr Tostee was an active member in the bodybuilding community.

“I wouldn’t say playboy, I mean, I like meeting girls,” Mr Tostee said.

“It wasn’t intended to be a boast or anything.

“And those sorts of figures – they’re not that uncommon for a lot of guys.”

Mr Tostee’s parents appeared on the show and also copped criticism from viewers who labelled them “deluded” for not only believing their son’s story, but being sure he would walk away a free man.

Helen Tostee called her son “thoughtful”, “caring” and “considerate”.

Warriena Wright’s family declined to be interviewed for the show.

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