Sunrise's Matt Doran apologises to Adele live on air after ‘insulting’ interview

Weekend Sunrise host Matt Doran has issued a public apology to Adele after his disastrous interview with the singing superstar went viral earlier this week.

The Channel Seven star admitted to "insulting" the Easy On Me hitmaker by telling her that he hadn’t listened to her new album during their exclusive interview that took place in London last weekend.

Weekend Sunrise host Matt Doran apologises to Adele. Photo: Channel 7.
Weekend Sunrise host Matt Doran has apologised to Adele for not listening to her new album before their interview. Photo: Channel 7.

Matt Doran apologises to Adele

Matt's gaffe was said to have outraged Adele's record label Sony, which then refused to allow the network to air the interview — the Grammy award winner's only Aussie chat — as part of its $1million package.

A package that also included broadcast rights to Adele's One Night Only concert and her sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.

Matt addressed the controversial incident which made headlines all around the world at the end of Saturday's episode of Weekend Sunrise.

He delivered a heartfelt two-and-a-half-minute monologue to camera in which he apologised directly to Adele and her fans for his "terrible mistake".

"This is a story that has sparked a torrent of abuse and mockery from around the world," he began.

RELATED:

Adele wears a black dress while singing in an extended preview and first look of the exclusive Oprah interview in ADELE ONE NIGHT ONLY
Adele performs during her new primetime special, One Night Only, which included an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey. Photo: Getty Images.

"And if I'm being honest with you, the bulk of this savaging I deserve and I totally own. I flew to London to interview Adele, an unspeakable privilege and what was to be one of the highlights of my career.

"I made the terrible mistake of assuming we weren't to be given a preview copy of this album because our interview was airing before it was released and Adele's album was the industry's most prized secret."

Matt went on to make a point of saying that he received an email from Sony the day after he arrived in the UK.

In the email was a preview link to listen to the star's as-yet-unreleased album, 30, but Matt said he didn't see it in his inbox.

"[The email] didn't mention Adele but it did contain a link to her album. The genuine, dead-set hand-on-heart truth is that I missed it, by an absurdly long margin, the most important email I've ever missed in my life," he admitted.

Sunrise host Matt Doran holds camera equipment while taking a selfie in London with the Tower Bridge in the background. Photo: Instagram/mattdoran22.
Matt shared this snap in London ahead of his infamous Adele interview. Photo: Instagram/mattdoran22.

'I've insulted Adele'

Matt detailed the wide-ranging conversation he had with Adele which touched on everything from her new music, fame, her divorce and her relationship with her late father.

"Throughout the 29 minutes Adele was profound, she was funny, she was raw and then she was honest, honest enough to describe her depression as 'end of the world stuff'," Matt said.

"But all that doesn't matter, because by missing the album link, however I might try to justify it, I've insulted Adele. To Adele, I say, I would never have knowingly disrespected you by not listening to your work. I am so sorry.

"I also apologise to Adele's Australian fans and to you, our viewers, who through my error have been denied an insight into her character."

Matt then referenced one of Adele's new songs, "Hold On," in which she sings that sometimes 'forgiveness is easiest in secret'.

"I'm not expecting that forgiveness, but I do owe you an apology," he said.

A member of staff sorts copies of the new album from British singer-songwriter Adele,
Adele's new album, 30, is her first in six years. Photo: Getty Images.

Matt Doran's full apology to Adele

Read Matt Doran's apology to Adele in full below:

This is a story that has sparked a torrent of abuse and mockery from around the world. And if I'm being honest with you, the bulk of this savaging I deserve and I totally own. I flew to London to interview Adele, an unspeakable privilege and what was to be one of the highlights of my career.

I made the terrible mistake of assuming we weren't to be given a preview copy of this album because our interview was airing before it was released. And Adele's album was the industry's most prized secret. The day after, after we landed in London, an email came through from Sony. It didn't mention Adele but it did contain a link to her album.

The genuine, dead-set hand-on-heart truth is that I missed it, by an absurdly long margin, the most important email I've ever missed in my life. The interview itself, Adele didn't walk out, it ran overtime, at least half of the interview focused squarely on the new music, but I thought it was reductive to describe it as simply being about divorce, that it was about empowerment and would inspire people to summon the courage to steer their lives in a new direction.

We spoke of the paradox that is being the world's most famous artist but hating fame. We also discussed at length, the concept of pure artistry, the majesty of Adele's voice, what it must be like to hear that sound come out of one's own mouth. How "Go Easy On Me" was conceived in part by singing acapella in the shower, and how the album helped repair her relationship towards the end with her now late father. Throughout the 29 minutes Adele was profound, she was funny, she was raw and then she was honest, honest enough to describe her depression as "end of the world stuff".

But all that doesn't matter, because by missing the album link, however I might try to justify it, I've insulted Adele. To Adele, I say, I would never have knowingly disrespected you by not listening to your work. I am so sorry. I also apologise to Adele's Australian fans and to you, our viewers, who through my error have been denied an insight into her character.

Adele, track 10, "Hold On" in the bridge after the second chorus you write that sometimes 'forgiveness is easiest in secret'. I'm not expecting that forgiveness, but I do owe you an apology. Thank you so much for joining us this morning here at Weekend Sunrise. That's all for today. We'll see you tomorrow.

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.