Ricky Caruana said that Peppi Azzopardi personally told PBS not to take any action against him after his recent remarks drew criticism from some women’s rights activists.Caruana spoke out after Swieqi deputy mayor Jordan Galea Pace flagged a critical Facebook comment Caruana had written to Azzopardi and called out TVM for giving him a debate show.“Peppi and I are similar characters in that we’re both straightforward in our comments but we have a mutual sense of respect towards each other,” he said.“I can guarantee that when Peppi needs my help, I’m there for him before any of those snakes pretending to support him, and vice versa.”“Sometimes I wouldn’t even know that he is helping me out behind my back. When the Women’s Lobby issue arose, out of all my friends and podcast guests who wanted a free promotion, Peppi was the only person who called up PBS to tell them to ignore what people were telling them.”“He told them that I have a right to express my opinion on my page and that my comments didn’t amount to hate speech.”Caruana hosts the Friday night debate show Ricky Debates, the same time slot that was occupied by Azzopardi’s Xarabank for 23 years.The Malta Women’s Lobby had criticised PBS for giving Caruana a debate show after the popular podcaster remarked that one parent, ideally the mother, should stay at home to raise their children.Cover photo: Left: Ricky Caruana Podcast, Right: Peppi Azzopardi•