Journalist in Poilievre’s Viral ‘Apple’ Video Says Election Results Bring Him ‘Satisfaction’

Don Urquhart likes these apples.

“It would be fair to say I feel a substantial degree of satisfaction that Pierre Poilievre lost, not just the election but his own seat,” the journalist caught in the firing line of the Conservative leader’s most viral moment said in a statement to PressProgress.

Urquhart, editor of the Times Chronicle in B.C.’s South Okanagan, said the election results were evidence that Canadians “saw through” the Conservative leader’s “three-word grade-school rhyming, and his toxicity and bullying nature.”

“Poilievre repeatedly failed to demonstrate his ability to deal with the serious and complicated issues at hand.” (See the full statement at bottom.)

On October 14, 2023, Poilievre released a video to YouTube titled “How do you like them apples?” in which the prime ministerial hopeful ate an apple while responding dismissively to Urquhart’s questions about his political approach.

“In terms of your sort of strategy, currently, you’re obviously taking the populist pathway…” Urquhart began.

“What does that mean?” Poilievre shot back while chewing on an apple.

The following two minutes of the clip continued in the same fashion, with Poilievre continuing to enjoy an apple while repeatedly pushing back.

When Urquhart asked Poilievre about taking a “page out of Donald Trump’s book,” the leader responded: “What are you talking about? What page? What page? Can you give me a page? Give me the page.”

The video was viewed on Poilievre’s YouTube channel 1.4 million times, on the Conservatives’ official channel another 595,000 times and shared by right-wing media across the world.

Joe Rogan played the clip on his podcast, praising Poilievre for the way he responded to the reporter asking him “stupid questions.”

“Everything about ‘the Left’ is despicable, everything,” Dennis Prager said on his own podcast after sharing the video. “That reporter was despicable.”

As a result of the clip’s popularity, Urquhart was the subject of scrutiny and insults from the right and far right for simply showing up and asking questions Poilievre didn’t like.

“Somebody help that journo, you’re out of your depth, pal,” said a Sky News Australia commentator while laughing about the video in a clip viewed on their YouTube channel 710,000 times.

In his statement, Urquhart made special mention of Poilievre’s treatment of the press, before and during the election.

“His utter disrespect for the media and by extension Canadians themselves — whether it be apple munching, refusing to allow reporters to travel with him on the campaign trail, or limiting access and vetting of questions with no follow-ups — took a direct page from Trump’s playbook and raised many questions about his ability to represent Canadians,” said Urquhart. “As for the viral ‘apple clip’ from fall 2023, it was an undeniably clear reflection of his character.”

“This surely won’t be the end of Poilievre or the masterminds of his political persona, but at least for now, Canada has dodged a bullet.”