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ABC Radio Melbourne’s Drive host Charlie Pickering says he “should have known better” after telling far-right agitator Avi Yemini that the broadcaster’s four-part podcast series featuring Grace Tame was “problematic”.

“I spoke on this occasion on behalf of myself and no one else. From that, all manner of beliefs and positions have been projected onto me that are not true, but that’s on me,” Pickering said when opening his show on Thursday.

“Context is in short supply these days, and I should have known better. I forgot the immortal words of Jay Z: ‘A wise man told me, don’t argue with fools, because people from a distance can’t tell who is who.’ I was a little naive, and I will learn from that. As I said, that is on me.”