The online world is buzzing with curiosity about the marital life of the late John Pilger, a respected Australian journalist and documentary maker who had a significant impact in investigative journalism. Pilger’s name is currently trending following the confirmation of his death on December 30, 2023, which has sparked interest in his personal life.
John Pilger’s career, which began in the early 1960s, is most notable for his critical and sometimes controversial perspectives on global politics and the media. His work was largely centred on international issues such as human rights abuses, war, and the implications of globalisation. His coverage of the Vietnam War was particularly well-received.
As for his marital life, Pilger was wedded twice. He was first married to Scarth Flett, a woman who stood by his side through many of life’s milestones. The couple, however, kept their marriage details away from the public eye, making it difficult to confirm specific facts about their union. The couple shared a son, marking Pilger’s first experience of fatherhood. Pilger and Flett later decided to part ways, with Scarth being widely known as the granddaughter of the doctor and geologist Sir John Smith Flett.
Following his separation from Scarth Flett, Pilger entered into a relationship with Yvonne Roberts, an English journalist with a vast portfolio that includes stints on several television shows such as Weekend World, The London Programme, and This Week. The Sydney Morning Herald reported their marriage, but there were no additional details available about their wedding. The couple shared a daughter together.
Pilger’s children include his son, Sam, born in 1973 to his first wife, Scarth. Sam has reportedly embarked on a career in sports writing. Pilger’s second child, a daughter named Zoe, was born to his second wife, Yvonne, in 1984. Zoe Pilger, celebrated for her debut novel, Eat My Heart Out, is an author and art critic. Her novel earned her the Betty Trask Award and the Somerset Maugham Award. Presently, Zoe resides in London and is working on her PhD at Goldsmiths, focusing on romantic love and sadomasochism in the work of female artists.
As the Pilger family grieves, the online community is sharing their condolences and words of comfort for the departed soul.
