SBS boss Michael Ebeid has accused Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali of constructing complaints by a participant in its controversial Struggle Street series.
Peta Kennedy lashed out at the public broadcaster after footage of her family was shown in the three-part series documenting the challenges facing residents of Mt Druitt in Sydney's west.
She took particular offence over a scene that showed her husband Ashley breaking wind.
It was shown in promotional material but removed from the broadcast episode.
Mr Ebeid said Ms Kennedy was shown the first episode and gave "good feedback" except for that one scene, which SBS agreed to remove.
But after mayor Bali got involved, her "tune changed" and she started criticising the show, he told a Senate committee in Canberra on Wednesday.
"I find the comments she gave before seeing episodes two and three were somewhat constructed and influenced by the mayor of Blacktown.
"I think (Mr Bali) made this into a much bigger issue than he should have ... I think he brought far more attention to the program that it would have received naturally."
Mr Bali organised a protest using garbage trucks outside SBS offices in St Leonards in a failed attempt to stop the show going to air.
Mr Ebeid said Ms Kennedy, after seeing episodes two and three, was quoted saying she would do a second season if SBS approached her.
Given his time again Mr Ebeid would "without doubt" run the program but regrets the three-second clip made it into online promotional material.
He said SBS had apologised to Ms Kennedy.
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