True crime podcast Sword and Scale has appointed a new host following Mike Boudet's sacking.

When true crime podcast Sword and Scale launched in 2014, it was an instant success story.

Hosted by Mike Boudet, the bi-weekly podcast garnered over a million downloads in its first year, and regularly ranked at the top of the iTunes charts.

But following a series of controversies surrounding Boudet – from creepy, sexual comments directed at women on Twitter, online bullying of fans and a wildly offensive Instagram post on International Women’s Day – podcast company Wondery dropped the series and host earlier this month, leaving its fate unknown.

Watch: The best true crime documentaries. Post continues after audio.

But the popular crime podcast this week appointed a new host – Tricia Griffith, veteran broadcaster and owner of the popular true crime forum WebSleuths.

The first episode of Sword and Scale featuring new host Tricia Griffith premiered on Sunday, March 24th.

The wonderful and talented Tricia Griffith of Websleuths is the new host of the SWORD & SCALE podcast! ❤️⚔️⚖️ https://t.co/8Ur8Lq6lAW pic.twitter.com/GAQElKoQ3q

— REAL CRIME JOURNAL (@JournalCrime) March 18, 2019

As for Boudet – he is reportedly “taking a break” from both the main instalments of the show and social media.

“Please Welcome Sword and Scale’s new host,” an announcement on the podcast’s website read last week.

“In the wake of Wondery’s announcement to cut ties with Sword and Scale, its creator and host Mike Boudet has decided to take a break from hosting the show and social media.”

The statement went on to explain that Boudet will continue to make appearances under the Sword and Scale brand, hosting Sword and Scale PLUS, as well as content available to the show’s direct paying supporters on Patreon.

Although it is unclear exactly why Wondery decided to sack Boudet, it is widely speculated to have been a direct response to now-deleted Instagram post he shared on International Women’s Day – given they tweeted the news the very next day.

We have decided to part ways with Mike Boudet and Sword and Scale.

— Wondery (@WonderyMedia) March 9, 2019

The Instagram post read: “I don’t understand dumb c***. Maybe I should take one apart to see how it works,” The Wrap reported.

Boudet’s sacking came after a particularly controversial year for the Sword and Scale host.

In 2018, Sword and Scale fans began boycotting the podcast after Boudet made revolting comments about a female fan.

Listener Julieanna Pinto sent Boudet a tweet asking him to cover her death on the podcast if anything ever happened to her in April, 2018. Boudet responded with, “And she died of mild heart disease and a high-cholesterol diet” – a comment seemingly aimed at Julieanna’s appearance.

Mamamia previously reported on Boudet’s predatory comments towards female fans. From inappropriate advances to requesting nude photos, Boudet swiftly blocked anyone who raised concerns about his behaviour.

Sword and Scale has also faced backlash over the years for the use of 911 calls and Boudet’s handling of sensitive topics such as mental illness. While other true crime podcasts have also used 911 call audio in their production (Last Podcast On The Left and Generation Why to name two large examples), Sword and Scale has been accused of using the audio gratuitously – opting to include entire phone calls without any censorship or permission from the people involved, including those involving victims and children.

You can read more about Sword and Scale and the accusations made against Mike Boudet in our previous cover story here.