Hundreds rally in support of Palestine and sacked ABC journalist Antoinette Lattouf
Former ABC presenter Antoinette Lattouf has claimed she was the target of an “orchestrated attack” as hundreds rally in support.
Eli Green, news.com.au, 21 January 2024
Melburnians have gathered in their hundreds for a pro-Palestine rally also in support of a former ABC journalist who was let go over social media posts on the conflict.
A former ABC presenter sacked over a social media post about the war in Gaza has claimed she was “thrown under the bus” by the public broadcaster.
Antoinette Lattouf claims she was targeted by an “orchestrated attack” after she was dismissed in December just three days into a week-long hosting gig on Radio Sydney’s morning show.
She was let go after sharing a social media post about the conflict in Gaza, with ABC management telling her she was not allowed to post about controversial issues while in the presenter position.
The rally was also in support of ABC fill-in presenter Antoinette Lattouf who was let go from the broadcaster over social media posts. Picture: Instagram
Ms Lattouf said she was surprised that her sacking had triggered protests.
“I was floored, not only [by] how I was fired but how quickly things escalated because one minute I was taking talkback callers … the next, I’m thrown under the bus in a very public way,” she said in a BBC interview.
Reports this week have revealed that a group called Lawyers for Israel campaigned for Ms Lattouf to be ousted from the position, urging members to flood the ABC’s complaints from taking issue with the presenter.
Ms Lattouf said she had “no beef” with those wanting to lobby but took issue with the access the group appears to have gained.
“What I have real concerns with is when a lobby group seems to have a direct channel, [and] access to, very senior people, in this case, the chair of the board at the ABC, and can influence an outcome so rapidly,” she said.