Ita Buttrose's anger at ABC radio host Antoinette Lattouf is revealed as she is suddenly dumped from airwaves after just three days
A stand-in ABC radio presenter who was suspended after a series of pro-Palestine posts on social media has reportedly been booted after a flood of complaints from the Jewish community reached the public broadcaster's top boss.
Presenter Antoinette Lattouf broke her silence on Wednesday night by threatening legal action over her dismissal, hours after she was fired from hosting the ABC Sydney morning show she had covered for Sarah Macdonald.
ABC chairman Ita Buttrose was reportedly “furious” about Ms Lattouf's appointment to the informal role after the ABC board received a series of complaints about her position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Australian newspaper.
Ny Breaking Australia understands the complaints center over social media posts Ms Lattouf made that were critical of the Jewish state in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Lattouf recently co-wrote an article questioning the veracity of claims that pro-Palestinian protesters had shouted “gas the Jews” at a rally outside the Sydney Opera House, sparking a social media backlash.
Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) hosted ABC Sydney's mornings this week but was told on Wednesday afternoon that she would not be returning to the airwaves
ABC chairman Ita Buttrose was reportedly furious at Ms Lattouf's recruitment for the high-profile radio spot after complaints poured in from the Jewish community
Among the complaints to the broadcaster was one from a Jewish woman who expressed her concerns to ABC CEO David Anderson.
She expressed concern that Ms Lattouf is taking a biased position “as evidenced by her position on opposing the authenticity of the 'gas the Jews' chants at the Sydney Opera House.”
“Her actions, in my opinion, contribute to a rewriting of history that is not only inaccurate but also harmful.”
Ms Lattouf had also joined other journalists in signing a petition calling on newsrooms to treat information from the Israeli government and Hamas with the same “skepticism” unless verified by a third party.
That memo prompted news director Justin Stevens to send a memo reminding reporters not to “sign any petition that might call into question your impartiality or that of the ABC's reporting.”
The ABC told Ny Breaking Australia that Ms Lattouf was ordered off air immediately after her program on Wednesday.
“ABC Sydney casual presenter Antoinette Lattouf will be off-air for her remaining two shifts this week,” the spokesperson said.
Late Wednesday evening, Lattouf posted on Instagram that she was “very disappointed by today's ABC decision.”
“I believe I was wrongfully dismissed,” she said. “This is not a victory for journalism or critical, honest thinking. I am currently considering my legal options.'
Ms Lattouf has made a number of social media posts on various platforms since October 7 criticizing the Israeli government.
Late Wednesday evening, Lattouf posted on Instagram that she was “very disappointed by today's ABC decision. The message is displayed
The outspoken journalist had posted enthusiastically on Monday about filling in for Macdonald.
She was originally going to present the morning radio program for five days, but now she will no longer return to the program on Thursdays and Fridays.
Lattouf's posts about the Middle East conflict, which appeared on various online platforms, are said to be in breach of the ABC's social media policy.
The ABC has a strict editorial policy, requiring staff to be impartial in their reporting and to protect the broadcaster's reputation.
“An ill-considered post or tweet could immediately jeopardize this perception of impartiality,” the ABC rules say.
Lattouf recently co-authored an article questioning the veracity of viral footage showing pro-Palestinian activists chanting “gas the Jews” during an October protest at the Sydney Opera House.
“Analysis of the Aust Jewish Association videos by fact-checker RMIT CrossCheck found a number of clues suggesting the audio was edited…,” she claimed.
In another post from November, Lattouf wrote: “We need a PERMANENT ceasefire and must address the ROOT of the problem: the unlawful occupation of Palestine.”
In a video posted to Instagram in October, Latouff attempted to analyze the conflict between Israel and Palestine, calling both Hamas and the Israeli government “extremists.”
She called for mourning all civilian lives lost in the conflict and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Semitic rhetoric, but added: “You can and must end the illegal military occupation of Palestine that has lasted 75 years.” takes place, condemn.
“You cannot and should not forget that human rights organizations internationally and in Israel have called the occupation 'apartheid,'” she said.
Lattouf (pictured), who was fired after a series of pro-Palestinian posts on social media, has come out fighting and threatened legal action
The outspoken journalist (photo) had posted enthusiastically on Monday about filling in for Macdonald
It is understood Lattouf's (pictured) posts about the Middle East conflict were in breach of the ABC's social media policy
“You can and must speak out against the occupation of Palestine – because that is the root of it all.”
She wrote that she had disabled comments on the post to “limit hate speech.”
But as of late Wednesday night, comments still remained on her latest Instagram post about being “very disappointed by the ABC's decision” and considering her legal options.
Lattouf, an Australian-Lebanese mother of two, is also co-founder of Media Diversity Australia – a non-profit organization supporting increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in media.
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Ms Lattouf and Ms Buttrose for further comment on the complaints about her recruitment and why she was dropped from the programme.