Radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf is returning to the ABC despite currently suing the national broadcaster for firing her over social media posts in support of the Palestinians.
Lattouf was dumped by the ABC in December over her coverage of the Gaza war, just three days after a week-long stint as a substitute on Radio Sydney’s morning show.
She launched legal action against the ABC at the Fair Work Commission, claiming the decision was political, based on her position on Palestine and her Lebanese heritage.
The case is still ongoing, but Lattouf returns to ABC broadcasts this weekend with a small role in the new TV drama House of Gods, which starts on Sunday.
In a bizarre coincidence, Lattouf plays a radio host mired in controversy – despite filming her scenes last April, months before the ABC feud broke out.
‘Art imitates life? Or vice versa?’ Lattouf posted on Instagram a photo of her attending the show’s premiere.
Radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) returns to the ABC despite currently suing the national broadcaster for firing her over her support for the Palestinians
Lattouf returns to ABC broadcasts this weekend with a small role in new TV drama House of Gods (pictured), playing a radio host caught up in controversy
Broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) was dumped by the ABC after just three days over social media posts about the war in Gaza as a substitute on Radio Sydney’s morning show
“I had to dig deep for my acting debut in the ABC TV drama “House of Gods,” which premieres Sunday.
‘I play Leila, a radio presenter who discovers something devastating on the air. It has far-reaching consequences and is throwing the community into turmoil.
‘And yes, I expect an AACTA, BAFTA, Oscar, but I’ll settle for a gold star sticker or a thumbs up for my acting.’
She added: “I cried and laughed and felt everything in between as I watched this beautifully shot and written drama.
‘I am so proud to have been invited to play a part in this impressive piece of storytelling.’
The show ‘follows the lives of an ambitious Iraqi-Australian family as they grapple with new-found power and privilege when their charismatic patriarch is elected head cleric of their local mosque.
“A story about faith, family, secrets and lies, House of Gods takes audiences behind the walls of an imam’s family and the community he leads, and examines the personal costs of power and ambition,” says ABC- promotional material for the series.
Posts posted in a group including high-powered Jewish lawyers were encouraged to threaten ABC chairman Ita Buttrose (pictured) with legal action unless they fired Lattouf.
Lattouf was suspended by the ABC within minutes of her show ending on December 20, just hours after a member of a Jewish pressure group called for a day of action against her on WhatsApp
Lattouf was suspended by the ABC on December 20 within minutes of the end of her show on Wednesday, just hours after a member of a Jewish pressure group called for a day of action against her on WhatsApp.
The ABC said the source of the complaints was not relevant to its procedures.
“The ABC has a transparent complaints process and responds accordingly, regardless of the source of the complaint,” a spokesperson said.