Antoinette Latouf demands a public apology, compensation and a return to her on-air role.
Veteran journalist and presenter Antoinette Latouf was removed as host of an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio show, sparking a public outcry.
Latouf, who is of Lebanese descent, had been working at ABC as a local morning show host for only three days when she was suddenly let go, the BBC reports. The journalist claimed that he was fired due to external pressure based on political opinion and race. In response, she has launched a wrongful termination case against ABC.
While he believed his performance was satisfactory, behind the scenes, pro-Israel groups were lobbying against him, accusing him of bias and anti-Semitism. ABC denies any outside influence and claims Latouf was fired from Human Rights Watch for violating social media guidelines by sharing a post related to the Israel–Gaza conflict.
This is the post he shared on his Instagram:
ABC released her for sharing such a post, insisting on fairness and strict social media rules. However, Latouf claims that he was informed that it was acceptable to share information from reputable sources such as Human Rights Watch.
Antoinette Latouf’s social media posts followed ABC’s own coverage of the report. Latoff alleges that other ABC employees also shared the post, and that she believes she is being treated differently because of racism. “The difference between them is that they are white and I have an Arab background,” he told the BBC.
While she demands a public apology, compensation, and a return to her on-air role, ABC rejects her claims. According to ABC, Latouf was taken off-air because he refused to follow instructions not to post controversial material on social media. He also claimed that he was paid for all five innings despite being removed from his role.
A familiar face on Australian airwaves and newspapers, Antoinette Latouf has become a notable figure not only as a reporter but also as an advocate for issues such as racism and mental health. He had previously faced criticism for his social media posts on the Israel–Gaza conflict, where he raised concerns about the impact on Palestinian civilians and accused Israel of targeting journalists.
The incident has sparked debate about the independence of Australia’s public broadcaster and reignited concerns about its support for culturally diverse staff, especially when facing external pressure.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern to ABC chair Ita Buttrose, calling it “disturbing” that her “factual” content was deemed controversial, potentially impacting Australian journalism. The media union criticized the decision to fire Latouf and Industry Minister Ed Husik defended the right to express peaceful views without putting jobs at risk.
Graffiti appeared at the ABC offices, and crowdfunding for Latouf’s legal fees has exceeded $90,000.
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